Bad Scene Lines

(Rhoda comes in quietly)

Did you want me to come in mother?

“So you had the medal, after all, Claude Daigle’s medal.”

Where did you find it?

“…Now, I want you to tell me the truth.”

I don’t know how the medal got there, Mother. How could I?

“… Did you go on the wharf at any time during the picnic? At any time?”

Yes, Mother. I went there once.

“… or after you were bothering Claude?”

I wasn’t bothering Claude, Mother. I told him that if I didn’t win the medal, I was glad he did.

“… saw you try to snatch the medal off Claude’s shirt.”

Oh that big girl was Mary Beth Musgrove. She told everybody she saw me. You see, Claude and I were just playing a game we made up. He said if I could catch him and touch the medal with my hand, he’d let me wear the medal for an hour. How can Mary Beth say I took the medal? I didn’t.

“…Claude ran away down the beach. Did you have the medal even then?”

No, Mommy. Not then.

“Rhoda, how did you get the medal?”

Oh, I got it later on.

“How?”

Claude went back on his promise and I followed him to the wharf. He said I could wear the medal all day if I gave him 50 cents.

“Why didn’t you tell this to Miss Fern when she questioned you?”

Oh Mommy, Mommy! Miss Fern doesn’t like me at all. I was afraid she’d think bad things about me if I told her I had the medal.

“Rhoda, you knew how much Mrs. Daigle wanted the medal, didn’t you?”

Yes, Mother, I guess I did. But it was silly to want to bury the medal pinned on Claude’s coat. Claude was dead. He wouldn’t know whether he had the medal pinned on him or not. … I’ve got the sweetest mother. I tell everybody I’ve got the sweetest mother in the world! If she wants a little boy that bad, why doesn’t she adopt another one?

“…We have nothing to say to each other.”

Okay. Okay, Mother.

“Look me in the eyes and tell me. I must know.”

No, Mother. I didn’t.