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They each began to back away, as was her intent. No one wanted anywhere near Shelby Wellborn. Her mother would either sit on the porch swing lecturing you about your lack of godliness, or make you stand there and listen as she publicly lambasted Birdie for hers.
Either way, an uncomfortable encounter at best.
“We’ll just see you there,” one of the guys said, with a wave and a backstep.
“Sure you will,” she laughed. Tonight, she’d likely walk home from the game and sit outside in the backyard shed playing solitaire, until it was bedtime.
From the right corner of her eye, she watched as something tumbled from the bleachers. Not an uncommon occurrence after the buzzer had gone off, indicating the end of the game while everyone jumped up and down hugging one another for yet another Warrior win.
Walking over to the item sitting on the pea gravel, she picked up a black leather purse, and then craned her neck upward to determine who might have knocked it below the bleachers based on its location. She recognized Lorraine Walker as the possible owner, given the location of the fallen purse and where the woman had been sitting and called her name several times.
“Mrs. Walker!”
By now, the football team was off the field, celebrating their win as people gathered their things.
After a third try, watching Lorraine Walker begin to search for her purse, she finally caught her attention.
The woman bent over to get closer and to be able to hear above the crowd.
“Your purse fell,” Birdie said, with her hand cupped around her mouth and holding the purse up for her to see.
Lorraine smiled with what looked to be a fair amount of relief. “Thank you, dear, I’ll be right down.”
“No need to fight the crowd. I’ll meet you at the side gate,” Birdie said. Might as well make the handoff easier.
Just as she turned to make her way from below the bleachers and the stream of people, she caught her sister’s attention, who was walking with her friends.
Maisie’s eyes landed on the purse in Birdie’s hands. Her sister broke away from the crowd and marched her direction, pure malice in her eyes.
“Well, what a surprise. Is that your purse, Birdie?”
Suddenly there were about six girls behind Maisie, some older, others younger. Her sister had a way of grabbing the attention of anyone looking for someone to chastise or belittle. Unfortunately, that person was usually Birdie.
“No,” she said, fidgeting with the strap. She could handle Maisie at home, but not so much on school property and with a rabid audience.
Birdie could see Maisie’s eyes squinting with glee, aware of the precipitous moment. Maisie raised her voice as if to be sure those around her could hear through the celebratory crowd. “See what my sister is busy doing while everyone is cheering on the football team? She’s skulking under the bleachers like a thief, stealing from the fans.”
One of the other girls seemed both outraged and delighted. “I’ll go get security. Let them know we caught her red-handed,” she snarled at Birdie. “I hope you get arrested.”
Clutching the purse, she couldn’t help but realize the irony of the one-time bully becoming the bullied.
Maybe this was karma?
Or, poetic justice?
Either way, she wasn’t going to be able to talk anyone out of believing the worst of the situation. Maisie would see to it, and then her mother would lob on to the story, blowing it up and punishing Birdie.
Just when she started to grow her hair back out.
Lowering her head and shoulders, Birdie took a few steps forward. “I need to get to the side gate to return this purse to Mrs. Walker.”
Maisie stopped Birdie by sidestepping her. “Likely story,” she said, turning her head toward her friends. “She’s just looking for an excuse to run.”
An older girl blurted, “My mom’s purse went missing after last week’s game. She must’ve taken it. God, Birdie, you’re such a thievin’ skank.”
By this time, the football team was following the dwindling crowd, making their way past the bleachers to the locker room.
Her worst nightmare came true as Lucas glanced toward the opening to the bleachers and spotted a cornered Birdie. He quickly broke away from the team, lowering his head as he jogged toward her and the group of girls keeping her from getting by.
