"You're so stupid, why would you run to home plate?"
"I don't know... I just wanted to run."
"You got out, you don't know what you're doing. Thanks a lot we lost cause of you."
"You don't have to be so mean."
The boy held in his frustration and disappointment. This was the first time he was bullied at school. In a bully free zone, a place where he should have felt safe became tainted with a few hateful words.
He held in his tears as long as he could. Once he entered the classroom, he burst and all you could see were his hands covering his face as a puddle began to form in his desk.
The teacher came up to him and asked him what was wrong. After a short talk, the teacher spent time to scold the other boy. But at the moment, the boy was still hurt. What did he do to deserve such harsh words? Was their friendship so shallow that a simple out in a game of kickball could change their bond?
Seeing the pain in his eyes I walked over to him and told him to breathe in and get a drink of water to calm down. The boy walked slowly to the other side of the classroom to get a drink from the water fountain. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw him. The boy who normally sits quiet at his desk. The boy rose out of his seat and walked towards the sad boy.
"Don't worry. I'll still be your best friend forever. It doesn't matter what anyone else says. I don't care about kickball. Kickballs stupid anyway."
The boy sealed the words with a hug, gentle but firm and proof of their friendship. What else could I do but sit back and grin at the innocent, pure, and honest love between friends.
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