“People brought me groceries.”
I stared at her.
“What?”
“Three bags.”
Ariel’s eyes widened.
“Why?”
Mrs. Grunwald looked at her gently.
“Because people read half a story and invented the other half.”
I stepped closer.
“I’ll get the post taken down.”
“That won’t make people forget it.”
“Then we’ll correct it.”
Mrs. Grunwald’s face tightened.
“Correct what?”
“That you weren’t unable to buy glasses.”
She looked at me.
“Jennifer, I could’ve replaced them.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
“My granddaughter is almost finished with nursing school. I’ve been helping with books, transportation, and some final fees,” Mrs. Grunwald continued. “The glasses could wait a few weeks.”
“You shouldn’t have had to choose.”
Her eyes sharpened.
“I didn’t have to. I chose this.”
I went quiet.
Ariel spoke first.
“Are you mad at me?”
Mrs. Grunwald immediately softened.
“No, sweetheart.”
“You looked sad.”
“I’m not sad about you.”
She touched Ariel’s shoulder.
“You saw broken glasses and tried to help. That’s all you knew.”
Then she looked at me.
“The adults are the ones who turned it into something else.”
I took Ariel straight
to Mr. Reed’s office.
“Delete the post.”
He nodded as soon as I explained.
“Of course.”
“Then maybe we should post what really happened.”
“No.”
Mrs. Grunwald stood behind me.
I turned.
“If people knew you were helping your granddaughter…”
“No.”
“Then strangers know another thing about my family that I never offered them.”
I stopped.
“But they’re getting the wrong idea.”
