Page 104 of Until Nalia
“I was playing with my friends and someone pushed me off the top of the spiderweb.”
“The spiderweb?”
“The thing with the slide and stuff, we all call it the spiderweb.”
“Was it one of your friends who pushed you?”
“I don’t know, there were lots of people around and we were all playing tag.”
“You really don’t know who shoved you?” I press, and she looks out the window. “Zuri, if someone did that on purpose, if someone tried to hurt you, I need to know.”
“What does it matter?” She crosses her arms over her chest. “Some kids never get into trouble, no matter how bad they are.”
“What kids?”
“Nevermind.”
“Zuri.” I turn in my seat to face her. “Please talk to me.”
“Matthew and some of his friends. They sometimes pick on people or say things and never get in trouble.”
“Do the teachers know? Do you guys tell on them?”
“The teachers don’t see it, and if we tell them they…” She shakes her head. “I just don’t think that they care.”
“I’m sure they care.”
“It doesn’t seem like it.”
“They do, but sometimes teachers aren’t able to do anything if they don’t see the incident happen,” I tell her softly then whisper. “I’m sorry.”
“It doesn’t matter; he’s a jerk, and normally we all just avoid him.”
“You shouldn’t have to do that; I’m going to talk to the principal and your teacher to make sure they know what’s going on.”
“Okay,” she mutters, then asks, “Do I really need to go to the doctor?”
“Are you hurt?”
“My elbow hurts a little, but I’m fine.”
“How about we just go and make sure that everything is okay,” I say and she sighs.
“Fine.”
“I love you.”
“I know,” she mumbles as I turn in my seat. Picking up my cell I go to the text thread between Logan and me, finding a message from him.
Logan
I spoke with the vice principal she’s going to check the cameras and get back to me or you.
Thank goodness.
I message him back, thank you, then let him know that we are headed to the doctors and tell him that since we don’t have an appointment, I’m not sure what time we will be at his house after school.
Thirty-One
