Samantha Sanderson on the Scene

by Robin Caroll

  “I will,” Daniel said. He was the oldest of the group, a senior in high school. Sam liked how he always treated everyone the same, with kindness and consideration. He cleared his throat. “ ‘Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.’ ”

  Ms. Martha nodded. “Thank you, Daniel.” She sat on the edge of the table facing their group of chairs. “Those are some pretty powerful words, don’t you think?”

  Most everyone nodded, but no one volunteered anything.

  “What do you think these verses mean?” Ms. Martha asked.

  “Well,” Lissi began, “to me, they mean we shouldn’t tell lies and do wrong. Instead, we should do what’s right.”

  “Good. Anybody else?” Ms. Martha asked.

  Jeremy nodded. “I think it means we shouldn’t do bad things or stir up trouble.” Jeremy was one of the newest members of the group, the sixth graders just having been promoted to youth back in July.

  “Good. Anybody else?”

  “I’m focusing on the first part first,” Sandy said. “The way it’s worded, I get that it’s meaning if we want to have a long life, we have to do the rest of it. Right?”

  Ms. Martha smiled wide. “Very good. That is right. It’s almost like it’s a directive of something you have to do to live long.”

  Makayla lifted her head from her iPad. “The don’t tell lies part is spelled out pretty clearly. But isn’t that included in the keep your tongue from evil part?”

  “True, I think it is,” Ms. Martha said. “But I think there’s more to it than just instructing us not to tell lies. What do y’all think? What are some ways our tongues are evil, outside of lying?”

  “Gossiping,” said Ava Kate.

  Lissi inched to the edge of her chair. “Spreading rumors.”

  “Good. Anybody else?”

  “Talking about others, and tearing them down with our words,” Sandy said.

  “Right,” Daniel said. “Even if it’s behind their backs. That might actually be worse.”

  “Bullying,” Sam said.

  “Very good answers, everyone.” Ms. Martha glanced back down to her Bible. “What about verse fourteen? What do y’all think it means to ‘Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.’?”

  “I think it means if we hear anyone doing that kind of stuff — gossiping, talking about others, bullying — we’re supposed to not be part of it. To go away and be friends with people who don’t do all that,” Lissi said.

  “True — ” Ms. Martha started.

  “But that’s not just it,” Sandy interrupted. “The verse not only says to turn away from the bad stuff and look for peace, but it also instructs us to do good, too.”

  Ms. Martha nodded. “What do you think it means to do good in this instance?”

  “Maybe it means for us to tell the person gossiping or talking about someone that they shouldn’t be doing that,” Daniel said.

  “Doesn’t the Bible also tell us to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves?” Makayla asked.

  “Let’s look at Proverbs 31. I think what you’re looking for is there, Makayla,” Ms. Martha said.

  Pages fluttered, and fingers tapped on tablets.

  “Here it is. Proverbs 31:8.” Makayla read. “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”

  “What does this mean to you?” Ms. Martha asked.

  “Well,” Makayla began, “if I think about the verse in Proverbs when we’re talking about verse fourteen in that Psalm, then I think it means if we know of someone who is being bullied or gossiped about, we’re supposed to stand up for them.”

  Ms. Martha smiled. “Very good, Makayla. I think you are right. What are responsible ways we can stand up for someone being bullied or talked about?”

  “We can tell the person talking about them to stop,” Jeremy said. “Let them know that it’s not okay to do what they’re doing.”

  “We can report bullying to our schools’ counselors,” Sam said. “Every school in our district is supposed to be participating in the Bully Proofing program. There’s a zero tolerance policy for bullying, and it’s illegal as well.”

  “This is all very good. I’m proud of each of you. Let’s all try to put Psalm 34:12–14 into action this week, okay?” Ms. Martha closed her Bible and glanced at her watch. “Let’s close in prayer before we dismiss to church.”

  Sam’s heart pounded as Ms. Martha prayed. The youth director had picked verses that applied so closely to anti-bullying that Sam couldn’t help but take it as a sign that that she was supposed to do the series on bullying and stand up for Nikki.

