Chapter 27 Bullies, Books, and Big News
CHAPTER 27: BULLIES, BOOKS, AND BIG NEWS
JACE - TWENTY YEARS AGO
“ N erd alert! Nerd alert!” Alex yells from the top of the tall red tower on the playground. I hang my head and look at the ground trying to ignore them like my parents told me to, but it’s hard.
A loud thud comes from inside the yellow tube slide and Beau appears in the opening followed by Alex.
“Hey, science dork, cool shirt,” Beau says, shoving my shoulder and causing the book I’m holding to fall onto the ground. I quickly pick it up. My eyes look down at the T-shirt I’m wearing. It’s blue and has a picture of a large red macaw with the words “Feelin’ Macawsome.” My mom bought it for me and I thought it was cool until now.
I move toward the swing set and take a deep breath. I should be able to stand up to them. I’m a year older than they are, but I’m small for my age and they’re big for theirs.
“Hey guys,” I try, but it’s more of a squeak.
“Hey guys,” Alex repeats in a high-pitched voice.
Since August, Beau and Alex have made fun of me every day at recess, and I’m so sick of it. I’m not into sports like they are, and they think they can make fun of me because of it.
“Hey, Jace, over here,” Lacey’s voice calls from one of the swings. Poppy, our new neighbor, is on the swing next to her and they’re waiting on me. Yesterday, I challenged them to a “who could swing the highest” competition, and today is the day I kick both of their butts.
“It’s so weird they hang out with you,” Beau says as we approach the swings.
“Lacey, how are you friends with him?” Alex asks. “Don’t you think it’s weird he’s so obsessed with birds?”
Beau and Alex begin running around me with their arms outstretched, flapping them up and down like wings—both squawking and laughing. Poppy sits quietly watching them, but Lacey jumps off her swing and charges them. Her blonde pigtails bouncing as she does.
“Look at his dumb shirt,” Alex says.
“And his animal book,” Beau adds.
“Stop being such jerks. His shirt is cool and I gave him that book. Maybe one day you two will learn to read,” she yells, sticking out her foot and tripping Alex as he runs by her. “Oops,” she giggles.
Beau helps Alex up and they both stare stunned at the tiny girl who just brought Alex to the ground.
“I think it’s cool he likes birds and animals because I like them too.” She crosses her arms. “Especially the pixie bird.”
“Like a fairy?” Beau asks. “Dude, you like fairies?” He looks over at me.
I don’t say anything. I just smile and watch Lacey.
“So lame,” Alex says through fits of laughter.
“It’s not lame,” Lacey argues. “The pixie is really cool and it’s not a fairy. Jace is going to find it one day and the two of you will never do anything that cool.”
“Find it one day?” Beau asks.
“Yeah, find it? Because it’s not real?” Alex laughs.
She turns around and sits back down on the swing. “Come on, Jace. I bet I can go higher than both you and Poppy. See you never, Beau and Alex,” she giggles and sticks out her tongue. They stomp off and I take a seat next to her.
“I can stand up for myself,” I say, feeling a little embarrassed.
“I know you can, but no one is mean to my friends.”
“Well, thanks.” Her eyes find mine and for the first time I notice they’re green.
“Of course, and the pixie is really cool,” she says. “Poppy, you’re going to love it. Jace is super smart and knows a lot of cool animal facts. For his birthday last year I got him this book and it talks all about the pixie.”
“You know it’s called a Bixito Parrot, right? I call it the Bix for short. Not the pixie.” I start laughing and so do her and Poppy.
“I like pixie better,” she says.
“Me too.” I grin. “Now you ready to lose?” Both girls laugh, and we all start pumping our legs as hard as we can.
“Hey, Dad?” He’s sitting on the couch, and my mom is in the kitchen baking cupcakes for our school bake sale that’s tomorrow.
“Yeah, kid? What’s up?”
I sit down next to him and he mutes the TV.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure. Everything okay?”
“Oh, yeah, I’m fine.”
“You sure? You were awfully quiet at dinner. Barely touched your sloppy joe.”
“I was just thinking, I guess.”
“Thinking?” He smiles at me. “What’s on your mind, bud?”
“How do you know when you’re in love with someone?”
“Woah! Hitting me with the tough questions tonight, aren’t we? You’ve got plenty of time to worry about that. Let’s try to get through the third grade first. Don’t you think so?” He pats my knee and unmutes the TV, but I don’t move.
“No, Dad. I need to know. This is important. Tell me.”
He takes a deep breath. “Okay, I guess we’re having this conversation.” He mutes the TV. “Um, I think it’s different for everyone. For me, it was a bunch of small moments with your mom. Our first kiss.”
“Ewww, don’t be gross.”
He chuckles. “Well, you wanted to know. It was also the way she saw me for who I was and stuck by me no matter what. I knew deep in my gut she was my person. One day, I realized I didn’t want to do life without her, and the rest was history. Does that make sense?”
I nod, not really sure what he means, but I think I get it.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Because I think I’m in love.”
A huge grin erupts across his face, and for a second, I think he’s going to laugh, but he doesn’t.
“Annie, you may want to get in here. Jace has some big news,” he yells.