Chapter 13

"Thank you. Now…just what exactly are you so happy about, Suga'bear?" Looking as if she's about to burst at the seams, Adele ecstatically exults, "I got a friend, Grandma…a real friend!" "Why yes you do, Suga'bear…" Estelle turns back around to tend to the frying catfish, starts to reflect upon Nadine's gracious observation of her granddaughter mere moments ago, and smiles, "a real good friend." Meanwhile, Cheryl's talking on her cell phone when Nadine gets in. She ends her call, starts the engine and begins to drive away. "So, I never did ask; how was the movie?" "Actually, Adele and I didn't see the movie." "Really? Why not?" "Adele spent all her money buying ice cream for some kids." Not sure how to respond, Cheryl quizzically states, "That was nice of her…I guess." "It really was." A look of disappointment suddenly falls upon her countenance. "You know something, Mom; Adele's probably the nicest girl you'll ever meet…but all the kids at school are always picking on and making fun of her. It's not right; she doesn't deserve to be treated like that…she's so sweet." Cheryl recalls how well-mannered and genuinely appreciative Adele was that day, and agrees with her daughter, "She does seem like a really nice girl." "She is. I'm glad Mr. Trudeaux paired us together." She pauses for a brief moment before affirming, "I know this is just suppose to be a class project…but I have this feeling…I think we're really gonna be good friends." "That's nice. It's too bad you had to miss the movie though." "Not really. It was worth it." "What do you mean?" Nadine explains, "Mom; you should have seen when Adele bought them the ice cream. You wouldn't have thought that it was that big of a deal, but…the look on their faces…Mom, you'd think it was Christmas or something. They were so happy." Nadine smiles, as she pictures Ellie hugging and smiling at Adele in her mind. "Yeah…it was totally worth it." When it comes to coordinating the clothes she wears, Adele Wilson doesn't rely upon fashion sense; but utilizes her inner sense instead. If an outfit feels comfortable…and more importantly, if it makes her feel good…then she'll happily wear it. This method of dressing has subjected Adele to frequent scrutinizing critique and brutally insensitive and humiliating comments over her wardrobe selection; especially dealt out at the hands of Christy Rosenberg and her followers…and others like them…who allow their clothing choices to be dictated by the fashion dogma prescribed in periodicals such as "Teen Vogue" and "Shout" magazines. But that doesn't matter to her. Adele's the kind of person who likes what she likes; and not the kind who likes what others say she should like. And for this, Adele is typically much happier than those who rigidly conform to the latest trend just because everyone else is. Unfortunately, sometimes happiness can come with a cost. For Adele, it's usually ridicule and isolation. Today, Adele's dressed in light blue overalls; a white, flower-print turtleneck; out-dated canvas sneakers…or ‘Bo Bo's' as they were once commonly referred to as…and a floppy, 70s fashioned denim sunhat adorned with a big, plastic daisy. And as she care freely strolls through the schoolyard during lunchtime, students are snickering and pointing at Adele while making demeaning comments about her attire; sharing them with each other, or addressing them at her directly. Eventually, she walks by Christy's group sitting at a table eating lunch. As the leader of the pack, Christy's naturally obliged to make the first comment; which she readily throws out… "Nice ensemble there, Freak. Were they having a fall special at the Goodwill?" Leah, who is essentially Christy's little ‘lapdog', takes it upon herself to follow up by cruelly remarking, "Yeah…that must be the latest collection in the retard fashion line." They start to mean-spiritedly laugh just as Nadine, who just so happened to catch Leah's insensitively cruel insult, walks up behind them and shouts… "She's not a retard!" She looks to Adele. "I think you look nice." "Thank you."