  She couldn’t wait to get started.

  . . . but no matter the subcategory of bullying, those listed above or even those I’ve not included, it’s all wrong.

  And illegal.

  What do YOU think? Do you know what the Bully Proofing program is? Did you know our school participates in the program? Sound off, Senators. Leave a comment with your thoughts. ~ Sam Sanderson, reporting

  “I can’t believe I’ve never even heard about this Bully Proofing program. Are you sure our school participates, Samantha?” Aubrey asked.

  Monday afternoon and finally, finally there was a serious break in the heat wave with dark clouds hovering in the west. Last period couldn’t have come any faster for Sam. Honors Math had been especially brutal, with ten extra problems assigned as homework, not to mention the essay she needed to write for English.

  She most certainly wasn’t in the mood for Aubrey Damas’s sarcasm.

  “According to the school board’s website, every school in our district participates,” Sam said.

  “I wonder why there’s no information up about it,” Celeste said from the seat beside Sam. “We have flyers up on the bulletin board about every other thing.”

  “Maybe the bullies took them down.” Paul Moore stared at Aubrey, standing a few feet behind her like a puppy dog. It was sad, really, the way he crushed on her.

  Aubrey rolled her eyes. She knew Paul liked her, but she treated him like dirt all the time. Unless she wanted something. Then she was all smiles and goo-goo eyes. Sam thought it was beyond sickening.

  “Mrs. Trees asked you to meet with her and Mrs. Creegle tomorrow morning, Sam.” Ms. Pape smiled as she crossed the room to join the group. “She liked your idea of getting more anti-bullying information out to the student body and wants to discuss options.”

  Aubrey rolled her eyes again, as if Sam couldn’t see her.

  “Shall we go over the layout for the paper edition, Aubrey?” Ms. Pape asked.

  Sam gritted her teeth as she watched them move to the editor’s desk.

  “I was bullied once,” Tam Lee said softly behind Sam.

  She turned in her chair. “Really?” Sam couldn’t imagine anyone bullying the nice and smart eighth grader.

  He nodded. “Yep, right after I moved here.”

  “I thought you’d lived here all your life.” Funny how she didn’t know that.

  “Nope. I was born in Louisiana. Dad transferred from the Children’s Hospital in New Orleans to the one in Little Rock when I was in third grade.” Tam leaned forward in his chair, closer to Sam and Celeste. “My first week of school here, kids laughed and pointed at me. Made me feel like a real outcast.”

  Sam ached for the sweet little third grader Tam must have been.

  “A couple of the bigger boys in the class would come up to me at recess and tell me to go back to China.” Tam shook his head. “They didn’t even realize I’m half Korean, not Chinese.”

  “That’s awful.”

  “Oh, that was the nicer of the things they said. They called me several names in relation to my Asian heritage, all of them really mean and hurtful.”

  “How cruel!” Sam felt a twinge. Tam’s experience had been many years ago, yet truth be told, there wer
e times when ignorant people made racial comments about Makayla’s African American heritage. Maybe things hadn’t changed so much in the past ten years.

  “What did you do?” Celeste asked.

  Tam blushed. “I went home and cried to my mom, of course.” He chuckled. “Mom called the principal, the teacher, and the school board. I’m really glad I was too young to understand the ruckus she raised, or I would never have been able to go back to school.”

  Sam laughed with him. She knew the feeling. When her mom got on a roll, look out. Joy Sanderson was a force to be reckoned with. Even Dad walked a wide, wide circle around her when she was riled up.

  “Needless to say, the boys’ parents got involved, and they didn’t bother me again.”

  “Did they retaliate?” Celeste asked.

  Tam shook his head. “I think they forgot about it rather quickly because we became good friends in fifth grade. Either that, or they didn’t realize it was me who ratted them out. Anyway, it’s all good now. We’re still friends.”

  That meant those boys were some of the guys at their school now. Sam glanced around the room. They could even be in this class.

