Page 2 of Sending Love Letters to Animals

Liam and Elijah scowled at her.

“You can have mine.” Daniel pushed his tray at her. “I can’t eat this crap. Your skinny ass needs it more than I do anyway.”

“Boy, you’re so skinny you use Chapstick as deodorant,” Aubrey nudged his tray back at him.

Liam and Elijah howled. Jules continued to eat, ignoring them.

“You’re so skinny your momma still isn’t sure she gave birth.” Daniel lobbed back at her.

More howling from Liam and Elijah attracted attention from nearby tables, but most of the student body was used to us. Our table got a little raucous at lunchtime, and it was not uncommon for one of the teachers to show up and remind us to “tone it down.” Of course, it was all in good fun—our fooling around—but my friends definitely raised the decibels in the cafeteria from time to time.

The one thing that wasn’t all in good fun was Daniel and Aubrey going at each other about how skinny they both were. Sure, both of them were slim, but commenting on it was wrong for a few reasons. One, body shaming—regardless of the body in question—is not okay. Two, Jules was the only one in our group who wasn’t average size or smaller. She wasn’t exactly fat or anything, but she had boobs and hips, and I knew the constant jokes about being “too skinny” from our friends bothered her.

Jules ignored the joking for the most part, but every now and then I’d catch her side-eying our friends. Body shaming was definitely not a pastime she appreciated. Furthermore, I couldn’t help but wonder if she wasn’t a bit concerned that the jokes would be turned on her if she spoke up. So, she didn’t. That had to really make her blood boil, being afraid of speaking up when I knew she wanted to do it.

“Y’all need to be worried about your personalities,” I said, finally. “Verbally assaulting your boyfriend or girlfriend doesn’t make you interesting.”

Liam and Elijah made “ooooooh” sounds. They couldn’t let things go. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jules glance at me appreciatively.

“Look who’s feisty today,” Daniel leaned forward to look past Liam. “You start shedding the lining of your vagina today, Ry-Guy?”

I rolled my eyes.

“Uterus, dumbass.” Aubrey snorted.

“What?” Daniel turned to her.

“Girls don’t shed the lining from their vagina when they’re on their period. It’s the lining of their uterus. It comes out of our vaginas,” Aubrey said, her eyes rolling fantastically backward.

“Whatever,” Daniel said. “So, Ry-Guy? You bleeding out your bergina or what?”

“Vagina!” Aubrey exclaimed loudly.

Mrs. Hopkins’ head jerked around to look at our table from where she was posted up, watching everyone from the corner of the cafeteria by the entrance to the lunch line.

“Shhhhh.” I silenced them. “Mrs. Hopkins is going to come make us all bleed from every orifice if you two don’t stop.”

Everyone glanced toward the corner of the cafeteria. Mrs. Hopkins was glaring at our table.

“Real smooth, guys,” I said.

They all gave her apologetic smiles and turned their attention back to their lunches. Except Daniel. Of course.

“You still haven’t answered me, buddy,” Daniel said, jabbing me verbally. “Your vagina seepin’ or what?”

“Can we not talk about this anymore?” Liam asked with an upturned nose.

“He’s gay,” Jules said finally. “Not a girl. There’s a difference, Danny Boy.”

The “Danny Boy” part was a nice touch, if I was grading my friend’s retort.

“Furthermore—” Jules continued.

“Uh-oh.” Elijah chuckled nervously.

“—that’s a good thing or you’d be trying to stick your hand up his shirt every chance you got, you pervert,” she said.

I cackled.