You Said You’re Sorry

“Say you’re sorry,” Julie said.

Ally, hands on hips, leaned closer: the better to shake her curls in her sister’s face.

Julie blew the curls away with a raspberry.

“Say it, say, it, say it,” she persisted.

Ally stepped back.

“Well. I’m. Sorry,” she said.

“That’s not the way to apologise,” her Dad began. But her Mum was too quick.

“As if you should talk,” she began.

“Apologise properly,” Julie took advantage of the situation.

“I’m sorry. If I hurt you,” Ally said. “Though I didn’t,”she whispered to herself.

Julie folded her arms and shook her head.

“No, no, no,” she said.

Her Mum took her chance. “That’s what you say,” she whispered.

“Well if you don’t keep on at me, and be offended when you...”, he replied.

Ally, hands on hips, feet apart, yelled, “Well what is the right way to say sorry?”

“I’m sorry,” said Julie.

“I’m sorry,” whispered her sister. “Is that it?”

Julie shook her head, “I’m sorry I hurt you.“

“I’m sorry I hurt you,” her sister said.

 “I’m sorry. I’ll try not to do it again.”

Ally repeated it word for word.

“Please forgive me,” Julie said.

“What if I don’t want to,” her sister replied.

Julie blinked away the tears welling in her eyes. 

“You don’t have to, but it’s better if you ask. Better if you forgive too.”

“Why?” Asked her sister.

But Julie was already hugging her close.

Mother and father stood staring at each other silenced.