Penny had gone inside but the others had started a game of kick-ball. We sat together under the shade of the old pear tree in one far corner of the playground.
"Oh, nothing." She whispered to me so the other kids wouldn't hear. "Bitch," she said through twisted lips, before running away. And Debra Mae hugged her and whispered something, making Penny jolt and back away, crying even harder. Penny spun herself around but there was no fight in her. I wanted to rush over and wrap my arms around her, defend her, protect her. Debra Mae looked me straight in the eye, the very first time she'd ever done that, and smiled her sad little smile again. The kids started chanting fight, fight, fight! in the playground, but I didn't join in.
"My mamma doesn't even like horses! We don't even have a horse!" "Liar!" she screamed again, this time flailing at Debra Mae, who stepped aside calmly at the last minute. "Liar!" Penny screamed, eyes closed and fists balled.ĭebra Mae smiled sadly and shook her head. I was there in the playground the day Debra Mae told Penny Tomleson her mamma was going to die.
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