  He stood, grabbing his laptop. “I just wanted to tell you that to let you know that bullying does happen, and I think you’re doing a good thing in getting involved in awareness. Let me know if I can help you with getting the information out.”

  “Thanks.” Sam watched him join Kevin and Marcus and some other guys in the corner. She couldn’t help but wonder if either of them had been the bullies.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Bam!

  The slamming of the locker drew Sam’s attention as she came down the ramp after school. Most of the bus riders had already cleared the breezeway, and the student athletes were changing in their respective locker rooms. Some of the car riders lingered around their lockers or the bathroom, but for the most part, the school day had ended.

  Sam spied Nikki glancing up and down the breezeway. She caught a good look at Nikki’s face: pale. She rushed down the steps and to Nikki. “What’s wrong?”

  “Did you see anybody around here? By my locker?” Nikki’s eyes were wide, and her voice had a hint of panic.

  Sam slowly shook her head. “But I wasn’t looking for anyone. Why? What’s wrong?”

  Nikki’s gaze darted up and down the now-deserted breezeway. “Look.” She opened her locker. She pointed at the case of diet bars sitting on the shelf. “Those aren’t mine.”

  Wow. The bullying had just jumped up to a whole new level.

  “And they weren’t here when I came to my locker before last period.” Nikki kept looking around, as if someone would come out of the shadows and confess they were responsible.

  “Okay.” Sam needed to think. “Who all knows your locker combination?”

  “Me and Aubrey. That’s it. No one else.” Nikki chewed the side of her fingernail.

  Sam wouldn’t put it past Aubrey, but she’d pretty much ruled her out as a suspect. Unless . . . well, unless someone else had done the initial letters, but Aubrey was taking it to this next level because of her jealousy over not being nominated. “Where is Aubrey? Don’t you two normally go everywhere together?”

  Nikki’s frown was immediate. “She’s been busy since they made the announcement of the homecoming court nominees.”

  Some best friend, but was she jealous enough to be so mean?

  Sam figured she was, but for the moment, she should give Aubrey the benefit of the doubt. Besides, when would she have had time to put the box in the locker?

  Then Sam remembered Aubrey had gone to the office to pick up Ms. Pape’s mail during last period. She had time to do it then.

  Plenty of time.

  “I know she’s happy for me,” Nikki continued. “I do. I think she’s just hurt she didn’t get enough nominations and doesn’t want to put a damper on my excitement, so she’s staying away for a bit.”

  Uh-huh. Sam wasn’t buying that. Nikki was too generous with her assumptions. Or maybe she just told herself that to make herself feel better about Aubrey stepping away from their friendship.

  “Anyway, I don’t know who could’ve done this.” Nikki blinked several times. “I’m not fat.” But she didn’t sound so confident.

  “Of course you aren’t.” Sam didn’t know what else to say to convince Nikki that she didn’t have anything to worry about in the weight department.

  “Right.” But Nikki still didn’t look convinced.

  “Is it possible someone could’ve gotten your combination by watching you when you didn’t know?”

  Nikki shrugged. “I guess, but they’d have to be really close, and I don’t remember anyone getting that close to me. It would’ve freaked me out.”

  True. It wasn’t exactly easy to see the locks unless you were the one holding it. “Could you have forgotten to lock it before you came into class?”

  Nikki chewed on her fingernail again. “I don’t think so. I’m pretty good about locking it.”

  It was a long shot anyway. The bully would have been really lucky to have the box of diet bars in hand to put in Nikki’s locker on the off chance she forgot to lock it.

  It didn’t make sense.

  “Are you sure no one else has your combination? Maybe you gave it to someone to get something out of your locker once? Or you asked someone to grab a book of yours when you were absent?”

  “It’s too early in the year. I haven’t missed a day. And I’m pretty positive no one else has the combination.”

  Well, there had to be a way the bully had gotten the combination.

