Around the Bend: Not Like Cynthia

"Why?"

"Something terrible happened! Cynthia's lost her other foot!"

"What? Did they have to amputate it?"

"No, it just disappeared!"

"Disappeared?" said Dad.

"That's what Margaret said. She said she and Tom were sitting beside Cynthia's bed when the poor girl started to scream. The nurse came in and had a look, but she was too late to do anything. The whole foot was gone! Cynthia was bleeding so they wheeled her straight into theater for surgery! This is so terrible! What's happening to that poor girl?!"

"I don't know," Dad said. "It might be some sort of new disease. I've heard of a bacteria that eats people."

"Diseases don't remove whole feet, well not that fast!" said Mum.

"True," said Dad.

I didn't want to go back to hospital again. I'm sorry to tell you this, Mum, but I was sick of going to see Cynthia. It seemed that the more I hurt her, the more I hated to see her. The worse I was to her, the more attention she got. My plan of getting rid of her was going the wrong way for me, but I didn't show it on my face, did I? You never knew how much I resented the drive back into town. You never saw the hate in my heart as we sat beside the hospital bed again, waiting for Cynthia to wake up. I pretended to be just as worried as you. I said things that made it sound like I was concerned. I even held Cynthia's hand when Dad suggested it.

Cynthia's parents were there, and some relatives, and some of my classmates...

but when Cynthia opened her eyes and looked around, it was me she smiled at most. I could hardly believe it. I was the one who was killing her!

"I'm so glad you've come again," she said. "I thought you didn't like me. I'm glad we're friends now."

"Yes, friends," I said.

"I know you've been a bit jealous of me in the past," she said. "I can't help it if I have more things than you. My parents are wealthy. They like to buy me expensive things. They like me to wear new clothes all the time. I know some kids in the class think I'm a snob, but I'm not. I'm just like you, aren't I?"