A fter our first riding lesson Tammy and I found a shady spot in view of the riding arena where a group lesson was taking place. We both preferred to stay near the horses.
We spoke first about the cheirem her sixth-grade class had put her through.
“Did you tell the teacher?” I asked.
“No but she must’ve known because I was always alone. She didn’t care about me why should she? I wasn’t the class queen I wasn’t pretty. I was fat and ugly.”
In other words Tammy blamed herself.
“Did you tell your mother?”
“Yes. She was furious and wanted to speak to the girls’ mothers. But I wouldn’t let her because they’d only hate me more and isolate me more as if that was possible. I threatened to run away if she told anyone.”
