May 15, 2000
“My name? Oh…umm…” my mind goes blank as I stare into the camera lens and I stray from thought and the intensity of my breathing prevents me from concentrating. It comes out raspy and forced. My hands are clammy and I repeatedly wipe them on my jeans. I feel my face shine as small beads of sweat threaten to trickle down my face. A piercing ring sounds in my ear, blocking out all noise. The camera man starts to tap his foot impatiently, bringing me back, “Uh, Teresa…umm…Teri Wright.”
I breathe a small, shaky sigh of relief as I finally manage to force my name into my thoughts. The camera man motions for me to continue and my breathing stops short. I try to relax and think what I need to say.
“I, uh, I’m a senior at Mount…Mountain Wood High…High School. I am the…vale…valedictorian. Umm…” I stutter through each word.
The principal sits next to the cameraman. He motions for him to turn off the camera. Then, he walks up to me, putting his hand onto my shoulder, “That should be enough, thank you Teri. Hurry back to class.”
“Thank you,” I rush from the office, glad that everything is over. Well, at least one thing. Now, I am sent back into my detention center I like to call high school.
I quickly and quietly slip into my English class, hoping to arrive unnoticed. Once again, my wish doesn’t come true.
“Aw, Teresa, you’re back. We are just discussing Edgar Allen Poe’s ‘The Raven’,” Mrs. Grey motions for me to take my seat. I can feel each and every pair of eyes on me.
I sit behind Dominic Peirce and Jacob Allen. I’d say they are the most popular guys in school, but to most, “popular” is an underappreciated title for Dominic and Jacob. They are more like the gods of high school, idols to every student at Mountain Wood High, every student except for one…me.
Dominic and Jacob are the two figures that go out of their way every day to make my high school experience a nightmare and everyone knows that they do. They’ve done it all. They’ve mocked me, hurt me, and embarrassed me in every way imaginable. Last month Jacob tripped me, causing my lunch to spill into my hair and on my clothes. I had to go through the rest of the day with a stained shirt and food-filled hair. Last week the “gods” posted pictures of me onto every student’s locker. It may not sound bad, but no one has lived my life.
Jacob tosses a paper onto Dominic’s desk. As Mrs. Grey turns toward the board he opens the note. He then angles the paper perfectly into my direction. The paper distinctly portrays Jacob’s loss of artistic talent, but I can still recognize the girl on the paper.
The picture shows a distorted image of my face. Covered in red dots with my crooked teeth and oversized glasses clearly showing. My hair is matted against my head with traces of food showing. Above my cartooned head, my high school title is scribbled in Jacob’s poor penmanship, “The Ugly Duckling.”
I hear this title every day and every day it leaves a scar. I know teachers and parents tell us to ignore this kind of thing, to be ourselves. But, what leaves those scars is the truth of the title. I am the ugly duckling. I am ugly.
The bell rings and everyone rushes from the room to lunch. I am left starring at the crumpled piece of paper that is my life. I pick it off of the floor where Dominic left it. My hands slowly and unwillingly open it. Silent tears start to drop from my eyes. A single tear drops onto the girl in the picture before I crumple it up and throw it into my bag.
I walk slowly down the hall, tears still running down my cheeks. I stop as I pass in front of a hall mirror. Minutes pass by as I stare into the face of the Ugly Duckling.
My eyes are red and swollen from my tears. My hair is ratted and greasy from my nervous sweat in the office. Red and white patches of acne scatter my face. My glasses hang from my face, offset and scratched. I try a smile of crooked and yellowed teeth.
My smile fades and the last of my tears dry up. I hang my head in hopes of hiding some of my hideous face. I walk home, down-spirited and broken.
***
May 15, 2005, Five years later
Dominic Pierce enters into his high school gym where is five year reunion is being held. He familiar and unfamiliar faces of friends and classmates. He does not want to be there.
Dominic walks around in hopes of finding someone he may be comfortable around. He spots his former best friend, Jacob Allen. Jacob spots Dominic and they greet each other. Even now they crash their fists together in their trademark handshake.
A friendly conversation is all that happens between them. Both feel uncomfortable and soon Jacob leaves Dominic with his thoughts of high school.
Strangely, Dominic isn’t excited to see his friends. Once he thought back on all his years of high school, he regretted them. The lack of work he did in school. The way he treated his classmates, one in particular, Teresa Wright. Teri Wright. That is why Dominic came.
Teri walks by Jacob and I. My half eaten sandwich ends up in her hair and as usual Teri pretends not to notice. But, as usual, Jacob and I see the tear and laugh mockingly at “the ugly duckling.” That’s all she is.
After lunch I tell Jacob I’ll meet him in the hall after school. I walk to my locker, not in a hurry to get to class. As I round the corner I see Teri standing down the hall, looking into the hall mirror.
Teri touches her face and tries to smile at herself. She raises her hand to the mirror. Tears are spilling from her eyes as she drops her head, pulling her hair over her face.
She passes me, pretending not to notice me there. I stare down the hall in her direction. Teresa Wright…the ugly duckling….
Dominic leaves the reunion early. As he steps out into the parking lot he sees a woman sitting by the curb. Curious, he approaches her.
Only a small confrontation goes between the two. He asks for her name and she addresses him by his own, and refusing to give her own.
The woman’s face is smooth and olive toned. Her hair flows gently down to her shoulders. He eye shine brightly up at Dominic. All he can think is, “Who is this girl?”
The woman takes Dominic’s hand and inserts a crumpled and worn piece of paper. She quickly leaves him, standing transfixed. Dominic unfolds the paper. A hideous face stares up at him, but it’s the title that catches his eye. The Ugly Duckling…Teresa Wright…
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