Chapter Thirteen - Not-So-Meanie

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Not-So-Meanie

THE SWINGS SLOWED. The bell rang.

Bluster didn’t bounce ahead this time. He walked with Pebble. Quietly. Side by side.

No one whispered when they passed. No one laughed. They just smiled.

In class, Bluster raised his hand once. Just once. And when he spoke, it was kind. The room listened. The teacher smiled.

At lunch, he didn’t knock over any trays. He sat where there was room, asked before sitting, and traded an orange for a pudding cup. It was a good trade.

Pebble sat with him.

And when recess came, Bluster didn’t barge into any games.

He waited.

Someone waved him in.

He joined.

He laughed.

Everyone did.

And it turned out… maybe Bluster wasn’t such a meanie after all.