Young Jane Young(40)
It’s been five days since the debate, and I’ve been avoiding her. It isn’t that hard because she is always busy, lying to everyone.
That’s why I don’t think my mom should speak to your class. She is not a good role model. She is a BIG liar and a disgrace.
Your Pen Pal,
Ruby
P.S. I guess my last name is “Grossman.”
To: “Fatima” [email protected]
From: “Ruby”
[email protected]
Date: October 18
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Your American Pen Pal, Friends Around the World Pen Pal Program
Dear Fatima,
Thank you for being so understanding about the Skype chat. It’s nice of you to say that we should “reschedule” but I don’t know why you would want to, considering the type of person my mom is.
I haven’t confronted my mom yet. I’m reading everything I can about “Aviva Grossman” first. I don’t want her to be able to tell any more lies.
“Grossman” is a pretty good name for her because she is so “gross.” She did “gross” things with the congressman, who was so old, like forty, and she wrote about them on her blog. The blog is called “Just Another Congressional Intern’s Blog.” Even though she never used his name or her own name, of course people were going to figure it out. Even a sixth grader knows that!
For instance, I’m not going to mention any names, but I know EXACTLY who started the “RUBY YOUNG IS A LOOZER SPAZZ” account. The only reason I don’t turn her in is because it’s better for her just to be scared that she might be found out. Something I have learned about bullies is that it’s good for them to have something to focus on, and that stupid account is good for that, too. Instead of putting ketchup in my hair, or locking me out of the bathroom, or putting dog poop in my locker, they can just post some dumb thing on Instagram, and it satisfies their “making Ruby’s life miserable” urge. My point is, it was actually WORSE for me before the Instagram account.
I started thinking about “Mariano Donatello.”
I know English is not your first language… But “Mariano Donatello” DOES NOT sound like a real person’s name.
It sounds like
1.
A Ninja Turtle
2.
A Character in a Storybook
3.
A Porno Actor
4.
A Made-Up Name
And duh, my mom is such a liar. Of course, she lied about “Mariano Donatello.” And I was, like, “I’m Italian!” – what an idiot!
And if she lied about “Mariano Donatello,” then she must have had a reason.
And the reason must be because Congressman Aaron Levin is my REAL FATHER.
I googled “Congressman Aaron Levin,” and although he is old, he looks like me. He has greenish eyes and curly hair, and I have green eyes and curly hair.
I wonder if he knows about me.
Your Meaning Twin,
Ruby
P.S. I would rather have the last name LEVIN than GROSSMAN.
P.P.S. I know you’re right, and I need to talk to my mom about all of this… I am going to do it soon.
To: “Fatima” [email protected]
From: “Ruby”
[email protected]
Date: October 24
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Your American Pen Pal, Friends Around the World Pen Pal Program
Dear Fatima,
Right after I emailed you, I had a big fight with my mom. I told her that I know everything, that I know she’s a liar and a slut, and she didn’t cry and then she did, and it was awful.
I said, “You can’t lie to me anymore. I need to know who my father is.”
She said, “It’s Mariano Donatello.”
I said, “How dumb do you think I am?”
She said, “I wanted you to have a nice story.”
I said, “I want the truth.”
She said, “The truth is, it was a one-night stand.”
I said, “I don’t know what that is.”
She said, “It’s a person you sleep with for one night and never see again.”
I said, “That is disgusting, and I don’t believe you. I know it’s Congressman Aaron Levin. You wrote about the ‘dirty things’ you did with him. He has curly hair and greenish eyes, and I have curly hair and green eyes.”
She said, “Lots of people have those, and it’s not him. If you found the blog, you’ll know. I never had the kind of sex with him that leads to having a baby.”
I said, “That is SOOOOO disgusting, and you lie to everyone, and you’re a criminal.”
She said, “Ruby, baby, I —”
I interrupted her. “Don’t ‘Ruby baby’ me.”
“Ruby, I am not a criminal. I committed no legal crimes. Moral ones? Yes. But legal ones? No. Where I was from, I was a laughingstock, and my family was so ashamed, and no one would hire me. And anyone who hadn’t heard of me could google me and find out everything. You know how permanent Google is. Have you ever heard of a book called The Scarlet Letter, Ruby?”