Charlie is excellent at washing dishes! He says he LIKES doing it! It’s a little odd. But extremely helpful! He rinsed dishes, and I loaded the dishwasher, and we figured out a list of texts to try to make Violet like me again. Here’s the one I just sent her, on Jo’s phone:
i hate that you’re mad at me even more than i hate medians and modes. and those things are the worst.
I wanted to send a text promising I’d never speak to Mary Majors again if Violet forgave me. But Charlie wouldn’t let me. Because she really is trying hard. Today she saved me and Charlie a seat at her table at lunch. We told her, “No, thanks.” Because kids who’d been mean to Charlie, like Josie, were sitting there. Mary Majors could’ve just nodded and said, “Okay.” But instead she stood up with her lunch and came and sat with us.
She’s making it hard to stay super angry at her. But I’d still stop talking to her if Violet asked me to.
Dad gave me back my cell phone! Only for emergency situations, though. I can’t use it for any other reason, for the rest of my three punishment weeks.
I asked whether I could text Violet. Since our problems definitely count as an emergency. But Dad said, “That’s not the kind of emergency I mean.”
I feel very limited.
Even so, I’m very glad to have this beautiful phone back.
I just checked with Jo. Still no reply from Violet.
I started feeling desperate about the Violet situation. I couldn’t think what to do. Finally I wrote this poem and texted it to her on Jo’s phone:
Roses are boring. VIOLETS are the greatest. I can’t care about sugar right now. You being mad at me is what I hate-est.
Jo took a look at the poem and shook her head. But that desperate thing worked! Violet FINALLY wrote back! And we texted! This is what we said:
Violet: you are a terrible poet.
Me: sorry about that! and I am so, so sorry that I came over there with Mary Majors. I should’ve just come by myself, and done nothing but hang out with you.
Violet: Jake’s been talking to Jo. he thinks I should forgive you, but not Maniac Mary Minors.
Me: please thank him for me. and tell him I’m so, so sorry, too.
Violet: ok. gotta go now.
Me: I’ll text again soon.
That was it. She didn’t call me Celie
. Or say anything like, “I Celie.” But at least those texts are progress.