HOW TO OUTPLAY A BULLY
by Nancy Wilcox Richards
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When I got to the rink, kids were already in the dressing room changing.
“Hey, Tony! Sit here!” hollered Matthew. He looked huge wearing all his goalie gear. Almost like he should be in junior high school.
I sat down and looked around the room. Right away I saw Berk and Drew. I swallowed hard. I could feel my heart beating in my chest. I scanned the rest of the room. Aaron was there. And Nicholas. And James. “Where’s the coach?” I asked.
“He had to make a phone call,” answered Matthew. He’ll be right back. Why?”
I eyed Berk and Drew again. My heart started to speed up. “No reason. I was just wondering.”
Getting dressed was easier and faster this time. And the gear didn’t feel as weird. I knew skating wouldn’t be a problem today. I glanced down at my skates. This time I remembered to take off my skate guards. I was all set.
“Okay Blazers! Let’s go!” came a voice from across the room.
I knew without looking that the voice belonged to Berk. The team all headed in his direction. Slowly I stood up and walked toward the group.
Berk watched me. He waited until I was halfway across the room before he said, “Not you, Tony Baloney. We want real Blazers.”
I stopped. The room grew quiet. Some of the kids looked at me and then back to Berk. Most of the kids looked at the floor.
“Sit down, Tony Baloney,” he ordered.
I gulped. I looked around the room. No one looked back at me. And I knew why. Everyone was afraid of Berk.
“Yeah, Tony Baloney. He said to sit down,” snarled Drew.
I wondered if he meant right there. Sit on the floor. Or was I allowed to go back to the bench. I swallowed hard. Hand sat right on the floor.
“Look at that,” laughed Berk. “Tony Baloney isn’t even smart enough to sit on the bench.”
“Lay off of him,” said Matthew.
Berk looked at Matthew. “Who’s gonna make me? You?” He took a menacing step toward him.
Matthew glanced sympathetically at me. I knew he’d tried his best to help me.
“Okay, Blazers,” continued Berk. “Ready?”
I watched as they all extended their arms. And then Berk chanted, “Bayfield Blazers are so cool. Bayfield Blazers really rule!”
Then all the kids tapped knuckles. “Go, Blazers!” chanted the whole team. One by one the team left the dressing room and headed out toward the ice. I got up off the dressing-room floor. “I will not let Berk get to me,” I silently repeated in my head. “I will not let Berk get to me.”
From How to Outplay a Bully. Copyright © 2008 by Nancy Wilcox Richards. Illustrations copyright © by David Sourwine. All rights reserved.
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