The Mare

Velvet

It was a few days after that that Ms. Rodriguez picked my paper to read out loud in class. And when she was done, this boy in front named Junior said, “That’s good!” And I felt my face blush and I smiled and my head went to one side. Somebody whispered, “Look at her!” and I put my head normal and saw Alicia and them staring knives at me. Strawberry looked at her nails. Ms. Rodriguez said, “I’m proud of Velvet for all the hard work she did.” “Bitch,” whispered Alicia. Ms. Rodriguez didn’t hear. She came and put the paper on my desk. “Velveeta cheese,” said somebody else. “Flat-ass fathead.” “Douchebag.” Strawberry kept looking at her nails.