【“OK”Isaidtomydaughterasshebentoverherafternoonbowlofrice.“What’sgoingonwithyouandyourfriendJ.?”J.istheleaderofagroupofthird-gradersathercamp--apositionLucyherselfoc】

“OK”Isaidtomydaughterasshebentoverherafternoonbowlofrice.“What’sgoingonwithyouandyourfriendJ.?”J.istheleaderofagroupofthird-gradersathercamp--apositionLucyherselfoccupiedtheprevioussummer.Nowshe’stheoneontheouts.andeverydayatsnacktimeshetellsmeallaboutitwhileIoffertheunhelpfuladviceallsummerlong.

“She’sfondofgivingorders”Lucycomplained.“She’sturningeveryoneagainstme.She’smean. Andshe’sfat.”“Excuseme”Isaidstrugglingforcalm.“Whatdidyoujustsaid?”“She’sfat.”Lucymumbled(含糊地说).“We’regoingupstairs”Isaidmyvoicecold.“We’regoingtodiscussthis.”Andupwewent.I’dspentthenineyearssinceherbirthgettingreadyforthisdaythedaywe’dhavetheconversationaboutthishorribleword.IknewexactlywhattosaytothegirlonthereceivingendoftheteasingbutinallofmyimaginingsitneveronceoccurredtomethatmydaughterwouldbetheonewhousedtheFword-Fat.

MydaughtersatonherbedandIsatbesideher.“Howwouldyoufeelifsomeonemadefunofyouforsomethingthatwasn’tyourfault?”Ibegan.“Shecouldstopeatingsomuch”Lucymumbledmouthingthesimpleadviceathousanddoctorshavegivenoverweightwomenforyears.

“It’snotalwaysthateasy”Isaid.“Everyone’sdifferentintermsofhowtheytreatfood.”Lucylookedatmewaitingformetogoon.Iopenedmymouththenclosedit.ShouldItellherthatinteasingawoman’sweightshe’sjoinedthelongtraditionofcritics?ShouldItellherIdidn’tcrywhensomeonepostedmypictureandcommented“I’msorrybutaren’tauthorswhowritebooksmarketedtoyoungwomensupposedtobepretty?”

Doessheneedtoknownowthatlifeisn’tfair?IfeelhereyesonmewaitingforananswerIdon’thave.Wordsaremytools.Storiesaremyjob.It’spossibleshe’llrememberwhatIsayforeverandIhavenoideawhattosay.

SoItellhertheonlythingIcancomeupwiththatisabsolutelytrue.Isaytomydaughter“Iloveyouandthereisnothingyoucouldeverdotomakemenotloveyou.ButI’mdisappointedinyourightnow.Thereareplentyofreasonsfornotlikingsomeone.Whatshelookslikeisn’toneofthem.”

Lucynodstearsonhercheeks.“Iwon’tsaythatagain”shetellsmeandIpullherclosepressingmynoseagainstherhair.Aswesittheretogether Iprayforhe