Judging Joey by Elizabeth John Read Free Book Online Page B

family and lots of friends and you feel he doesn’t deserve it.”
    She opened her eyes wide. “Well, when you put it that way, I really do sound like an awful person. It’s more than that.”
    “Well, I should hope so. I thought I raised a caring, thoughtful person, and that’s the person I see sitting here in front of me.”
    She smiled again. Her uncle would love her no matter what kind of person she was, but she wanted to clear the air and fast. Even if she couldn’t tell him the whole truth, she could spare some of it. Madeline only hoped she didn’t hurt his feelings too badly. “Uncle Mark, you’re the last person I want to harm.”
    He patted her hand. “Go on, child, say what you really mean.”
    A wave of apprehension swept over her, but she pressed on, determined to reveal some of her feelings. “I realized I’ll never have what he has. I know I have cousins on Aunt Patty’s side, but she’s gone now and they’re not my blood relatives . . . and, besides, they live all over the country. You’re the only close relative I have. I don’t have siblings, never will. When I saw the O’Neill family there today sticking together, it reminded me of how sometimes I get so worried about being alone. When you’re gone, I’ll be all by myself. Life’s already been so unfair to me.”
    “Maddie, life’s not fair. We all have our own paths to take. You suffered a great loss when you were young. You have to trust there’s a reason for everything.”
    “So what’s the reason for my principal asking Joey to speak to my class on respecting others after the assembly next week?”
    Her uncle’s bushy eyebrows rose in surprise. “You’re kidding? Well, that’s an interesting turn.”
    “Is it?” Madeline poured the tea into two china cups. “I find it ludicrous. The man thinks only of himself. How’s he going to help my students respect other people’s feelings when he doesn’t?”
    “Give the man a chance. He may surprise you now that he’s grown.”
    “Doubtful.” She sipped her tea. “Trust me, no good will come of it.”
    He reached for the teacup she offered him. “I have a feeling there’s more to this story than you’re telling me.”
    She drew in a deep breath and nodded. Her uncle was too perceptive sometimes. “Something happened in high school that changed everything for me. And it was all because of Joey and his moronic, immature friends.”
    “What was it? What did they do? Did they hurt you?”
    She took in a deep breath and sighed. “Not physically, but what they did was unforgivable. They played a horrible prank, Uncle Mark. Then his friend Scott spread awful rumors about me. Joey, his family, everyone believed him. It ruined everything for me. High school was never the same.”
    Tears welled up and she grabbed a napkin from the table to wipe them away.
    “Your aunt and I always suspected something had happened, but you never would say. No matter how many times we asked, you wouldn’t open up.”
    “I’ve cried enough tears because of Joey, and I won’t any more. What’s passed is in the past. I will tell you that his prank cost me my best friend. She started to believe the rumor and never talked to me again.”
    Her uncle paled and sat back in the chair. Tears welled in his eyes. “What was the rumor, Maddie?”
    Ten years ago Madeline had wanted to spare her uncle and aunt any heartache because of all the good they had done for her, and now she was doing exactly the opposite of her intention. She blew out a sigh. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore right now. You understand, don’t you, Uncle Mark?”
    Her uncle remained silent. She wished she could erase the stunned look on his face.
    “I’m so sorry, my Maddie.”
    They sat quietly for a few moments, lost in their own thoughts, sipping their tea.
    Her uncle looked up. “Something doesn’t make sense. You don’t have to answer, but promise me you’ll mull it over. If Joey and his family blamed you ten