I stopped.
I had no idea.
Ariel looked at my face.
You didn’t ask her?
« Do you think Mrs. Grunwald saw this? »
« Nee. »
She told you that she didn’t want people to know.
That hurt.
***
Ten minutes later, Ariel and I drove back to school.
We are going to solve something I should have thought about before I said yes.
After school, we found Mrs. Grunwald with a cleaning cart.
She told you that she didn’t want people to know.
She saw me and sighed.
I was already wondering when you would come.
» I’m sorry. «
She rested both hands on the cart.
People brought me groceries.
I stared at her.
I was already wondering when you would come.
« What? »
Three bags.
Ariel’s eyes grew wide.
» Why? «
Mrs. Grunwald looked at her kindly.
Because people only read half of a story and make up the other half.
Ariel’s eyes grew wide.
I came closer.
I will make sure the message is deleted.
« Because of that, people won’t forget it. »
Then we will correct it.
Mrs. Grunwald’s face contorted.
What do I need to correct?
I will make sure the message is deleted.
That you were not incapable of buying glasses.
She looked at me.
“Jennifer, I could have replaced them.”
Why didn’t you do that then?
“My granddaughter is almost finished with her nursing training. I helped her with books, transport, and a few final expenses,” continued Mrs. Grunwald. “The glasses can wait a few more weeks.”
Why didn’t you do that then?
You didn’t have to choose.
Her gaze became sharper.
I didn’t have to. I chose this myself.
I remained silent.
Ariel was the first to speak.
Are you angry with me?
I didn’t have to. I chose this myself.
Mrs. Grunwald immediately became milder.
“No, sweetie.”
You looked sad.
I am not sad about you.
She touched Ariel’s shoulder.
You looked sad.
You saw broken glass and tried to help. That was all you knew.
Then she looked at me.
It is the adults who have turned it into something else.
I took Ariel straight to Mr. Reed’s office.
Delete the message.
It is the adults who have turned it into something else.
He nodded as soon as I explained it.
» Naturally. «
« Maybe we should just publish what really happened then. »
« Nee. »
Mrs. Grunwald was standing behind me.
I turned around.
“If people knew that you were helping your granddaughter…”
« Nee. »
Then strangers will know something about my family again that I never told them.
I stopped.
But they are getting the wrong impression.
Mrs. Grunwald looked me straight in the eye.
I don’t necessarily need strangers to have a better opinion of me.
No one said anything.
But they are getting the wrong impression.
I wanted strangers to admire Ariel without asking if Ariel wanted their attention.
Mr. Reed cleared his throat.
I am deleting the message. No correction, unless Ms. Grunwald asks for it.
She nodded.
» Thank you. «
Then he looked at me.
No correction, unless Mrs. Grunwald asks for it.
Recognition can also take place without a public story appearing about it.
I haven’t replied yet.
***
That evening, I sat next to Ariel on her bed.
Mr. Reed says that the recognition can still take place behind closed doors.
Ariel shook her head.
“I don’t want it.”
I haven’t replied yet.
You are not the cause of this mess.
I still don’t want it.
» Why? «
She thought for a moment.
I didn’t buy those glasses because I wanted people to applaud.
I looked down.
You are not the cause of this mess.
When I was your age, I would have loved it if people had put me in the spotlight for something good I had done.
She leaned against me.
« So can I say no? »
That was the real question: not whether she deserved recognition, but whether I could stop needing that recognition for her.
« Yes. »
She looked up.
Are you sure?
« Yes. »
« So can I say no? »
***
The next morning, screenshots were still being circulated.
I went back to school and found Mrs. Grunwald there.
This time I didn’t come up with a solution.
What do you want?
I want people to stop telling my story.
I nodded.
This time I didn’t come up with a solution.
And I want Ariel to know that I have never regretted accepting her help.
« Then tell her. »
Mrs. Grunwald studied me.
You are listening now.
I should have listened sooner.
She nodded.
That was all I wanted to hear.
You are listening now.
***
The event on Friday, where various students were put in the spotlight, had already been planned.
Ariel had simply joined.
Before we left home, I asked her one last time.
« If no photos, no messages, nothing public appears afterwards, do you really want recognition? »
« Nee. »
« Okay. »
She looked at my face.
I asked her one last time.
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