At Moosejaw Heights Junior High School, Betty was in the auditorium laughing as she saw a kid in a clown costume slip on a banana peel. She was sitting beside Noah, who was laughing harder than she was.
It was the Moosejaw heights comedy night, where everyone was on stage, doing silly stuff and telling funny jokes.
After the clown kid was done with his act, Principal Peterson came out and announced the next performer. "Next up with her classic stand-ups," he said, "Here's Penelope Lang."
As soon as she heard her name, Penelope came on stage with a microphone in her hand.
"This ought to be fun," said Noah in a sarcastic tone.
"Tell me about it," said Betty, "Wake me when it's over." And she pretended to snore, which made Noah giggle a little bit.
"Hello everyone," said Penelope to the audience, "I would like to take this time to talk about a certain someone I know; Betty".
Betty was in total shock when she heard Penelope say her name.
"I mean, she likes outer space and other planets and stuff," said Penelope, "Of course, the way she looks, she probably is from another planet. And she ways she dances. She looks like she has an ice cube down her back". And Penelope started to imitate Betty's dancing.
Everyone in the audience was laughing, except Betty. The things that Penelope had said about her really hurt. Tears started to swell up in Betty's eyes and she got up off her seat and ran off.
Noah tried to stop her, but Betty was already out the door.
After her performance, Penelope was backstage, drinking a bottle of water, when she saw Noah staring at her with an angry glare.
"What's your problem Penelope?" he said, "Why did you say all those awful things about Betty?"
"Because they're true," said Penelope, "And besides, everyone liked them. Didn't you hear them laughing?"
"Well Betty wasn't laughing," said Noah, "She ran out of the auditorium crying her eyes out."
Penelope just scoffed and said, "Whatever. Like I care about that red headed loser."
Noah just glared at Penelope for a few seconds and then said, "You know what Penelope? You think you have everything, but I know one thing you're missing."
"And what might that be?" asked Penelope.
Noah looked at her and said, "A heart." And he walked away.
"I'm not that heartless," Penelope said to herself, "Am I?"