Welcome to another edition of “Behind the Scenes of The Dream Doers Series.”
The Dream Doers and the Summer of Secrets begins on the last day of sixth grade for Alex and Tyler and class bully Zach. But today’s flashback story concludes a short story series of the first day of kindergarten for Alex, Tyler and Zach.
*****
Now Alex had a best friend, too? Zach hated her. He really, really, really hated her.
And he hated her new best friend, too. That boy was going to listen to Alex, not him. Now he had two people to deal with.
Zach had to teach that Tyler kid a lesson. What could he do to get Tyler in trouble?
Hmmm…he could tell the teacher Tyler hit him. That would work. First, though, he had to get Anson and Clay to go along with him.
“Anson, Clay,” Zach said, “you saw how mean that boy was to me, right?”
“Yeah,” Anson said. “I don’t like him.”
“Me either,” Clay said.
“He was really mean when he hit me,” Zach said.
Anson cocked his head. “He didn’t hit you Zach.”
“Yes, he did.” Zach put his hands on Anson’s shoulders and looked into his eyes. “He slapped my face. Remember?”
“I remember,” Clay said. “He just stepped right up and slapped you. Why did he slap you again?”
“Because…” Zach had to think for a second. Then he remembered all the Cubs clothes Tyler was wearing. That gave him an idea. “Because I said I liked the Braves. That made him mad because he likes the Cubs.”
“Right, right.” Anson nodded. “I remember now.”
Zach smiled. “Good. You guys gotta back me up when I tell my mom. Just like usual.”
“Got it,” they both said.
Zach squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed the back of his eyelids. Cry, cry, cry, he told himself.
He slapped his face and the tears watered his eyes. He was ready.
Zach turned around and ran across the room to his mom. “Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! That boy just hit me!”
“Zach, sweetie,” his mom said, hugging him, “who his you?”
“That boy.” He pointed to Tyler. “I said something about liking the Braves, and he just slapped me in the face. I didn’t mean to make him mad.”
“It’s true,” Anson said.
“Yup,” Clay agreed. “We saw the whole thing.”
“Now he’s talking to Alex,” Zach said. “He might hit her, too.”
“Alex’s mom is right over there. Let’s go let her know.”
Zach, Anson and Clay all followed Zach’s mom to the doorway where Mrs. Wilkins was talking to some lady Zach didn’t recognize.
“Is everything all right, Sue?” Alex’s mom asked when she saw them.
“No, I don’t think so. The boy who’s talking to your daughter just hit my son.”
“Tyler?” The lady Zach didn’t know spoke. “That’s my boy. Tyler wouldn’t hit anybody.”
“Zach wouldn’t just make things up. Look.” His mom put her hand on his cheek. “His cheek is still red from getting slapped.”
The lady frowned, then called Tyler over. Alex came with him.
“Guess what, mommy,” Tyler said as he ran up to them. “Alex is my new best friend!”
“That’s great Tyler,” his mom said, “but I need to talk to you about something else.”
“What?”
“Did you hit this boy?”
“Hit him? No. I just told him to leave Alex alone. He was making her cry.”
“She was already crying,” Zach said, sniffing. “I was just trying to cheer her up. Then you came over and asked if I liked the Cubs. I said I liked the Braves and you hit me.”
“I did not!” Tyler screamed.
“Yes, he did,” Anson and Clay both said.
Then Alex had to talk. “He’s lying. That’s not what happened at all.”
Zach wailed. “She called me a liar, mommy. I’m not a liar.”
“I know, sweetie,” his mom said, putting her arm around him. “I believe you. I think we need to take this matter up with the teacher. All you kids come with me.”
Zach smiled. He was back in control.
*****
That concludes this flashback story. But it’s only the beginning of the kinds of stories you’ll read in future editions “Behind the Scenes of The Dream Doers Series.” So stay tuned!
To Your Dreams,
Bonnie Jean
P.S. In case you haven’t yet been in front of the scenes of The Dream Doers series, it starts with The Dream Doers and the Summer of Secrets. In this young adult novel, best friends Alex and Tyler are forced to battle bullies, face their fears and keep strange secrets the summer they learn to do what they dream. You can hear the whole “Front of the Scenes” story for FREE. Just visit TheDreamDoers.com and fill out a super short form. Enjoy the story!
