I tie my lace into a knot so tight it cuts off the blood supply to my foot Then I slowly look up Yeah that’s me I say He’s the guy who got suspended for bullying He’s looking mean today He cracks his knuckles all of them at once like a fist He steps real close His breath smells like a buffalo’s butt Who cares about a frog he sneers I don’t know what to say I can feel my brain jumping around in my head trying to find the right answer They’re pretty important ecologically speaking I tell him If frogs disappear from an area the whole ecosystem can suffer He snorts It’s probably flattened on the road 6
Maybe not I say but the image sticks in my head Burgess squashed and no one around to give him a decent burial My stomach feels like someone just kicked it Maybe somebody used it for bait he says Stuck a hook in its guts A voice behind me says You wouldn’t say that if it was your frog I turn around It’s Aaron the kid who got the bully suspended He wears a plush dark-blue bathrobe over his clothes My stomach sinks I might have been able to get out of this alive but now I’m not so sure Aaron stands up on his toes Maybe someone should stick a hook in your guts I don’t know why Aaron’s picked today to be brave But then I see the 7
look of terror in his eyes and I realize he’s going to fall apart at any second He grabs my arm RUN he screams Only I can’t The guy’s hand clamps my shoulder His other hand curls into a fist and swings back I close my eyes waiting for the punch Hey What do you think you’re doing I open my eyes It’s Hazel she’s dropped her bike and run over She whips her helmet off and throws it on the ground Her face is all red and her hair is frizzed out Get your hands off my brother she roars in his face The guy is so surprised he lets go of my arm 8
