Dance, Belle, Dance!. Beth Huffman
knew immediately what it was. I didn’t have to open my eyes. Belle had stolen the blue marker from Mrs. Heldman’s desk.
The Bus Stop
Kylie and I have been best friends since kindergarten. She only lives two streets over and we’re always together. We can’t stand it if we go more than two days without seeing each other. I knew she’d be surprised that I was alone when we met at the bus stop.
“Macey, is Belle sick?”
“No. She’s fine.”
“Then where is she?”
Right then the bus pulled up. “I’ll tell you on the way to school.”
When we were in our seats, we huddled together like we always do when we’re sharing secrets. I tried to whisper because I didn’t want anyone to hear me. “Kylie, you wouldn’t believe how she acted at the open house. I was afraid what she’d say next. She was out of control.”
“Did she do something really bad?”
“Yeah, she did. You know those colored markers that Mrs. Heldman always keeps on her desk? Belle grabbed a blue one and drew lines on her legs and hands.”
“You’re kidding! Why did she do that?”
“She saw some boy do it and thought it looked fun.”
“Wasn’t she afraid of getting in trouble?”
“No. She never worries about that.”
“That’s kinda scary, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is. That’s not all. She put the blue marker in her pocket and brought it home.”
“What? That means she stole it. How did you find out?”
“She showed it to me. That’s why she isn’t riding the bus. Mom took her to school this morning. She has to return the marker and apologize to Mrs. Heldman.”
“She’s probably nervous, isn’t she?”
“That’s just it, Kylie. She isn’t nervous at all. She’s not even embarrassed. She acts like it never happened.”
“Did your parents really yell at her?”
“No, but they kept telling her why she can’t take things that don’t belong to her. Then they made her promise that she’d never do it again.”
“Did she promise?”
“Yeah, but I know she didn’t mean it. The whole time they were talking, she was playing with the zippers on her backpack.”
“Macey, when I talk to Belle, she says strange things every now and then. Maybe she can’t help it. I know she gets on your nerves but I feel sorry for her sometimes. Don’t you?”
“No. I don’t feel sorry for her at all. I feel sorry for Mrs. Heldman. Belle is going to drive her crazy this year.”
Introductions
The first morning of school was great. Miss Rex asked us to stand up, face our classmates and introduce ourselves. She told us to share what we wanted to be when we grew up. I knew exactly what I wanted to say. I was pretty sure what Kylie would say too. Her row was called on before mine. I was a little worried because she’s so shy and she hates talking in class. She stutters when she’s really nervous. Her younger brother, Wesley, does the same thing.
Her voice was shaking when she said, “I w-w-want to be an artist.”
Miss Rex loved her answer and told her to bring some of her drawings to school. Kylie nodded that she would and quickly sat down. There was only one person in the room who made fun of her and that was Brooklyn. She was the meanest kid in our class. She was a bully. Nobody liked her. When Kylie was talking, she rolled her eyes like she was totally bored. I felt like smacking her. To make things worse, she moved her lips like she was stuttering. Miss Rex didn’t see it but I did. One way or another, I was going to get back at her.
I was ready the second she stood up. I turned around a little bit in my seat to look her straight in the eye. It was just far enough that Miss Rex couldn’t see the look on my face but Brooklyn could. I timed things perfectly. When she started to say she wanted to be a nurse, I faked a long and loud cough. It was impossible for everyone to hear her. She was so mad that her face turned red like a summer tomato. I just smiled at her.
When it was my turn to talk, I said, “I want to be an author. I want Kylie to draw the front covers on my books. She’s an amazing artist. She’s my best friend.”
When I sat down, Miss Rex said, “Class, this is a good time to teach you a new word. An illustrator is a person who draws the pictures in books. That’s what Kylie would be. How exciting if that really happens.”
I wish the school day could have ended right then. Unfortunately, I had to go to gym class next … with Brooklyn. I didn’t have a good feeling about it at all.
Miss Richmond was our gym teacher. Everybody loved her. She had this special way of making you feel like you mattered. Even when kids didn’t have enough energy to finish the relay races, she always said, “Good job! You did your best.”
Miss Rex walked us to the gym. She told us to stand in single file against the wall until Miss Richmond was finished teaching the class ahead of us. I felt this ache in my stomach when I looked across the gym floor. There was Miss Richmond talking to Mrs. Heldman. I heard her say how proud she was of the way the kindergarteners behaved. I also saw the only kindergartener who was jumping up and down. It was Belle.
I tried to turn around before she saw me but it was too late. She raced across the floor and hugged me around the waist. Everyone in the gym could hear her. “Macey, school is fun! Miss Richmond said I’m a fast runner.”
I tried to pull her arms away without hurting her. Miss Richmond saved me. “I know you’re excited to see Macey but you need to join your class now, Belle. It’s lunchtime.” That’s all it took. She held Miss Richmond’s hand and said, “We’re having hot dogs today. That’s my favorite. Mommy told me to eat everything on my tray but I’m not eating the baked beans.”
When Miss Richmond walked her back, Brooklyn had plenty of time to say whatever she wanted. She knew she wouldn’t get caught. “Oh, that was so cute, Macey. Your little sister hugged you. What’s wrong with her anyhow? She acts weird. Is she a loser like Kylie?”
The next thing I knew, I shoved Brooklyn so hard that her glasses went flying across the floor. I didn’t feel guilty at all. She deserved it. She put on a good show and acted like she was really hurt. When Miss Richmond ran over to see why she was crying, she said, “Macey pushed me on purpose. I don’t know why.”
Then Miss Richmond motioned for me to talk to her privately. “This isn’t like you, Macey. You get along with everyone. Why did you push her?”
“I couldn’t take it when she made fun of Belle and Kylie. She lied to you when she said that she didn’t know why I pushed her. She knows why.”
I could tell that Miss Richmond believed me. “At the end of class, I’ll need to take both of you to the principal’s office. Just tell Mrs. Basinger the truth. Don’t worry about anything that Brooklyn might say. You can’t control that. Do you understand what I’m trying to tell you?”
“Yes.”
I’ll never forget climbing the 12 steps to the principal’s office. My legs felt so heavy. I had a feeling that I’d be the only one who got punished. Miss Richmond told us to sit in the secretary’s office, while she talked to Mrs. Basinger.
Brooklyn thought she could upset me with her threats. “You’re going to be in so much trouble when I tell the principal what you did, Macey.”
“Oh, I’m so afraid. You’re scaring me. Please stop.”
“Nobody