Playground Rules Color your own storybook By: Melissa Riley

The night was cold and damp as Sam trudged down the muddy road. His feet slid around in his shoes as he pulled them out of the sludge with a squelching, slapping noise. He had tried to rush home, but since he had fallen several times in his haste, he decided to take his walk home at a more leisurely pace. The lights were on in the house, as he approached. He braced himself as he timidly opened the door.

His family whipped around and they all started asking questions, their voices mingling tightly, “Where have you been? Where were you? Do you know what time it is? Why are you so dirty?” Sam took off him too-big boots and fully entered the kitchen. He mumbled something about the weather as he passed them and headed to his room to change his clothes for bed.

He put on his second hand pajamas and slid into his hand-me-down bed and curled into a tight ball and went to sleep without dinner, so he did not have to face the multitude of question his family threw at him.

Sam always dreaded going to school. It had nothing to do with his classes or his teachers, no it was his classmates. He used to sit in the front of the class and actively participate in classes. Now he sat at the back of the class and hardly ever made movements or sounds that would draw the attention of the other kids toward his directions. He was not so lucky when it came to recess.

The kids would always come up to him at recess and tease him about his big boots and his patched clothes. He could not help what he looked like or what he wore. He did not understand why he would be teased for looking a certain way. His teacher had told them that everyone was equal no matter what your skin color or whether you were a boy or a girl. Sam had figured that the rule did not apply to people who could not afford nice new clothes.

After school was the worst, especially with a particular kid Nick. He was big, mean and liked to express himself with his fists. He would always find Sam after school and tease and taunt him, sometimes chasing him around the school yard.

Everything changed when a new student was introduced into the class. Her name was Mary-Jo. She was small with long golden hair. Sam did not even bother meeting her eyes, knowing that surely, she would be like every other kid in his class. She walked straight to the back of the class and sat next to Sam.

Sam noticed that during recess Mary-Jo did not play with the other girls, who were jumping rope and playing hopscotch. She also did not join in with the other kids mocking Sam. In fact she did quite the opposite, she talked back to the group to get them to stop. “How would you feel if you were made fun of? That is not very nice.” The kids slinked away, feeling guilty for their actions.

After school Sam walked outside with Mary-Jo. They were talking excitedly about the upcoming field trip to the zoo when they were stopped by Nick.

Sam begged Nick to just leave him alone for once, but Nick just laughed and mocked him and came at him. Mary-Jo ran away. Sam turned and watched her go, hurt that she would leave him when he had thought they had become friends.

Minutes later Mary-Jo had come running back outside, followed closely by their teacher, Mrs. Sue. Mrs. Sue called angrily over to Nick and his eyes widened as he shuffled over to the teacher, trying to act innocent.

Mrs. Sue took them all into the main office and called all of their parents. After a short conference with Mrs. Sue, the principal, Nick and his parents, they all came out of the office. Nick now looked guilty under his parents gaze. “I think you owe Sam an apology,” said Nick’s father. Nick hung his head and turned toward Sam, “I am sorry Sam.”

After Sam’s parents showed up they were told what had been going on. Sam’s parents were shocked. “Why didn’t you tell us? Why didn’t you at least tell your teacher?”

Sam shrugged, feeling like he was in trouble, “I do not know. I did not want to be a taddle-tale, or to make it worse.” “You should always know that you can come to me, about anything, and do not feel like you are being a taddle-tale. No one deserves to be made fun of.”

This had made Sam feel a lot better. He rejoined Mary-Jo in the waiting room of the office and asked her how she had thought to go and get the teacher. She smiled, “You should always know that you can go to an adult for help. That is what they are there for, to help us with things that we cannot handle on our own yet.”

Sam smile back, and from then on Sam and Mary-Jo were the best of friends.