Page 2 of Rescuer

CHAPTER1

Bullies and New Friends

“Mommy,stop crying! it’s just school!” I yelled, jumping up and down in excitement, my curly blonde hair bouncing with me. I was dressed in my new school uniform—a plaid skirt with a red and blue design and a stiff, navy shirt. My hair was up in a ponytail, and I had my new, bright-pink, sparkly sneakers on. I felt like I was on top of the world.

My mom was upset about sending her youngest child to school. I didn’t understand how she could be upset when I was so excited. I was going to make new friends and finally be a big girl, just like my eight-year-old sister Renee and my ten-year-old brother Charlie. Wasn’t Mom used to this by now? Why wasn’t she happier?

“I know, baby, but I don’t want you to grow up anymore,” she said, giving me a hug as Renee and Charlie came up behind us. Renee was smiling at me as she twirled around in her new uniform and shoes.

“Look—we’re the same now,” she squealed, taking my hand while Charlie took my other one. They led me to the car as our mom lagged behind us. I giggled, overly excited for my first day.

* * *

“Bye, Mom! See you after school!”I excitedly yelled as I exited the car and walked hand in hand with Renee and Charlie to my new classroom. We stopped outside the bright blue door with words written across it, but I didn’t know how to read yet, so I turned to Renee. “What does it say?” I whispered, suddenly feeling nervous.

“Mrs. Daily’s kindergarten class,” she read as she and Charlie exchanged a look that I didn’t understand. “Come on, Noalie; time for your first day,” Renee said, reaching for the door handle.

“Wait—I want to talk to her,” Charlie suddenly said, pulling us away from the door.

“Yes, Charlie?” I asked, looking up at my big brother with wide eyes.

“Look—not everyone is going to be nice to you because some people just aren’t nice.” I frowned. Why weren’t people nice? “I want you to tell the teacher if anyone is mean to you. If any of the boys give you trouble, come tell me, and I’ll sort them out.” I giggled. He was such a big brother, as Mommy always said. “Now, I want you to be good today, and if anything happens, and I mean anything, tell the teacher that you want to speak to me and Renee, okay?” he said, giving me a small, brotherly lecture.

“I won’t let anyone bully me,” I promised, giving him a quick hug.

“Good luck, Lee,” Charlie said, letting Renee give me a brief hug and kiss on my cheek before they opened the door, submitting me to the classroom full of children my age.

My siblings walked me in, walking straight up to the teacher and telling her my name. The teacher—a young brunette lady with dazzling green eyes—smiled and ushered them to class before she took my hand, helping me settle in.

As I was playing with a few of the dolls that the classroom provided, the door slammed shut as a boy walked in with blond hair a shade darker than mine and green eyes. He had a cars backpack on and a uniform similar to mine, except he was wearing shorts. He walked up to the teacher with an older boy, most likely Renee’s age, and talked to the teacher as the boy stood there looking scared, playing with the hem of his untucked shirt.

“Bye, Halt!” the older boy called before exiting the classroom, leaving the little boy to fend for himself. Not even minutes later, he was playing and laughing wildly with the other boys in the classroom, his shyness forgotten.

“Your hair looks funny,” a girl said, coming up to me with her hands on her hips.

“No, it doesn’t,” I said, standing up as well.

“Did you stay out in the sun too long?” she asked. A group of girls and boys behind her started to giggle.

“No, it’s natural,” I said, repeating what my mom always said to me. Tears were beginning to brim my eyes. Was this what Charlie meant when he said not everyone was nice? Because they were being mean.

“It’s whiter than her skin,” a boy snickered, tugging at my ponytail.

I swatted his hand away, a tear sliding down my cheek. “Just leave me alone,” I pleaded, hoping to ignore the other kids.

“Come on; don’t cry,” a girl giggled.

“Cry baby!” a boy said as he pushed me, making me fall to the ground rather harshly.

“Get up, ugly,” someone else said.

I frantically looked around for the teacher. Where was she? “Leave her alone,” a boy said rather vehemently, coming to stand in front of me.

“She’s a baby!” the same boy who called me a cry baby whispered to him rather harshly.

“Get away from her,” my rescuer said, turning to me. I saw that it was that nervous boy from earlier—Halt. “Hey, don’t cry. They don’t deserve your tears,” he said, helping me up.

“They said I’m ugly,” I whispered, feeling utterly broken. Why wasn’t everyone nice? Momma always told me to be nice to people.

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