—
Shocked
“WOULD YOU believe someone wrote a letter complaining about Book Uncle?” I say to Reeni on the bus.
She just stares at me with big round eyes. Then she looks away.
I try making jokes.
I try showing her the inside of my book bag where the lining was torn and I didn’t know it, but when I followed a jingling noise, I found a bunch of change.
Nothing.
She won’t talk to me in school, not even at our shared desk, not in maths or science, Tamil or Hindi or English. Just won’t talk.
When we get to school, Anil tries to juggle two pieces of chalk. He tries to make Reeni laugh, but she won’t, won’t, won’t.
Mrs. Rao says, “Anil, sit down, or you’ll have to go have a little chat with Indira Ma’am in the office.”
All of which means yes, of course I said some things I shouldn’t have. But it’s not just me, is it? Anil was just trying to make things better. Can’t Reeni see that?
What’s wrong? I want to help but how can I do anything if she won’t unbutton her lip and say one word?
When I’m ready to open up my tiffin box under the banyan tree at lunch break, I see Reeni sitting by herself. I can’t stand it anymore.
“Would you like some dried mango?” I ask.
I am really trying to say, Reeni, please talk to me because you’re my friend, and I have to tell you all about Book Uncle and how can I do that if you won’t talk to me? Aren’t you my friend?
So I am shocked, completely shocked, when instead of saying, Thank you, I’d like some dried mango, or even, Go away. I don’t want your silly dried mango, she bursts into tears.