Self-esteem & Self-reliance
Ashley pushed her on the next large rock and almost knocked her over. As her cousin leaped from rock to rock, Tabitha tried to follow but wasn't as sure of herself, especially on the slippery surfaces of the boulders.
"It's not a race," she said.
Ashley spun around on one foot and said in a sing-song voice, "Is the wittle baby getting tired?"
Before Tabitha could respond, Ashley spun back and jumped for the next rock. As she did, her back foot slipped out from under her. Her body landed flat across two rocks, and her cheek whacked the stone.
Tabitha winced.
Ashley lay still.
There he stood, my grandmother's Spirit Man. He came up to my thigh, carved out of wood so dark it was almost black—wearing a scowl and a ring through his nose and a grass skirt that should have looked silly but didn't. He looked angry and strong and mean. I tried to swallow, but my throat was too dry.
At recess, Stewart and I played catch. I forgot about Joe for a few minutes.
Then someone tapped me hard on my shoulder.
I spun around.
It was Joe.
"How's Dimples' little boo-boo?" he asked.
"Stop calling me that," I said.
"Now don't get so excited," he sneered. "It makes your face look like a tomato—a tomato with worm holes."
"Just one question, Turk," Mom says. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
Mom must have read another parenting article. I can almost see the headline: Getting your Teen to Open Up to You.
"Well, er...I wanted to get my business running before I said anything. And," I put on my most innocent face, "I had this crazy idea you might think my business was something shady, stupid or immoral."
I can't tell for sure, but I think Mom and Dad almost look ashamed.
Yes!
Who would want to join a club called Dunces Anonymous? It was a dumb name. It was a dumb idea. Still, what else could he do? He needed help. Josh was in terrible trouble, and he couldn't think of a way out of it alone.
—Tu as été accepté en édu spéciale? demande Kevin, suffoqué.
—Pas encore.
