Bullying
Jake saw something very strange. Even stranger than his older sister Gladys after she dyed her hair green. There was a pirate standing on top of a teeter-totter. The pirate rocked back and forth as if he were on a ship in a stormy sea. Jake rubbed his eyes and stared. "Ahoy, my hearty!" roared the pirate when he saw Jake. "Me?" squeaked Jake. "Ahoy, cabin boy! What are you doing in those bushes?"
At recess, Stewart and I played catch. I forgot about Joe for a few minutes.
Then someone tapped me hard on my shoulder.
I spun around.
It was Joe.
"How's Dimples' little boo-boo?" he asked.
"Stop calling me that," I said.
"Now don't get so excited," he sneered. "It makes your face look like a tomato—a tomato with worm holes."
"Just one question, Turk," Mom says. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
Mom must have read another parenting article. I can almost see the headline: Getting your Teen to Open Up to You.
"Well, er...I wanted to get my business running before I said anything. And," I put on my most innocent face, "I had this crazy idea you might think my business was something shady, stupid or immoral."
I can't tell for sure, but I think Mom and Dad almost look ashamed.
Yes!
