Second day at school, second day sitting in the principal’s office. James sat in his chair with a large grin on his face. He had won this battle. His pride kept the tears back and he looks around the room. Suddenly he realized the bully was staring at him, actually more glaring and perhaps snarling. James couldn’t help but smile. “I think Miss Delilah called you Ronald MacDonald.” The bully didn’t blink, nor move. James sat swinging his feet content of his actions so early in the day. He felt like a hero! Maybe wearing his underwear on the outside gave him superpowers? Only time would tell. As Miss Delilah emerged from the office with Mrs Stein they both looked at the bully with disapproving eyes. “James Ronald MacDonald. Your parents have been called, and you will remain in my office until they arrive. Do you understand?” The bully nodded sadly.

Mrs Stein then turned to James and stifled back a smile. “As for you young man, I hear you saved a fellow student from bullying?” James looked up to her and nodded. “He was pushed to the ground. There was nothing he could do, so I moved between them.” As Mrs Stein and Miss Delilah shared a glance, Mrs Stein turned back to James. “That was a very brave thing you did. Not many people would stand up for someone in trouble like that. Especially a child as mean as a bully.” James nodded and then looked to Miss Delilah. “I know, and I might get bullied more, but I don’t care. I like helping people.” Mrs Stein smiled. “That is an excellent way to think James, I’ll be calling your parents today as well… but with a much different story to the one I have told Mr. MacDonald’s parents.”

As Miss Delilah helped James out of the chair, he found himself more proud than he had ever been of anything. But before the two could leave the office, a large man with red curly hair burst in and glared at James. He looked at Miss Delilah and winked. “How do you do Miss, my son is here. James MacDonald is his name.” Miss Delilah shook her head and pointed to the boy in the far corner. “He’s over there, and hopefully he’s learned a valuable lesson today.” As she ushered James out of the office he turned in time to see the bully’s father smack him across the top of his head and grab him by the arm. James shook his head. I’ll bet his father was… or possibly still is a bully too.

Upon arriving in class everyone got up and clapped. James was surprised and Miss Delilah began shushing them. Alex was already sitting in his seat when James strolled over. “Thank you for helping me. I don’t think he’ll pick on me any more.” James nodded and turned to face the front. As he thought back to Ronald’s father hitting him upside the head, he couldn’t help but feel bad for the bully. As the smile drained from his face Miss Delilah started the class with some simple spelling. Alex leaned forward and whispered to James. “Everyone thinks you’re a superhero. You got punched and didn’t cry.” James turned and smiled. “I felt like one! I got in between you guys and even though he hit me and it hurt, I felt better than I hurt!” Miss Delilah shushed the two boys and continued on with the lesson. As James turned back around in his seat, he noticed the young girl with tangled hair out on the playground again. Today he would get his chance to talk to her.

As the bell tolled for recess, James broke away from the class and made his way outside. He would need to find a place to hide while the teachers went inside. As he made his way from the other kids, he managed to hide in some bushes. As he snacked on the granola bar his mom had packed, he waited patiently for recess to end. Finally the buzzer sounded and everyone went inside. His plan had worked! Now all he had to do was wait for the girl to go to the playground. He waited for a few minutes and began to wonder if she would show up. It was beginning to look like she wasn’t. After ten minutes of waiting, James rose from the bushes and brushed himself off. As he turned to make his way around the bush he came face to face with the girl with the tangled hair. As he stumbled backwards in shock he tripped and tumbled backward making a full somersault until he was facing her again. She giggled and thrust out her hand to help him up. He grabbed hold and got off the ground. “Hi… thanks for that. Not the scare, but the help off the ground.” She stared at him as if he had said nothing. James scratched his head. “My name is James, and you are?” She grinned showing she was missing a front tooth. “My name is Willow, and I’m an adventurer!”

As the two played on the playground for a few minutes, James got concerned his teacher would soon realize he wasn’t there. “Willow, I’ve got to go back to class, but it was nice to meet you. Maybe we can hang out together at lunch?” She shook her head. “No, kids are mean.  I don’t like when it gets crowded here.” Suddenly they both looked up as Miss Delilah came bursting out of the school doors. “James, why are you still out here?” James turned to Willow but she had already ran for the bushes and was long gone. James turned to Miss Delilah as she picked him up off the ground. “Come on now James, I was getting worried I had lost you today!” As James turned back to the playground he wondered why Willow wasn’t in school. He decided not to mention her to Miss Delilah, but he was surprised that she didn’t say anything about Willow either. After lunch he would tell Willow his address, and hopefully learn more about her.