11

The attic was, as usual, cluttered with dusty crates, boards and stuff. There was a big pile of wood shavings under the lathe. Sue and I had usually liked to have fun rolling in those wood shavings, but now we were not in the mood for it.

As soon as we entered the attic I sat into a big vegetable crate and began to reflect. Sue was frowning, too. She found some old little mirror in the pile of rubbish, fiddled with it for a while and, as she wiped it with an old piece of cloth she sat beside me.

“Repeat after me: With this holy mirror we vow to tell each other the truth and nothing but the truth. Now you answer me a question so I will answer it honestly.”

I didn’t know what to ask her about. I mean, I did, but I preferred to think I didn’t. Probably because I was afraid to hear the “honest” answer.

“I think you better go first.” I said.

“Alright, then” Sue said rapidly and fired:

“Do you love Roma?”

“Yes” I said briefly.

Sue flung the mirror aside, paced up and down the attic and, as she halted, she stared in my eyes.

“And you are hoping for… something between you and him?”

I averted my eyes.

“Don’t know…”

She squatted down in half-turn to me and said after a pause:

“I tell you what, forget about Roma! You are not a match for him.”

“Why not?”

She gave me a contemptuous look.

“Let’s be honest. Roma is a handsome guy. A handsome guy needs a beautiful girl. Right?”

“That’s right” I admitted.

“Are you beautiful?”

“No…”

“See?” emphasized Sue, “That’s my exact point. So please, do me a favor, get out of my way. Tomorrow I’ll go to the lake alone.”

“Oh I see. So you’re saying that the best match for Roma is you?”

“Yes, it’s me. Not you.”

“May I ask why? On what grounds?”

“On such grounds, honey, as me being a lot more attractive, successful and better than you.”

“Prove it!” I cried.

“I will,” Sue took her thick curly lock of hair in one hand and my thin rat tail in the other and in the sunlight coming from the dim little window she showed the comparison

“See? My hair is way better than yours.”

“Ok, let’s say it is. What else?”

“What else?” Sue stood up demonstrating the shape of her well-developed bust, “Is it not enough? Whose breasts do you think look more appealing - mine or those mosquito bites of yours? And what about the legs? Whose legs are longer - let’s measure them!”

“I’m not going to measure anything.” I muttered.

“Of course you’re not, because you know the result.”

My chin quivered and my vision became blurry. I clenched my teeth trying to choke back my sobs but tears were already rolling down my cheeks.

“Aw, honey, are you crying? What’s wrong?” she tried to hug me but I pushed her arms away.

“Nothing. Piss off!”

“Ok, let’s just forget the conversation… I don’t want us to quarrel over some random boy!”

“It’s not about the boy!” I howled.

“So much the better! Friends now?” she held out her little finger and, taking mine, she recited:

“Make friends, make friends,

Never never break friends…”

“Alright, but only if tomorrow we go to the lake together.” said I.

Sue sighed a sigh.

“Okay, if you insist…”