Multicoloured Necklace

Part 1

Houses. Cookie cutter houses.  As  Cordelia Low looked out of the window of her father's BMW, each seemed no different from the last. Each was humongous, with an ultimate family luxury - a swimming pool in its backyard.

Cordelia father, Samuel Low, a successful commodities trader, had decided that moving to a  neighborhood with well-oiled and well-heeled families would be ideal for his and his family’s standing. Cordelia's somewhat snooty, always-well-dressed mother Jenna and spoiled brother,relished the idea.

And so the family made a move to Sim Lee Avenue. 

"Wah! A swimming pool! Mum, can I buy a new Nerf gun? I can use it as a water pistol! " Cornelius sniggered, knowing that Jenna would give in to his whim. 

"Well....ok, but study for that Math test first." Jenna waved him away, busy polishing her nails. 

Her response was no surprise. Whatever Cornelius wanted, he got. It was different for the short, stumpy Cordelia, who had another difficulty apart from being vertically challenged - she spoke with a stutter. Samuel and Jenna had been too disappointed with the way she had grown and developed to pay her much heed. 

Part 2

The reaction of schoolmates to Cordelia expected – no one wanted much to do with her.

The 12 year old was the Circus star for the rest of the children in the town. It was as if they were visiting her tent to watch her because she had a stutter. It didn't help that she lacked height. 

"Hey, Short of Legs! Do you want to play basketball?" The boys would chortle and refuse to hand the ball over. Some of them would even demand lunch money in exchange for letting her onto the court. 

"Short of Looks! Blubberball! Don't bother coming over to this table, we're full." The girls would cry. 

Her teacher gave the class a long lecture on ostracism, but all it amounted to was more isolation. The boys stated that their basketball games were off limits to her. It didn't help that the class' physical education teacher called her 'short stuff" and made fun of her for not being able to shoot hoops. 

"All anyone can do is pass the ball to you," he said. 

Girls wouldn't let her into their social groups. 

"She's kind of dumpy. And she's always going "T_t_t..."  The stutter was a cruel mimic. "Won't it be embarrassing if she hangs out with us?"  After their customary snigger, there would be giggles and trips to the bathrooms with makeup exchanges, all with her absent. 

It didn't help that her parents put Cornelius as a priority. "Cornelius needs the money to hang out with friends tomorrow," They would tell her before brushing off requests for more money for school supplies. 

She would sneak a sandwich into the school's library during recess. At least she had books for company. 

Part 3

Cordelia grew up in family home at Sim Lee Avenue, despite the challenges of constant bullying and ostracism. She even secured a job as an information technology professional when she was in her early twenties, thanks to long periods of isolation - she had nothing to do but tinker with computer keyboards. 

But -

"Cordelia, would you like to join us for lunch?" Her colleagues would cajole her. 

"N_no thanks, not very hungry, " Was her constant reply. Of course, the invitations stopped. A constant wallflower at gatherings, she even offended some of them by speaking out of turn. 

"Why'd you say that?" some of her nicer workmates would question with furrowed brows. 

Part 4

Cordelia wasn't concerned with social interactions. In fact, she detested them. That is, until Carl Singh joined the department. 

The young man, rather stocky and a little unkempt, deliberately asked for her opinions about computer programs. He walked with a slight limp. Her quiet, serious nature drew him.

Carl never gave up trying to get to know Cordelia, going so far as to visit the townhouse where her family lived.

"Cordelia, you're having lunch with me," he insisted from the bottom of her first-storey bedroom window. 

"C-Carl, I already said that I'll have to finish the Rolex Watch website over lunch," she sighed. "P_please go home."

Carl quietly made himself scarce. Cordelia flung herself on her bed and broke into tears. He seemed sincere, but why -

"Hey, have you finished sobbing yet? I'm hungry," Carl's voice rang from the base of the window. 

"O__o_ok, you win. I'll come out." Cordelia let him into her house. Her parents, who were out of the country, would flip if they knew about the presence of some strange man. 

Unexpectedly, Carl grabs her by the shoulders. Shocked, Cordelia struggled to free herself, scratching his arms. 

"Hey! Ow! All I wanted to do was give you this," In his hand was the most appealing, multicoloured shell necklace Cordelia had ever seen. 

"Do you know why I insisted on talking to you? I know what being slightly different is like. No one wanted to know me either," He pointed to his stocky self and his slightly bent leg. "Accident as a small kid. No one wanted to let me play soccer with them after that."

Cordelia finally stopped sobbing and looked at him. He continued his little speech. 

"The next time you feel out of place, remember this necklace and its colours. It'll remind you that it's ok not to be like anyone else.

What could Cordelia do? Hug him, of course. 

Part 5

And letting Carl into her life was the best thing that Cordelia could have done for herself. She became one of the IT department's managers, and enjoyed mentoring new staff. 

The two eventually married in a raucous yet intimate wedding attended by family members and close friends. 

Cordelia eventually discovered a new passion, too. She began to volunteer at a centre where children stuttered. 

All the time wearing Carl's multicoloured necklace.