Big Mouth Ugly Girl

Big Mouth Ugly Girl plagiarism

Big Mouth Ugly Girl by Joyce Carol Oates

"Dear Ursula,

I saw you in school yesterday. Not seeing me. Or if you did you looked right through me. (Maybe I'm a ghost?)
Ok- I understand. (I guess) Big Mouth Donaghy isn't cool and Ursula Riggs is one of Rocky Rover's coolest individuals.
(I'm not going to harrass you like some nut, I promise. This is the final time I will write.)
(It's just...I'm so lonely.)
I think people wanted me- or somebody- to be the psychoterrorist. When it didn't turn out they were--are-- dissapointed.
Ursula who were the "witnesses" who reported me? Do you know? I keep asking myself: Did they hate me so much? Did they really really HATE ME SO MUCH? Or-- did they think they were reporting the truth?
Ursula Riggs is cool because: 1) You don't give a damn for them. Their false eyes and smiling mask faces. 2) You are YOU. Everybody respects that.
I never used to be lonely at home, but now I hate them talking to me. They act like I'm sick. They want me to see a shrink. (Sure! "For the record.") Maybe I can get a prescription for Prozac, like mom. She says it "helps her cope."
My dad is away a lot and when he's home he is tired and distracted. He blames me (I know) for jeopardizing the name DONAGHY. I know that dad and mom are ashamed of me though they're careful not to say it to my face.
It's true. Except for Big Mouth non of this trouble would have happened.
My heart is a stone and I like the feeling. I guess they think I'm "depressed". I'm not, I am only now seeing the TRUTH.
I wish you could be my friend Ursula. The girls I used to know I don't trust now. You're different- you're not a "girl" like them.
Even your name- URSULA. It's special.
(Ok, I'm through. I promise I won't write again.)
Your Friend, Matt Donaghy

It was two forty seven am. Matt was hunched over his computer, sweaty and anxious. He'd wasted hours clicking around on the internet looking for people worse off than himself , and now this crazy dorky letter to Ursula Riggs- this was the weirdest behavior yet.
Matt reread his email to Ursula and decided not to click SEND but DELETE.
Are you sure? Y/N
Y. Matt was sure.
If the guys had known, they'd have approved.


mine

Dear Ursula,
Thanks for writing me back. I haven't been feeling too well lately. (maybe I am diseased?) Everyone is treating me like I AM A DISEASE.
Except you. You are the only one who writes me back. Did you know none of my so called "friends" even write me back anymore? I feel all alone except for you. You are special. You know me like my friends never will. Even my family-- they are all willing to believe the worst about me from some strangers. You don't even know me yet-- you know me, you know?
It's funny to think people don't trust me now when I'm the one who does not trust THEM.
My parents are always talking about me when they think I can't hear (or maybe they know I can). They say I am DIFFERENT, whatever that means.
You are DIFFERENT but no one would dare say that to you as a negative thing. That's why you are the coolest girl in school- you are a not a "girl" like them.
Well I am not a "boy" anymore-- my mom says, but she doesn't think I am a man. (I know. I can tell) I don't know what that makes me. (I know I am not a woman.) An alien maybe?
I think if there were aliens on Earth you would be the one who knew how to talk to them. I guess that's why I am talking to you and no one else.
Well I guess I'm through rambling for now. (I'm not but I don't want you to get too bored.)
Your friend Matt Donaghy


Dear Matt:
U r is the alien whisperer :0
Don't be so crazy.