|
Theresa is a Eurasian girl with a complex family history.
Her mother is of Scottish, Indian, and Chinese descent, while her father was
a Japanese soldier during the occupation of Malaysia. After the war,
Theresa's mother remarried, and her foster father treated her as his own
child. Theresa's only close childhood friend, Jeanette, moved away during
college and was distant until she reappeared one day, accusing Theresa of
dating her boyfriend, Jim.
Theresa was surprised and offended by Jeanette's sudden hostility, but her
former friend's accusations were only the beginning of her troubles.
Jeanette threatened to expose a secret that Theresa had confided in her:
that she was the result of an affair between her parents. Although Theresa
was not ashamed of her father's identity, her mother had warned her that
other children would mock her if they knew the truth.
Jeanette betrayed Theresa's trust by telling Jim and others that Theresa had
called him a gigolo and that she was a "bastard." Jim, in turn, ended their
friendship and spread the word to others, causing some of Theresa's
classmates to treat her coldly and spread rumors behind her back.
Theresa confided in a few close friends, who in turn went to the
Vice-Principal, Mr. Hans, to report the bullying. Mr. Hans gave a pep talk
at the next assembly, using Theresa's story to illustrate the importance of
trust, friendship, and integrity. He encouraged everyone to ignore malicious
talk and assured Theresa that he would solve the matter.
The talk had an impact, and Theresa's classmates showed their support by
applauding her when she entered the classroom. Someone even wrote a message
on the board to show their respect for her and her parents.
Although Theresa regretted telling Jeanette her secret, the experience
taught her to be cautious with whom she trusted. She learned that true
friends would not betray her confidence and that honesty and integrity were
essential to any relationship. Despite the painful experience, she was
grateful for the support she received from her true friends and the
Vice-Principal, who helped her weather the storm of rumors and betrayal. |
