Upside Down

I’m taking a short break from “Too Much” to contemplate what comes next in that story; I’m planning something ambitious, and want to give myself some time to improve my chance of success. For today’s post, I’m revisiting a technique that’s worked well for me recently — responding to an interesting post I’ve discovered in my Reader. Mark Aldrich, The Gad About Town, just shared his experience living with a disease that was first undiagnosed, then mis-diagnosed.

“Later.” And with a wave of a hand slender as a paper fan, Rex turned and walked down the hall, his head towering over the other students.

“You know him?” Hearing the disdain in Nathalie’s voice, Annie decided, contrary to her nature, to answer while her back was still turned.

“He’s a fencer.” Hands reaching behind her head to tighten her pony-tail, Annie twisted, met Nathalie’s gaze. “Been on the team longer than me. He’s — ”

“You ever see what he eats?” Shuffle of student feet along the tiled floor, punctuated by slams of lockers and doors. Nathalie’s lips purple today.

“Really? What’s with the sudden interest in other people’ lunches?”

“That kid’s weird.” An accusing finger pointed down the hall. “And those clothes, oh my God — ”

“Just leave him alone.” Two steps to her right, Annie on her way to AP Calc, then — “You’ve heard the rumors, right?”

Her instincts told her to keep walking, leave Nathalie to her petty insecurities. But it was not in the Hutchinson’s family nature to leave a challenge.

To be continued