Candace’s eyes widened in surprise. What did he just say? How could he say that about her Mom?
No! Mommy was not a bad woman! Candace shook her head, her hands waving as she tried to explain to the other kids.
A little girl was standing next to Tylor. She looked like she was gonna laugh out loud, “Look at her. She’s so pathetic. She’s gonna cry again, so everyone will feel bad for her. She’s such a crybaby.”
This girl was from the White House. Her name was Betty, the firstborn of her Mom. Her face was a bit chubby, and she had lovely eyes. Betty put a lot of effort into her clothes every day when she came to school.
She had been the most popular little girl before Candace showed up.
After Candace came, however, the other kids seemed to be enjoying spending their time with Candace.
All the teachers also seemed to adore her. No one paid any attention to her new dresses anymore.
Betty hated Candace for that.
Candace was gonna cry after hearing such bad words. But she managed to hold back her tears.
She gestured at those kids.
My Mom is not a bad woman. Why are you saying that?
“You can’t even talk. Why don’t you go to one of those special schools? My Mom said Candace came here because she has a rich Dad. She was disabled, obviously. She should have gone to those schools for morons.” Tylor rolled his eyes. He was just a little boy, but his intention and words were vile.
Betty nodded, “I agree.”
Other kids also came over. They didn’t know what was happening. But they also had to admit that Candace was a little mute.
“My aunt said it was Candace’s Mom’s fault that she’s a mute. She has done too many bad things. So God punished her daughter.”
“They said Candace’s Mom doesn’t know how to teach kids to speak. That is the reason.”
“My aunt also said Candace’s Mom made my Grandma sick.”
Tylor used to like Candace, but Candace never talked to him, making him mad at her. He just wanted to bully her when her brother was away.
“I see. No wonder she can’t say a thing,” Betty exclaimed. She didn’t even know Candace’s Mom was a bad woman.
No…. I actually can talk. It’s not Mom’s fault. Candace’s eyes were filled with tears while gesturing her hands, but she couldn’t spit out a word.
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and opened her mouth. But a panic seized her. She felt like she couldn’t even breathe.
She dropped her gaze in the end, feeling worthless.
“Let’s go. We shouldn’t waste our time with a mute. Let’s go pick tomatoes over there. If she rats on us before Joe, Joe will scold us.” Betty pulled at Tylor’s arm and took him away.
Candace felt so sad.
It was all her fault. If she could speak, they wouldn’t have done this to her. She would also be able to explain when they called her Mom a bad woman. Cody came back and saw Candace’s red eyes.
“What’s wrong, Candace? What happened?”
Candace didn’t want to worry him, so she pointed at the little frog.
Cody smiled and gave her a hug, “Don’t be afraid, silly. Your big brother’s here. I’ll protect you.”
“Guys! Have you finished picking tomatoes? We’re gonna go.” Joe shouted nearby. The babies lined up, walking out of the field in order. Joe took them back to the classroom, “I need to check out your outcome guys. Please put the baskets on the table so I can take a look.”
Cody and Candace were sitting together.
Cody didn’t pick too many tomatoes because he thought Candace would pick a lot when he was away. But Candace also didn’t pick many.
“Why did you only pick so little, Candace?” Cody was curious.
Candace suddenly blushed.
Joe noticed they didn’t get many tomatoes, so he said, “Amy got injured and Cody helped her. That’s why they didn’t pick enough tomatoes. I’m giving mine to them.” Saying that, he poured his basket of tomatoes equally into Candace and Cody’s.
Betty, however, suddenly stood up from her seat, pointing at Candace, “She ate all the tomatoes she picked up. That’s why she doesn’t have many.”
No! She didn’t!
Candace shook her head in panic. How could Betty lie?
“I also saw it. Candace ate them all,” Tylor also raised his hand, accusing Candace.
Candace couldn’t talk anyway. He knew she couldn’t explain anything, even if they lied.
Candace’s eyes widened in disbelief. She didn’t eat them. How could they do this to her?
Cody couldn’t watch this anymore. He shot up from his seat, glaring at Betty and Tylor, “Stop saying that! Candace will never do such things! She’s my sister. I know her the best!”
Cody’s friend also stood up, “Joe, Candace is a good kid. She will never do that.” Saying that, he gave the little girl a look.
Amy also stood up, “Sir, Candace and I saw a little frog, and I was scared. That’s why we didn’t pick enough tomatoes. Candace is my best friend. She will never eat tomatoes behind everyone’s back.”
Betty huffed and looked away. How could Cody do this? He wouldn’t even cast her a glance, and he was holding Amy’s hand. Now, he was still helping Amy.
Joe started to have a headache. He stopped the quarrel of the kids and asked, “Betty, Tylor, you guys insisted that Candace ate those tomatoes, right? Did anyone else also see that?”
Kids were simple. If they didn’t have any secret agreement before the conversation, they usually wouldn’t say anything. Betty and Tylor were the only kids who accused Candace of eating those tomatoes. No one else stood up, even Joe just asked.
Joe instantly understood that Betty and Tylor were probably lying. The field was small. Other kids would also see it if Candace really ate those tomatoes.
Cody also predicted that. He said, “It seems like no one else has seen that except for you two. I think you two are lying. If you still insist on accusing my sister, you must answer my questions first. Where did you see her when she was eating those tomatoes? When did you see it? How many did she eat?”