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Show Inside Out, 220 "I've discovered that I don't really know how to have a friend," I said. "I want to learn how, though. Tm going to do better." After Pete brought out my onion rings and Terra's fries, I finally remembered to ask her, "What is it that you wanted to talk about so bad at school? What's going on?" Terra dipped a french fry into her raspberry shake and ate it. "I found out today that my Dad has been having an affair." I stared at her. This was huge. Enormous. I had no idea what to say to her. "Oh, man." "And," she continued, "he has left. As in moved out. To live with Belinda" I whistled. I didn't know what else to say. "It's so crazy," she said. "I mean, I knew things were screwed up between my mom and dad. They have been for a long time, even before Joseph died. Probably even before the affair. But I had it all wrong. I thought my mom was the problem. I thought- well, it doesn't matter. But I had it all inside out. I was mad at her because I didn't know how things really were. Now I have to think about things all over again, see them differently. And it makes me mad that there was this big secret that everyone knew but me. Joseph knew. Which is why he was so mad, why he started acting that bizarre. I've been mad at him too, for how he was acting, but now I can see it differently." She paused to eat another fry. "So now I have to make this big switch to being mad at Dad instead. But his letter sounded so sad and lonely," she continued. "It's like, I know I should be mad but Tm so used to feeling sorry for him that I still do-feel sorry, I mean. And I'm mad that she didn't tell me before this or let him tell me. Why didn't she?" |
