Page 16 - Cyber Nightmare
P. 16
let this stuff bother you. Think of it as poison. That’s
what it is! So don’t drink it, don’t let it get inside of you!’
She squeezed his hands. ‘Do you understand what I’m
saying?’
Neil nodded slowly. ‘I understand – but it’s – ’ he 5
began.
‘It’s what?’
‘It’s – hard.’
‘Of course it’s hard to hear things like that about your-
self. But you’ve done the right thing in telling me about it. 10
And I’m telling you that there’s nothing wrong with you,
with the way you smell or the way you dress. Nothing
at all. You hear me?’ She paused and squeezed his hands
again. ‘Someone is trying to get at you. Someone who’s
jealous of you or angry at you.’ 15
‘So I don’t need new duds?’
‘Your clothes are just fine. Besides, new clothes now
would only be a signal to your anonymous friend that they
have got you under their control.’
Neil forced a smile to show his mother that she was 20
right. Inside, the hurt remained, but he wasn’t going to let
her see it.
15