I just saw her for the first time yesterday (school started), and already my thoughts are consumed with jealousy and/or envy.  I will probably never measure up to her: I can see that in the eyes of the other kids already.

Jo Donna is everything I am not.  Pretty, to the point of being gorgeous, with long, curly ash-blonde hair that falls to the middle of her back in long, tumbling curls and ringlets, huge dark-brown eyes fringed with impossibly-long lashes (made even longer with mascara), perfectly sculpted eyebrows, a nice, pert nose, beautiful teeth, dainty bow lips, and a heart-shaped face that's smooth and free from any blemishes.

Meanwhile, I look dumpy.  Chubby, with limp, baby-fine hair that's no special color (maybe dishwater-blonde), small grey eyes, stubby lashes, a big Roman nose (think Barbra Streisand), thick lips, a crooked smile, discolored teeth (due to the medication I've been on due to my epilepsy), a round stomach that makes me look pregnant, and arms and legs that resemble tree turnks: let's face it: there's nothing "cute", "small", or "skinny" about ME!

Kids pick on me constantly.  They call me "The Creature From Outer Space", "El Chunko", "Fatty-Patty", "Tub-O'-Lard", "Fatso", and "Elephant-Girl" among other less-than-desirable nicknames.  They also call me "Special-Needs" and "Retarded" (I have a learning disability on top of having epilepsy; I am in the Special-Needs Class here at school).

Most days, I try to fake sick, just so I can get out of going to school and/or facing these kids, but Mama, she makes me go anyway unless I'm REALLY sick.  She knows all my tricks, so I can't get away with hardly anything.  It really sucks.  She doesn't understand all the pain I go through when I hear the Mean Kids teasing me constantly.  I bet if she were to stay with me at school, she would finally believe me and then see why I come home from school in tears practically every afternoon (like today, and the school year's just started!).

I wish I could take a picture of the New Girl and see that she has only added to my ever-growing list of problems I face at school.  I also wish that Mama could homeschool me, so I wouldn't have to even LOOK at stupid Jo Donna Griggs or hear the catcalls from the other kids!!  Then Mama will see that what I am trying to tell her or that the tears are REAL, NOT fake!