A GIRL WHO NEVER ASKS FOR ANYTHING

	I’m sorry I was late, Ms. Hollis.  I had to help my sister get 
ready.  My parents are taking her to the Precious Pretty contest.  Because 
she’s so beautiful... She has long long hair and great big sugar eyes.  
That’s what Daddy calls them - sugar eyes.  My parents want her to be in the
movies.  Because she’s so pretty.
	That’s why it was so important today, for her to look just perfect,
so she can be in the contest, and then maybe someone will see her and she’ll
be discovered.  My parents would really be happy then.  And I would too, of
course.  So I had to brush her hair and tie it back in two pony tails with 
ribbons - blue and yellow ribbons, I wish I had some, maybe they’d make my 
hair look nice - and help her put on eye shadow - I’m not allowed to wear 
make-up, but it’s different for her, because she’s so pretty, she has to be 
perfect, you know? - and then someone had to polish her shoes, because she 
can’t get her hands dirty, the hands are important, they look at them too, 
did you know that?  And then, I had to be really really sure not to say 
anything mean to her because if she cries, it’ll be my fault.
	So all of this took a really really long time, and I got worried 
about the time, but my parents said, "Will you stop being so selfish, this 
is IMPORTANT!" and I’m sorry, really really sorry I was so selfish, and 
I’m sorry that I was late and - and anyway, if you want me to stay after, 
it doesn’t matter if I don’t go right home, I don’t think anyone’ll mind, 
it really doesn’t matter, it really doesn’t matter if I’m there at all.


COPYRIGHT 1997, Jim Chevallier