After that, everybody in school knew about it, and they even had to fire an employee over it… but it was too late for her, of course. All the other kids were giving her such a hard time that her dad got a transfer from the company he worked for so they could move here. That's why she hasn't wanted to have much to do with the kids at school: she isn't stuck-up or a snob or anything, she's just been shy and scared. It's really taken a lot for her to learn to relax after that, and start trying to make friends. She told me that she really had to work herself up to telling me all that stuff about herself so that she could start getting out and doing things. She had friends and everything, before, but it wasn't like normal because of how she is — from the way she talked, I could tell that she missed being able to do so much of the kinds of things that WE got to do growing up."

After she finished, Eva and I both sat there, trying it imagine what life must have been like for Charlene as a kid. Several minutes went by before Eva told me "Anyway, now you know why she's been so slow about being friends and doing stuff with me. I know it's going to be hard for you, 'cause it will be for me, too, but don't stare at her or do anything to make her feel bad or embarrassed, Billy!

This is going to be a really big deal for her, and you know she's taking a huge chance telling me about herself that way and then me telling you… so don't mess this up for her. If you do, I promise you that I will make you seriously regret it!"

I was a little hurt by Sis' warning, and I think she could see it because her expression softened a bit when I answered "I won't. I know I'm kind of a dummy sometimes, and I have to get used to the idea, but I'm not gonna be jerk or anything." Mom and Dad had taught us pretty well that it was okay to notice that someone was different, but to be polite about it.