Hair-Raising Comeback

(I am a 12-year-old girl, and my older sister is 15. We are Hispanic. I have very curly hair, and my mother’s is just like it. Everyday, my mom brushes her hair out into a long frizzy mess around her shoulders, and insists on me doing it as well. She also insists on not ever using styling products for either of us. Consequently, I have to wear my hair in an afro everyday. I get bullied at school for it, but my older sister bullies me worse.)

Sister: “Ha! Afro Puff! Afro! Ha! You [racist slur]!”

(Mom hears her but says nothing.)

Me: *to sister* “Afro-dite you mean.”

Sister: “…?”

(My mom gave me a nod of approval. My older sister never bothered me again.)