Grandma looked at me sternly, as I stomped into her kitchen, mumbling in a voice I did not think she could 
hear. “That stupid Melonie!” I muttered. “She thinks she is so perfect, queen of the world!”
I grabbed a cold Coke from her refrigerator. Its pale green bottle made my mouth water after a tiring day at the high school.
Grandma stood up and walked over to me. “What is the matter with you, young lady? You know what I have always told you. ‘If you can’t say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.”
“Well, I certainly couldn’t think of anything nice to say about Melodie!” I exclaimed. She is a bully, she teases kids that don’t have as nice of clothes as she does, or aren’t as pretty, or popular. I hate her!”
Grandma pulled up a chair beside me and sat down as I picked up my drink. The checkered tablecloth held a wet spot where the drink had moisture running down its side. I found myself using my index finger to trace the circle, over and over. I knew Grandma was right and she had told me, over and over not to speak badly of anyone since I was a little child. I as ashamed.
“Who was this Melodie treating like that? Grandma said to me, her hand on my shoulder.
“Everone.” I said with a hiss in my voice. “It especially bothers me when she picks on kids who already have low self-esteem or can’t buy nice clothes. I wish she could spend just one day not being ‘Miss Rich and Beautiful’ and learn what it feels like.
I though of Grandma’s quote about not saying anything at all if you can’t say something nice. I couldn’t imagine myself going up to Melodie and saying what Grandma suggested. It just didn’t seems strong enough somehow.
Then I remembered a quote I had read in literature class, just that day. I recalled days of sitting in the warm breeze on the beach and writing things in the sand that were bothering me, and watching the waves crash in and take them away. I decided to do something a little bit more my style. I Tomorrow, I would write a note, fold it, and put it on her desk before she came in. It would say something about her attitude and she would not know who had said it. It had come from our literature book, just a few days ago. I liked it, I had made a point to remember it because it reminded me of Grandma’s saying. It said, simply,
“If you must speak ill of another, do not speak it, write it in the sand near the water’s edge.”
by Napolean Hill
beebeesworld 
stuffitellmysister said,
February 10, 2014 @ 5:13 am
“If you must speak ill of another, do not speak it, write it in the sand near the water’s edge.” Love this…..great post!
beebeesworld said,
February 10, 2014 @ 10:57 pm
The quote you repeated was a prompt- but my grandma really did always say “If you can’t say anything nice,about someone, don’t say anything at all. Once as a child when she said it, I started crying an when they ask me why, I said “You mean I can’t talk?”
stuffitellmysister said,
February 11, 2014 @ 4:22 pm
🙂 I grew up hearing these words…still speaking at times when I should have held my tongue. Do we live and learn? Hmmmm. Very thought provoking ♥
beebeesworld said,
February 12, 2014 @ 11:15 pm
I can still see my grandma’s face as she would chastise me. Once, when she said “If you can’s say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” I looked up at har and said with teary eyes, “You mean I can’t talk?”
beebeesworld said,
February 12, 2014 @ 11:17 pm
I mispelled “Her” sorry!
Dugutigui said,
February 17, 2014 @ 10:22 am
You can be cerebral about things you hate, but most of the things you like tend to be very emotive. In my case I don’t criticize what I can’t understand 🙂
beebeesworld said,
February 18, 2014 @ 2:34 am
I guess we often speak before we think…beebee