To be a bully or not to be a bully

Reese lay staring at the ceiling. Ashley started shaking her head.

“No! He doesn’t like her. He was mean.”

Mrs. Williams smiled and gave her a hug.

“If he were really mean why did he look sad?”

The girls looked at each other.

“He wasn’t sad because I beat him up?”

“No I really don’t think so. He wants to play with you and didn’t know how to ask, especially while you were playing with a doll.”

Four wide eyes didn’t blink as they looked between Mrs. Williams and each other.

“Why don’t you go ask him if he would like to play?”

Ashley began shaking her head while Reese stood up, grabbed her hand and began walking toward the door.

Mrs. Williams heard Ashley say to Reese, “Are you really going to play with him? I don’t want to.”

“Yes! Didn’t you see how sad he was when I got my doll back? I’m not afraid of him.”

“I am! He was a bully!”

“Well we can try. If he still isn’t nice, I’ll beat him up again.”