Karen's Bully by Ann M. Martin

Author:Ann M. Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2016-08-24T04:00:00+00:00

The Fight

Thumpety-thumpety-thump. My heart was crashing around in my chest. I was standing in the front yard at the little house. I was looking down the street at Bobby’s yard. It was crowded with kids.

Andrew was standing next to me, looking too. “Yipes,” he said.

“I know….”

“Karen, you do not have to fight Bobby.”

“Yes, I do. He scared you.”

“That’s okay. I will just stay indoors. Bobby won’t be able to get me then.”

“Young boys need fresh air and sunshine,” I told Andrew.

“But I do not want you to fight. I am telling Mommy!”

I grabbed my little brother by the arm. “Do not tell Mommy!” I hissed. “The grown-ups do not know about the fight. Now it is time for me to go down there. Are you coming with me?”

“Will Nancy protect me from Bobby?”

“Yes. You can watch with her and Hannie.”

“Okay.”

I squared my shoulders. I puffed out my chest. Then I marched down the street to Bobby Gianelli’s yard. Andrew followed me. He tried to hide behind me so Bobby would not see him.

“After the fight,” I said to Andrew, “you will not have to live like this anymore. You will be able to go out in public again.”

I saw Nancy and Hannie with a big bunch of kids from our class. (But no Ricky.) I took Andrew to Nancy. “Can you please watch Andrew?” I asked her. “He needs protection from Bobby. But only until Bobby loses the fight.”

“Where is Bobby, anyway?” asked Hannie.

“Isn’t he here?” I said. I looked around the yard. I did not see him.

“Nope,” Hannie replied. “We are waiting for him.”

Maybe Bobby was not going to show up! That would be great. Maybe Bobby was just a big old bawk-bawk-bawk-chicken. I could say to everybody, “Bobby was so scared he did not even come to our fight.” That would be as good as winning the fight — plus, I would not have to punch anyone. (And no one would have to punch me.)

“Yo, Karen!”

“Yipes! It’s Bobby!” cried Andrew.

“Hide behind Nancy,” I told my brother. “I will take care of this.”

“Yo, Bobby!” I shouted back.

Bobby was stomping across the yard. He was trying to look mean. He showed off his muscles again.

“You don’t scare me!” I said.

Bobby and I faced each other.

“Fight, fight!” chanted the boys. They had gathered on one side of the yard.

The girls (and Andrew) had gathered on the other. “Go, Karen!” they cried.

“Okay, Karen. You are going to get it!” said Bobby. He raised his fists.

I raised my fists.

And two hands clamped down, one on my head, one on Bobby’s. I looked up in surprise. I dropped my fists.

“What is going on here?” asked a grown-up.

It was Mrs. Gianelli. I guess she had seen us from a window.

Bobby and I glared at each other. “Nothing,” I answered.

“Yeah, nothing,” said Bobby.

The kids in the yard started to leave. Nobody said anything about a fight. “We were just playing,” I added.

Mrs. Gianelli looked like she might not believe us. But all she did was frown and let go of our heads.

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