Page 104 of Is She Really Going Out with Him?
Usually I would react, ask what the hell Penny’s problem is, but I don’t, I just take a beat. “That sounds really hard, Jess, I’m sorry,” I say. I see her soften, then she pulls her phone from her pocket and turns it around in her hand.
“It’s not just the video,” she says quietly. Then she unlocks her screen and shows me her class WhatsApp group. She covers her face as I scroll through the messages. Among all the unintelligible communications, I find references to Jess, some written byPenny and a girl called Cleo, some from unknown numbers that aren’t saved in Jess’s phone.
Jess Humphries is so fugly.
Jess H plays with baby toys.
Then there’s a link to one of her YouTube videos.
Who wants to go to Burger King after school? JH, SK, TT NOT INVITED.
Would you rather have Jess H’s ugly nose or Tiffany’s massive butt?
Then someone has created a poll.
Reams and reams of abuse; the messages go on and on. I cover my mouth in horror. How can twelve-year-olds be so cruel?
“Jess, this is, wow, this is not okay,” I say as calmly as I can. “How long has this been going on?” She doesn’t answer, but I scroll back and see it started over a month ago.
“It’s not that bad at school,” she says quietly. “It’s mainly Penny and I just avoid her. They take me off the chat sometimes, then add me back. I can’t escape it, Mum.”
My heart breaks for her. I want to tell her she can leave, we’ll find a new school, I’ll quit my job and homeschool her, but I bite back all my solutions, pull her into a hug, and let her sob into my shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize this was happening. Why didn’t you tell me, honey?” I whisper into her hair, and she shrugs.
“I didn’t want you to worry. I didn’t want you to be sad again.”
That hits me like a truck. “I’m sorry, Jess, but we have to tell the school.” She holds on to me, nodding into my neck. “I need to screenshot some of these messages, okay? Then I think you should come off this group. It’s important, for your sanity and your safety.”
She pulls away from me, and I look down at her tearstained cheek. It feels like only yesterday she was learning how to walk, how to talk, and now she has to deal with all this.
“Whatever Penny’s problem is, you know it’s not you, right? It’s not babyish to have an imagination, it’s wonderful.”
“Did you give them away, my Sylvanian Families?” she asks.
“No, they’re still in the kitchen cupboard.”
She gives me a grateful smile, and I wipe the tears from her face with my thumb. When we walk back into the kitchen, I hand Jess the plastic bag. She pulls me into a tight hug. “Thanks, Mum.” I know I haven’t solved anything, butsomethingfeels mended.
Google searches:
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Will Havers
Chapter 34
Discovering what Jess has beengoing through lights a fire beneath me. I have been sleeping on the job and I need to wake up. I call Dan, fill him in on the situation, and book us an appointment with the head teacher for the next day. To their credit, the school takes the allegations seriously. They promise to carry out a full investigation and to review their antibullying protocol. A week later, three pupils end up being suspended, Penny included, and a new module, “Bullying Awareness and Prevention,” is added to the curriculum. It’s not a magic wand, but already I can see Jess is less tense, as though a weight has been physically lifted off her. I’ve also instigated a new house rule: no phones upstairs and they’re switched off after eight p.m. It’s a bit draconian but Jess seems fine with it, and it’s helping me too. I’m reading more books. I’ve finished decorating my reading nook, and I’ve even called the rescue center to be put on a list for a new cat.
As for Will, he’s been gone two weeks now. It feels like an eternity. The office will stay open for another few weeks, but the huge task of packing up all Jonathan’s books and antiques willtake months. I have been working from home, keeping myself busy, trying to distract myself from the unpleasant feeling that Will’s distance brings. I want to call him, to know if he is happy in his new life, but I know I’ve given up the chance to be his friend. Luckily, he is not on social media, or my new phone policy would not be going so well. I did find his first news broadcast. He was, unsurprisingly, brilliant.
Crispin has asked for at least one more date for the column, to “make it lucky seven,” before I choose a date for the ball. I currently have Noah penciled in as my only realistic option. The children have been proposing people all week, but so far, we’ve struggled to come up with anyone for date seven. They both kept suggesting Will, and I had to explain that it needs to be someone who lives in Bath, preferably someone available before next Sunday.
On Monday, Ethan persuaded me to ask someone out in the supermarket. I’d just plucked up the courage to ask when the man’s wife appeared from the next aisle holding toilet paper and Pepto-Bismol. It was awkward, especially when we had to stand behind them in the checkout queue.
