Yet not even past experiences and insults prepared Susan for today.
Entering the playground, Susan noticed her classmates gathered around the playground dome. Today they decided to play Marco Polo. Yet no one would volunteer to be 'it.'
"Hey, I've got an idea," said Brian to his friend, Manny, indicating to Susan across the field. "Let's get Susan to be 'it.'"
With a snicker, Manny replied, "I'm not sure, dude. The game will last all period if she's 'it.'" At this remark, their friends laughed.
Brian, gaining encouragement from their amusement, shouted to Susan, "Susan! Want to play Marco Polo?"
Though Susan felt wary of Brian, who had mocked her before, she still desired to play with her classmates. So she accepted the invitation, ignoring the warning in her mind when she observed the hole at the playground dome top.
"Okay, you're 'it'!" Brian yelled. Sighing deeply, Susan closed her eyes and counted to ten as her classmates climbed the dome.
When she heard her classmates reply to her call from above, she carefully climbed the dome. Reaching the top, she again yelled, "Marco!"
Three feet in front of her, Brian suppressed a chuckle and said, "Polo."
Susan launched forward, hands outstretched, momentarily forgetting her position on the dome in her desire to catch Brian and lose her position of 'it.' Many of the children screamed as they watched their classmate lose her balance and fall through the hole at the dome top. Susan landed with a thud, whimpering slightly as an adult came running to help. She only obtained a bruised elbow, and all the students returned to class.
For her next lesson, Ms. Lombard passed out worksheets so her students could practice their handwriting. One student raised her hand for help. In giving her assistance, Ms. Lombard turned her back on Brian and Manny, seated near the whiteboard. Manny wasted no time.
"Write on the board," he whispered to Brian.
"No," said Brian, uneasy from the morning events. "You do it."
"Maybe I will," replied Manny, with an impish expression.
So he did. Quick and silent, Manny retrieved a marker from the board and wrote an obscene word in an impressive cursive. Sneaking up behind Brian, he marked on his friend's hand with the marker. But before Ms. Lombard looked over at the sound of Brian's exclamation, Manny returned the marker and resumed his seat.
"Who wrote this?" Ms. Lombard exclaimed, spotting the word. Looking sternly at her students, she jabbed a finger at the obscene word and asked, "Who wrote this offensive word?"
Since no one answered, Ms. Lombard resorted to her usual suspects. Immediately she looked at Brian, her mouth forming a thin line when she detected the mark on his hand.
"Brian Delaney. I should have known."
"It wasn't me! I've been doing this writing thing!" said Brian, holding up his worksheet.
"Don't lie to me, Brian. I see the mark on your hand. Erase this vulgarity and go wash your hands. You will not be receiving your snack ticket."
This last comment drew a sympathetic sigh from the students. Every Friday, if the students behaved themselves throughout the week, they earned a ticket for a snack after the last lesson. To get in trouble on the last day was the worst of all possible fates. But such was the fate of Brian. Refraining from further argument, he carried out his orders.
When the final bell rang, Ms. Lombard instructed her students to form a line so she could hand them their snack tickets on their way out. Susan found herself standing in front of Brian and Manny, able to overhear their argument.
"I deserve your snack ticket! You got me in trouble!" said Brian, resentfully.
Manny smirked. "If you had done the prank yourself, you wouldn't have gotten into trouble."
"You're supposed to be my friend!"
"I am your friend," said Manny, openly laughing. "That's why you won't care that I get the snack!"
Infuriated, Brian pushed past Susan, who received her ticket from the teacher. But instead of rushing to the cafeteria, she paused outside the classroom, staring at Brian's retreating back. Even though he often treated her poorly, the knowledge of his unjustified punishment made her wish to right the wrong done to him.
Rushing forward, Susan called, "Brian! Wait up!"
Confused as to why Susan would call his name, Brian stopped and gave Susan a slightly insolent look.
She held her ticket out to him. "For you."
Stunned, Brian blurted out, "For me? Why?"
"Well," said Susan, growing more uncomfortable each second. "My mom always makes me a snack. So I thought that, maybe, you would want this more than me." She shook the ticket.
As a look of appreciation replaced his shock, Brian reached out and grabbed the ticket. "Uh, thanks, Susan. That's really nice," he stammered.
Relieved that he accepted the ticket, Susan gave a small wave goodbye and headed for the parking lot. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Brian running toward the cafeteria. She knew her snack at home would taste much sweeter today, after seeing the happiness she brought another.
