lives, he ’ ll be a vegetable. Bullying is not going to happen on this bus, do I make myself clear? ”
Several students nodded, some rolled their eyes. “ By law, I can ’ t toss you off my bus, even though I ’ d love to do that to some of you. ” She glared directly at Greg. “ But I can call your parents and have them come get you. I ’ m sure they won ’ t mind missing work because you insisted on tormenting another student, right, Greg? ” She didn ’ t wait for an answer. “ I can, and will, forbid you from get ting on my bus if I see any of you bullying. Do I make myself clear? ” Dead silence.
“ I said do I make myself clear? ” Heads nodded and a few yese s were heard. She sat back down, offering Max and Izzy a wink as she did.
The ride to school was very quiet . Max heard a few whispers, but nothing compared to the usual. The bus arrived at the school and the driver allowed everyone off except Max and Izzy.
“ I know you two asked me not to say anything to those kids about the way they mistreat you both. I hope I didn ’ t cause you any problems, but seeing my nephew with all those tubes running out of him about killed me, ” she said , sadness tightening her kind face . “ I didn ’ t point you ou t specifically, so I hope that will help. ” Max thanked her quietly and left.
While Max knew what happened on the bus was a good thing , JD stress ed about it , which didn ’ t surprise Max at all. He got to gym class and quickly changed, keeping his back to the lockers so no one could see the marks on his back.
“ Move it, Lumpy, ” Jeff said, shoving Max aside as they walked toward the basketball court three minutes later.
“ Coach is out today, and he ’ s asked me to sub for him. ” Coach Mather stood before the class detailing the lesson plan. Max knew the coach and didn ’ t have much respect for him. He worked mostly with special teams in football, but sometimes he ’ d assist C oach during baseball season.
“ You ’ ll be divided up into four different teams, ” Mather explained. “ You ’ ll play each team for seven minutes. I ’ ll blow my whistle and your team will rotate to the next team until all the teams have played each other. ” Coach Mather handed a ball to the team next to Max and one to him. Not expecting it, the ball bounced of f Max ’ s stomach and dribbled across the court.
Coach Mather laughed. “ Good catch, Lumpy. ” Max looked at him in surprise. He couldn ’ t believe what Mather had said. “ Come o n . Hustle it up and get the ball. ” Mather shook his head in disgust and strutted away.
Max jogged over to the ball and began bouncing it. It was worse than baseball. For the life of him he couldn ’ t figure out the rhythm. Max had all the grace and elegance of an athlete. JD had none, not one ounce. Several of his teammates trudged behind him, mocking his attempts. Fortunately, the whistle blew and they ripped the ball from his hands.
The first two rounds, no one passed him the ball. He ran faithfully up and down the court, but no one bothered with him. Max worked with JD, refusing to allow him to quit, no matter how disheartening it seemed. All the while sweat poured off his body.
It ’ s okay if you don ’ t get the ball, JD, this is still good exercise. Besides, no one is being mean, right ? You can do this. Max repeated his pep talk a dozen times.
The whistle blew and they switched again. Now he played opposite Jeff, his old teammate, and he could tell by the look in Jeff ’ s eyes this would not be good.
And he was right—Jeff took every opportunity to shove and elbow Max in the back, rib cage, and even his forehead. Never once did the coach call a foul. Max continued to encourag e JD, telling him to ignore Jeff, but slowly, JD pulled away , retreating. Soon Max no long er felt JD ’ s presence at all. He ’ d completely disengaged from the game, retreating into some safe place inside himself.
Max almost welcomed the
Several students nodded, some rolled their eyes. “ By law, I can ’ t toss you off my bus, even though I ’ d love to do that to some of you. ” She glared directly at Greg. “ But I can call your parents and have them come get you. I ’ m sure they won ’ t mind missing work because you insisted on tormenting another student, right, Greg? ” She didn ’ t wait for an answer. “ I can, and will, forbid you from get ting on my bus if I see any of you bullying. Do I make myself clear? ” Dead silence.
“ I said do I make myself clear? ” Heads nodded and a few yese s were heard. She sat back down, offering Max and Izzy a wink as she did.
The ride to school was very quiet . Max heard a few whispers, but nothing compared to the usual. The bus arrived at the school and the driver allowed everyone off except Max and Izzy.
“ I know you two asked me not to say anything to those kids about the way they mistreat you both. I hope I didn ’ t cause you any problems, but seeing my nephew with all those tubes running out of him about killed me, ” she said , sadness tightening her kind face . “ I didn ’ t point you ou t specifically, so I hope that will help. ” Max thanked her quietly and left.
While Max knew what happened on the bus was a good thing , JD stress ed about it , which didn ’ t surprise Max at all. He got to gym class and quickly changed, keeping his back to the lockers so no one could see the marks on his back.
“ Move it, Lumpy, ” Jeff said, shoving Max aside as they walked toward the basketball court three minutes later.
“ Coach is out today, and he ’ s asked me to sub for him. ” Coach Mather stood before the class detailing the lesson plan. Max knew the coach and didn ’ t have much respect for him. He worked mostly with special teams in football, but sometimes he ’ d assist C oach during baseball season.
“ You ’ ll be divided up into four different teams, ” Mather explained. “ You ’ ll play each team for seven minutes. I ’ ll blow my whistle and your team will rotate to the next team until all the teams have played each other. ” Coach Mather handed a ball to the team next to Max and one to him. Not expecting it, the ball bounced of f Max ’ s stomach and dribbled across the court.
Coach Mather laughed. “ Good catch, Lumpy. ” Max looked at him in surprise. He couldn ’ t believe what Mather had said. “ Come o n . Hustle it up and get the ball. ” Mather shook his head in disgust and strutted away.
Max jogged over to the ball and began bouncing it. It was worse than baseball. For the life of him he couldn ’ t figure out the rhythm. Max had all the grace and elegance of an athlete. JD had none, not one ounce. Several of his teammates trudged behind him, mocking his attempts. Fortunately, the whistle blew and they ripped the ball from his hands.
The first two rounds, no one passed him the ball. He ran faithfully up and down the court, but no one bothered with him. Max worked with JD, refusing to allow him to quit, no matter how disheartening it seemed. All the while sweat poured off his body.
It ’ s okay if you don ’ t get the ball, JD, this is still good exercise. Besides, no one is being mean, right ? You can do this. Max repeated his pep talk a dozen times.
The whistle blew and they switched again. Now he played opposite Jeff, his old teammate, and he could tell by the look in Jeff ’ s eyes this would not be good.
And he was right—Jeff took every opportunity to shove and elbow Max in the back, rib cage, and even his forehead. Never once did the coach call a foul. Max continued to encourag e JD, telling him to ignore Jeff, but slowly, JD pulled away , retreating. Soon Max no long er felt JD ’ s presence at all. He ’ d completely disengaged from the game, retreating into some safe place inside himself.
Max almost welcomed the
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