Bravo, Grace! by Mary Hoffman

Author:Mary Hoffman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2011-08-04T04:00:00+00:00

Five Heads Are Better than One

Ms. Woollacott’s pleased expression changed immediately. “Oh, Grace, I’m sorry. Do you want to tell me about it?”

“I’ll have to go and get my nana first,” said Grace. “She’ll be waiting for me in the playground.”

“Well, you do that and I’ll wait for you here,” said Ms. Woollacott.

By the time Grace had told Nana what it was about, she was feeling far less brave. Her heart was pounding and Nana was looking very worried. But Ms. Woollacott put them at their ease.

“I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been bullied, Grace,” she said. “You know, we have a very strict school policy about bullying,” she said to Nana.

“It’s not me,” Grace told her teacher. “He hasn’t done anything to me—at least, not for ages. But he’s horrible to most girls and now he’s started picking on Crishell.”

“Who exactly are we talking about?” asked Ms. Woollacott.

“Russell Hunter,” said Grace. “He doesn’t often hurt people by hitting them but he does it with words.”

Ms. Woollacott looked thoughtful.

“Was that what your Diamonds and Toads story was about last Christmas?” she asked.

“Yes,” said Grace. “I don’t think he’s ever forgiven me and Crishell for showing him up in class. But he doesn’t dare say anything to me anymore because he knows I’d tell.”

“Which is what you are doing, Grace,” said Ms. Woollacott. “That’s the right thing to do. But we have a problem. We can’t take any action unless the person being bullied, or their parent, makes the complaint.”

“You mean you can’t do anything about Russell?” said Grace. Her heart sank, because she didn’t think that Crishell would ever admit what was going on to the teachers.

“I shall certainly mention it to the Principal,” said Ms. Woollacott. “And I suggest you have a talk with Crishell. If she comes to me, we can ask Russell’s parents to come in and tell them what’s been happening, so that we can decide what to do about it.”

“OK,” said Grace. “I’ll try.”

“And I promise I’ll keep my eyes open in class,” said Ms. Woollacott. And my ears.”

On the way home, Grace was very quiet.

“You did a good thing, Grace,” said Nana. “Don’t give up because it hasn’t worked yet.”

“It didn’t do any good, though,” objected Grace. “Crishell will never talk to anyone at school about it. She’d have to tell them what Russell said and then her mother would be in trouble.”

“Well, maybe it’s time that someone knew what’s happening in Crishell’s home, Grace,” said Nana seriously. “It’s not natural for a mother to stop her child from eating.”

“It’s all because Crishell’s dad ran away with a slim young model,” said Grace. “Now her mother thinks you’ve got to be thin to be beautiful.”

Nana snorted. “That leaves me out then! And most of my friends. And I think they’re all beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful too,” said Grace, smiling. “You wouldn’t be my nana if you were all skinny like a model.”

“I couldn’t do it, honey,” said Nana. “I like my food too much.”

“Me too!” said Grace.

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