It's My Life - Melody Carlson [40]
After the game, we went out for pizza. A lot of kids were there and it was pretty wild and messy. And afterwards, Beanie and I talked Jenny into hanging around and helping to clean up the mess (Beanie's idea, although I agreed it was a good one). At first, Jenny thought we were joking, but then I pointed out the couple who owned the place looked harried and tired and would probably appreciate it. So then she just jumped right in. Well, just as we were finishing up, the guy came up and commented on what nice young ladies we were, to which Beanie added, “It's only because of Jesus in us.” And I nodded, not really wanting to give a public testimony but not wanting to put Beanie off again either.
Then the guy says, “Oh, that's nice. You're Christian girls then?”
To which Jenny answers proudly, “Just them, not me.”
The guy chuckles and picks up a loaded tray. “Well, you two will have to get to work on your friend then.”
I feel kind of embarrassed, but Jenny just laughs. “It's okay that you two are Christians,” she says somewhat patronizingly, “we can still be friends.”
Well, I suppose that's a start.
Sunday, September 23 (suspicions begin)
After church today, Beanie and Andrea and I went to the mall. And while we were getting a snack, Beanie ups and says, “I think Jenny Lambert is anorexic.”
Now let me tell you, I'm already getting pretty defensive when it comes to Jenny, but this comment totally throws me for a loop. “What are you talking about?” I ask incredulously.
“I just think she is.”
“Beanie, I thought you were starting to like her–”
“This has nothing to do with that,” she declares as Andrea watches with curious interest.
“But why are you saying that?” I just roll my eyes and keep from mentioning anything about how Beanie put on a little weight with her pregnancy, which still hasn't come off. “Is it just because Jenny's thin?”
“No, it's more than that. Open your eyes, Cate.”
Now I'm trying not to be offended. “Beanie, you're a Christian, and you know we're not supposed to judge others. But here you go, coming down on Jenny again. I don't think it's right.”
“Yeah,” agrees Andrea, who's never even met Jenny.
Beanie holds up her hands defensively. “Look,” she begins in a softer tone. “The only reason I'm mentioning it at all is because I'm concerned. And I think you've one of her best friends now, Cate. I just thought you should be aware is all.”
“Aware of what?” I snap.
“That she could have anorexia nervosa, a condition that commonly affects teenage girls who–”
“Enough!” I slam my soda cup down. “I don't need a textbook explanation on anorexia, Beanie, I know what it is. Good grief, I've even been accused of having it myself, which is totally ridiculous.”
“Sorry, but you were acting so dense, I wasn't sure.”
Now to my relief, Andrea breaks in. “So, Beanie, tell us why you're so sure that Jenny is anorexic.”
“Well, first of all, have you ever seen her eat anything?”
I considered this. I mean, I've shared lots of meals with Jenny. But the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if I'd ever actually seen her consume a piece of food. She'd fiddle with food and talk and joke a lot. “I've seen her drink soda,” I offer.
“Yeah,” agrees Beanie. “Diet soda.”
“Lots of people drink diet soda.”
“I do,” says Andrea helpfully.
“Yeah, but you're having a giant pretzel with it. Jenny doesn't eat real food.”
“That's crazy.” I shake my head in disbelief. “Jenny's a perfectly normal girl. She's not anorexic.”
“Well, I didn't expect you to believe me,” says Beanie, clearly dismayed.
“It's not that I don't,” I say. “But I think you're being too hard on her.”
She shrugs. “I just thought since you're her friend, you might want to keep your eyes open, just in case you can be of any help.”
“Okay,” I say with reluctance. “I'll keep this in mind.”
Now Beanie's planted this seed of suspicion in my head against Jenny, and I suppose