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Simon and the other monitor walked ahead of us. As I began to walk forward, Morgan came up alongside of us and handed me my tooth. Simon was still crying, and his voice shook as we were escorted up the ramp to the front office.
“Hollis, stay here and don’t move,” she said. “Come on, Morgan. Let’s get you your popsicle.”
Morgan turned and smiled at me as he trotted alongside the monitor on the way to the Snack Shack. I couldn’t hear what she said exactly, but Morgan emerged from the crowd with his orange popsicle. He pulled the wrapper off and held it up for me to see while he grinned from ear to ear. I smiled and gave him a thumbs-up.
I was led to the nurses’ office by the playground monitor. While the monitor explained what happened and that I lost my tooth, I watched Simon. He sat on one of the cots and continued to cry and quiver.
The nurse helped me rinse my mouth out and let me pick out a plastic treasure chest for my tooth that fell out. I put my tooth in a tiny green chest, and she gave me an ice pack for my cheek, then led me to another cot opposite Simon. He was still crying, which I thought was weird because I didn’t actually hurt him. You’re only crying because I tripped you in front of the entire school.
I heard the bell ring, meaning the lunch recesses for all grades was over with. How much trouble was I in? It was still a while longer before the principal walked in with my dad.
“Hollister, would you care to join us?” Principal Walker asked. He blocked my view of Simon and gestured to the door.
* * *
I clutchedmy green treasure chest in my hand while I held Dad’s hand on the way to the car. I was being sent home for the rest of the school day. I climbed into the back seat when Dad opened the car door.
“Hollis, you can’t fight at school, son,” Dad said as soon as he got in the car.
“I know. I said I was sorry, and I explained I looked for an adult. I didn’t go up to the kid planning on fighting! I didn’t even throw a punch! He did! He knocked my loose tooth out!”
“Hollis, calm down.”
“You told us no one can take anything from us that we earned. Morgan won the first grade spelling bee, and that popsicle was his. I just told the kid it wasn’t right and he owed Morg the snack or a quarter.”
Dad sighed and looked at me in the rearview mirror.
“Hollis, that boy is in the fifth grade and almost twice your size.”
“I just used the basic takedown move from karate. I didn’t hit him. Just knocked him down.” I shrugged. “He’s a bully, and I wasn’t going to let him take anything from Morg.”
“I’m proud of you for sticking up for Morgan. You guys are brothers and will be best friends for life. I’m glad you had the skills to protect yourself, but I would have liked you to have found an adult and let them resolve it.”
“But he took something—”
“Were you or Morgan in immediate physical harm?”
Oh.
“No.”
“If anyone is hurting you or your brother, then you defend yourself and him. If neither of you are being hurt, you find an adult and wait. Understand?”
“Yes.” I sighed and slumped back against the seat. As we drove home, I stared at the green chest that held my tooth. Would my behavior at school mean the Tooth Fairy wasn’t coming? Was I going to be grounded?
* * *
After dinner,Morgan and I cleared the table in the kitchen while Mom sat with Dad on the couch. She’s supposed to stay off her feet as much as possible until our baby brother arrives. Morgan and I quietly worked in the kitchen while Dad told Mom all the details from the conference with the principal. I tried to pay close attention.
“The principal said they’ve had continual problems with the older boy antagonizing not only younger kids, but kids in his own grade.”
“That’s a shame. Hopefully that boy’s parents get it under control before he bullies the wrong kid.”
Dad laughed, causing me to look up from wiping off the table. Mom was leaning against Dad on the couch with her feet up. He was rubbing her stomach where Chase was at. I wish he’d hurry it up.
“I think the boy did bully the wrong kid,” Dad said quietly.
Simon didn’t bully me.
