Page 32 of Cocky Nerd
“Thank you, I appreciateit.”
“I made your favorite zucchini and banana bread. I’ll leave some out foryou.”
“I will save room for that, thankyou.”
Olivia has been watching me. Studying me, her head tilted. She doesn’t leave when her parents go over to talk to Mr.McKewan.
“What?”
She shrugs. “You’re different with myMom.”
“I don’t think so. I’ve always treated her the sameway.”
“I mean you treat her differently from how you treat other people. You’re nicer toher.”
“I’m nice toeveryone.”
“No. You’re not. You don’t try to be rude, you just don’t try hard enough not to be. But you do with my Mom. Try not to be rude, Imean.”
“I don’t think being rude is the same as being notnice.”
“It is. Why do you pretend to like her zucchini banana bread? Nobody likes it. Not even Mom. It’s literally where organic zucchini and bananas go todie.”
“What makes you think I don’t likeit?”
“I see how your whole body tenses up before you take a bite. Even when you heard her mention it justnow.”
She pays attention. She makes intuitive and intellectualconnections.
“Your Mom kept making it for me after I said I liked it once. Nobody’s ever done that for me before.” There’s an unexpected crack in my voice. I clear my throat as I push my glasses up my nose and look directly at her, so she can see that I’m not crying. I’m not a pussy, I just appreciate how nice her Mom is tome.
She doesn’t convey surprise at my revelation, she just nods. “It does make her happy. And it makes you happy. So if one little lie makes two people happy then it’sokay?”
She questionsthings.
“I suppose it depends on the nature of thelie.”
She blinks. “I wouldn’t want anyone to lie to me to make mehappy.”
“Whynot?”
“Because I don’t want what someone else says to decide whether I’m happy ornot.”
She must have what they call a high Emotional IQ. Too bad that won’t get her anywhere inlife.
“Todeterminewhether you’re happy ornot.”
“Whatever. I’d just rather have all the information I need to make an informed decision about something. When people start sugar coating things it just makes thingscomplicated.”
“So why do you think it’s a problem when I don’t try not to be rude topeople?”
“I didn’t say I thought it was aproblem.”
I will definitely miss talking to this girl. Maybe I should suggest we become email pen pals when I leave forcollege.
“I also didn’t say I particularly like people who don’t sugar coat things.” She grins. “I’m anenigma.”
Yes. Sheis.