  Like someone could have given it to them. “I know Aubrey’s your best friend, Nikki, and you want to believe the best about her, but is it possible, just maybe, that she gave your combination to someone else?”

  “Why would she do that?”

  Surely Nikki wasn’t this clueless. Sam let out a slow breath, thinking fast. “Maybe she borrowed something and put it back in your locker? She could’ve been busy and asked someone else to do it for her. You know how she’s always doing stuff like that.” That was the truth. Aubrey would rather waste the time and energy to explain to someone where to find something or how to do it than actually finding it or doing it herself. It wasn’t that she was lazy it was more like she felt it was her right to order people around.

  Nikki gnawed on her nail. If she didn’t stop, she wouldn’t have any of her fingernail left. “I guess she could have, but she never said anything.”

  “Maybe it slipped her mind. Or she just thought it wasn’t important or something.”

  “Maybe.”

  There wasn’t much else in the way of explanation.

  “I could ask her. At least then I’d have a name.”

  Or she’d have Aubrey even more mad at her. Sam didn’t want Nikki to be on the really bad side of Aubrey. “She might not remember,” Sam said. And if Aubrey was involved in any way in the bullying, she certainly wouldn’t admit anything. She might even get worse if she thought anyone was close to figuring out her involvement.

  Tears pooled in the corner of Nikki’s eyes. “I just don’t understand who could hate me so much.”

  Sam reached out and squeezed Nikki’s arm. She remembered some of the information she’d gotten from the anti-bullying group. “I don’t think bullying is about the person being bullied at all. I think it’s about power.”

  “Power?” Nikki leaned against the wall of lockers. “Making someone feel bad makes the bully powerful?”

  “No, it just makes them think they are.”

  “I don’t understand how being hurtful makes you think you’re powerful.”

  Sam struggled to recall some of the details she’d read. “Think about this: what if someone felt powerless in a certain situation. Like, at home. Their parents were mean or abusive or something. The kid would feel powerless, right?”

  Nikki nodded, but her expression clearly said she had no idea where Sam was headed.

  “She feels powerl
ess to her parents hurting her at home and doesn’t like it. So she hurts someone else by bullying them so she’ll feel like the one who is in charge.” Sam wrinkled her nose. “Something like that.”

  “I get it. Kinda.” Nikki sniffed.

  “Nikki, you have to report this to the principal. Mrs. Trees doesn’t tolerate this kind of stuff.”

  “I can’t. Not with the election coming up.” Nikki pointed to a poster at the end of the breezeway, the one that read: Vote Bella for Homecoming Queen and make Robinson’s court beautiful again. “The campaigning has already started. Mrs. Trees would make it a huge issue and that could hurt my chances of being elected.”

  “Is being Queen that important?” Sam didn’t think so, but to girls like Aubrey, popularity was critical. She hadn’t thought Nikki put such value on it, though.

  “It would mean a lot to my mom. She got so excited when I told her I was nominated. She talked about dresses and tiaras. It was the first time I’ve seen her really excited since my dad moved out.”

  “Oh.” Well, that explained a lot.

  “Dad’s been hanging out at the house more since Jefferson hurt his ankle. And now, since the announcement, he tells me I’m his princess and stuff and that he’s so proud of me. I’m sure he’s just being over-complimentary because of the letters and texts, but still . . .”

  Sam smiled. Her parents were proud of her for making good choices, getting good grades, and doing the right thing, but she didn’t think they’d be over the moon if she were nominated to homecoming court. Not that she had to worry about that being a consideration.

  Nikki blushed and gave a little smile. “I’m sorry to have kept you here so long.”

  “It’s not a problem at all. I don’t mind. I told you I would help you figure out who was behind this, and I meant it.”

  “Thanks. I really do appreciate it. Are you late to something?”

  Sam glanced at her watch — school had dismissed over fifteen minutes ago. “Well, my neighbor is probably wondering why I’m not in the parking lot yet.”

  “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about it. She’ll understand. Listen, you can call me anytime. Really. I’m serious about helping you.” Sam rattled off her cell number.