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Hot Rod

Roddy and I had been dating for about a year, but after a time, I began to notice something
unusual. If something horrible happened, he would usually scowl and point his finger at me.

Complaining about how I could never do anything right and how I was always to blame for
everything that went wrong in his life. It appears that the only reason I was still with him was
for the social label of "a perfect boyfriend", which he used to boast about to his friends.

We ultimately started arguing because things were no longer the same. I didn't want to be
the one who had to take responsibility for everything or be used as a toy for him to show off
to his friends. The argument dragged on for weeks until he became so upset that he

exclaimed, "Do you want to hear about what I think, Vick? I've been nothing but kind to you,
you ungrateful brat. Okay, I'm done with you!" He stormed out of the house, causing a
booming sound on the door that could be heard throughout the neighborhood. During
these battles, he would occasionally leave and eventually return. The next day, while I was
cleaning up, I saw that all of his belongings had vanished.

I was paralyzed in shock by the thought until my thoughts had been interrupted. A soft
knock on the door startled me. I hurriedly opened the door, hoping to see Roddy standing
there, ready to apologize. Annie, Lana, and Polly, my next-door neighbors, disappointedly
surprised me. I welcomed them into my home and the talk moved on to how Roddy had
been trying to date them while we were fighting. They comforted me and convinced me that
I was not to blame. In the interest of helping me feel better, they resolve to assist in exacting

vengeance on him. We spent the entire afternoon strategizing our next moves.

Annie invited a few people, including Roddy and his pals, to a party the night after. We had
all dressed up and were on our way to the party. When we arrived, the building was
illuminated with lights beaming through the windows. We saw everyone we had invited,

including Roddy. The celebration was going well until each of them, Annie, Lana, and Polly,
asked Roddy to meet with them alone in different, secluded rooms. They would always go
along with him in a chat until he tried to ask one of them out again. They all turned him
down and recorded the entire chat. When everything was finished, we called a halt to the
celebration and instead of music, we played a recording of their chats. Everyone could hear
Roddy frantically looking for a new partner. He stood out like a raccoon among the throng;
everyone looked down on him and he was so noticeable that virtually everyone in the room

was staring at him, whispering, and discussing him. Roddy was so flustered and at a loss for
words that all he could do was angrily shout at the top of his lungs in humiliation. He dashed
out of the building, and our goal was complete.

by Naomi Hartato

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