"Now, Ms. Connors.."
"Yes Mrs. Bunch?"
"Could you repeat to the class what you just said?"
"ummmm.... excuse me??"
"please repeat what you said to Ms.Webber a moment ago... unless, of coarse, you would like to tell the Principal?"
"No Mrs. Bunch, i said, 'shhez jmst au nrml."
"Sally you're mumbling. speak with diction. what did you say?"
"She's just not normal."
{"Who Says" by Penny Deasiou Zely.}
My name is Sally. Sally Connors., and I Killed Pebble Moonshine.
i still find it hard to believe that her parents actually named her that. i would hate the name Pebble.... but she loves---loved it.
Pebble was 16 when she came to her first day of high school. 4foot 9, and a stick. she was so skinny sometimes i though that if she turned to the side, she would disappear. Every day she would walk into school in her old black tenis shoes. she wore baggy black genes, and a sweater in the shades of grey, black, or faded red. With the climate in Texas you can see how that's a little odd. She would walk to her locker, spin the combination, and open the metal door just enough to slide in her books, being so small made it easy for a jock, or mad upperclassmen to shove her into the vortex. She experienced that several times.
On her first day of school i was 17. Tan, tall, blonde, head of the cheer squad, now that i hear myself talking i can't believe i was ever "that girl". the girl who had it all. perfect grades. Homecoming queen. I was even dating a Football player. That's all in my past now.
Pebble became the target for pranks, dirty looks, and trash talk. I made my contribution to her humiliation every moment i could. I laughed at her books, her clothes, the fact that she rode the bus everywhere, and anything else i found weird. As small and quiet as she was, there was still a lot to envy. She had short spiked black hair that fell just below her ears. Her eyes were bright blue, and almond shaped. She had a small nose, and full lips. given all her angles, and height, she soon became "Elf" to anyone who didn't know her.
I met Pebble in Mrs. Bunches third hour English class. i was a year above her, but she was advanced in english. In class we were reading a book about being yourself. it was lame, like all school books. For a project we had to wright a poem about who we are. i've lost all memory of what i wrote, but i still remember when Mrs. Bunch called Pebble Moonshine to the front of the room to recite her poem.
as Pebble set her pencil down and rose from her seet geers were called out at her. "yea Elf! show them whatcha got!" "How old are you?!" "How's life in Santa's workshop?" She paused halfways down the isle to glance back at the boys. Then, squaring her shoulders she marched to the front.
"Settle down class!" Mrs. Bunch called from her desk in the corner, "Whenever you're ready, ms. Moonshine."
Pebble's head dropped dramtically, then as she lifted it she looked at the room full of people who thought she was weird and said:
"I am short
I am small,
but a pebble is never tall.
You lable me
and call me Elf,
just to put me on a shelf.
i may be different
but at least I'm free
i may be weird
but at least i am me."
As she spoke her last words her eyes met mine, and she bowed and moved back to her seat. No one clapped. i looked over at Cassie, my best friend, and whispered the words i will now regret forever.
Pebble lept from her seat and moved swiftly to the door. just befor she left she looked back at the class, and in a whisper asked, "what is normal?" and then she was gone.
I saw her in the hall after school 2 days later. i felt terrible for what i said. i wanted to appologize.
"Pebble!" i called out, "Pebble wait up, i want to talk to you."
She turned. i could see the tears well up in her eyes. "so talk" her voice shook.
"I didn't mean to upset you in class the other day" my words rushed out, "i didn't mean to hurt your feelings, i was just talking. people talk like that all the time."
"Yes Sally, people talk," her voice was ice cold, and stung in my ears like a whip on my back, "and while you, they, everyone, talks, i listen. listen and listen and listen. With all this listening i do, you don't think i hear what you all say about me?!?"
"I know you hear, but you have to admit you are a little weird...."
"WHO SAYS? there is no one who could hate me, more than i do. Everyone has to live with some bad in their life! everyone but you. You make me hate my life Sally." With that she dropped her bag and took off running.
The next morning school was canceled. Pebble Moonshines lifeless body was flattened to the pavement in front of our little Texas school. in her pocket was a letter that read
Sally,
now you know how i feel.
-Pebble
On Pebble Moonshines 16th birthday her mother, Sarah Moonshine, took her out to the desert so that Pebble could leard to drive. while swerving to avoid hitting a rabbit the car flipped and crashed. Sarah was killed on impact. After undergoing extensive sergery Pebble recovered from the crash with scars, but she never quite recovered from what it took away from her.
Two months later Pebble's father took her out of homeschooling and enrolled her in public school in hope that she would make some friends.
