Page 64 of Rescuing Mary

“That’s because we don’t know the gender of the baby. Annie just hopes it’s a boy. She wants a brother she can play with.”

“It is a boy,” Annie insisted. “I know it.”

“Just because you want something, doesn’t make it true,” Truck said gently. He had no idea where the words were coming from, but he had a vague recollection that he’d had this exact thought in the past. About what, he had no idea, and that frustrated him. “I might really, really want to remember you and my other friends, but just because I want to, doesn’t make it happen.”

Annie pouted. “But…girls are stupid! And mean. I want a baby brother I can show my Army man to and play in the dirt with. I want to teach him how to do the obstacle course at Daddy’s work.”

“You can teach a baby sister to do those things,” Fletch told her. “And who’s being mean to you, squirt?”

Annie’s lips pressed together before she mumbled, “No one.”

Fletch sighed.

“You know what drives bullies crazy?” Truck asked Annie.

“No, what?”

“When you ignore them. When they can’t get a reaction out of you.”

“How do you know?” she asked.

“Because people were mean to me when I was in school.”

“They were?” Annie’s eyes got huge in her face. “But you’re so big you could squash them like a bug. I’m littler than everyone.”

“I wasn’t always this size,” Truck said. “I was always tall, but I was skinny. So skinny people would call me beanpole.”

“Really?”

“Really. I learned to ignore the people who said that about me. Besides, if they were mean, I didn’t want to be their friend anyway.”

“Even if they were popular and everyone liked them?” Annie asked in a quiet voice.

“Even then. Do what you like to do, Annie. And to hell with what they think. Having one real friend is so much better than having ten fake friends.”

“I like Amy. She’s in my class and she’s nice.”

“Then be Amy’s friend, and don’t worry about everyone else. Besides, if kids don’t like you, they’re missing out. I’ve only known you for a little while and I think you’re amazing.”

She giggled. “You’ve known me for longer than that, Truck.”

“Nope.” He tapped his temple.

“Oh, yeah! I forgot.”

Truck smiled at her. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me in a long time.”

“Thanks, Truck,” Annie said, and gave him a hug. “Oh, but one more thing.”

“What’s that?”

“You owe me another five dollars. You said h-e-double hockey sticks.”

Truck mock scowled at her. “Guess your memory is really good, huh?”

“Yup,” she said happily.

Truck hadn’t yet put his wallet back in his pocket, so he pulled out another five and handed it to Annie.