and play, but Ted asked me to go with him. It was just a casual game and I was really enjoying myself, it felt great to run and work-up a sweat. That was until some of the jocks arrived.
They stood on the sideline and started calling us names. I just ignored them and kept playing. But Ted got really angry. You see, they decided to call him Princess. “Get the ball Princess!” they called. “Hey Princess, you missed the goal!” And they kept on picking on him. Of course they could see that they were getting to him. The angrier he got…the more they called out. He managed to control himself, but then they called out to me, “Look, there is the poor little girl who lost her mother.” I stopped and looked at them, my mouth wide open and lost for words.
Then like a bomb about to explode, Ted stopped dead still in the middle of the field. His face turned a crimson shade of purple and he started screaming and running towards them. At first, they just laughed. Then the laughing stopped and they turned and started running away from Ted like a farmer being chased by a bull. “Come back you bunch of cowards!” yelled Ted. But they kept on running.
Ted eventually gave up and came back to me. “You okay?” asked Ted. “Yeah, I’m fine, thanks Ted, you’re a real friend,” and I slapped him on the back. We went back to our soccer game. Everyone laughed at the “tough boys”, the “cool kids”, the “jocks” and how quickly they ran off. We all felt good about ourselves. Ted standing up to the bullies like that really made my day. We all made a pact that we would never let them call us names and bully us ever again.
Today Ted became a hero in our eyes. I’m sure he grew a couple of inches taller in those few minutes. Way to go Ted!
Saturday
Waterpark Day! It was the best day ever! The girls were a little scared to begin with and secretly so was I. The slides are so high! But of course I didn’t show my fear, I wanted to impress them. We went on so many slides, up and down, up and down. Laughing all the way!
Then towards the end we saw one of the teachers. Maddi doesn’t like him and she wanted to get away before he got up the stairs. She thought she would go down faster by using more mats. Good thought, but it didn’t work. Some of the mats came apart and got stuck in the tube. When the teacher came down he got stuck! Maddi’s extra mats had blocked the tube. We laughed so hard, we had tears coming down our faces.
But then all the workers started running towards the slide. They had a panicked look on their faces. We stopped laughing and watched. They unbolted part of the slide and let him out. He didn’t look happy! We quickly ran off and exited the park.
Maddi didn’t mean to block the tunnel, it was an accident and nobody was hurt. Thinking back, it was the perfect end to one of the best days of my life.
Monday
When I saw Maddi and Gretel at school today we all burst into laughter. It was our little secret, we decided to tell nobody about the teacher tunnel incident. A story like that would spread like wildfire across the school. We decided to code name it the TTI (short for teacher tunnel incident).
After lunch we were walking to the library and guess who was walking out. Yep! He stopped and looked at us. I’m sure I could hear my heart thumping. Then he smiled and kept walking. Phew! He didn’t recognize us, or did he?
This afternoon I had to make a speech about how we can stop the oceans from becoming more polluted. I hate talking in front of other people. My hands started shaking as soon as I entered the classroom. I felt hot and my hands started to sweat. Sitting in my seat waiting for my turn, I felt like I was going to faint. I was certain that I couldn’t remember one fact from my prepared talk. And then I heard my name being called. Oh NO!!!
I walked to the front of the class and looked at all those faces. They all had bored looks on their faces. Who can blame them, I was the 21st talk they had heard over the last two days. Nobody wants to listen, they are either freaking out about the fact they have to get up soon or relaxing and thinking about something pleasant because they have already had their turn.
I held up my palm cards, but my hands were shaking so much it was embarrassing. I put them on the table in front of me. My knees felt like they were about to buckle and it suddenly felt very hot in that room. I went to speak and nothing came out. I tried again and a squeak came out. I could hear all the cool girls sniggering. What am I, a mouse! My teacher told me to take a deep breath. I did and then looked up. Maddi was in the middle row, she smiled and held up a note with TTI on it. I smiled, she is so funny. And then my speech just rolled off my tongue. I didn’t even think about it, it all came spilling out.
My teacher was very impressed. My classmates were shocked…normally my talks were painful to watch. And when I finished, everyone gave me a huge clap. I had done it.
Tuesday
After school today, Ted and I went for a ride through the bush on our bikes down to the river. We were skipping stones on the water when Ted told me he didn’t like Maddi. I was shocked, who could possibly not like Maddi. She is so nice and funny and normal. “She thinks she is pretty special, she is totally up herself,” he complained.
I stood up for her, telling Ted that I really liked Maddi. But he just shook his head and told me I was wrong. “She is just like all the cool girls Richard, she is a pain,” he said. I told Ted that if he gave her a chance and got to know her, he would definitely like her.
Maybe Ted is jealous of my friendship with Maddi? Maybe he really likes her, but isn’t game to admit it? Could it be that he also has a secret crush on Maddi? I don’t really care if he doesn’t like her. I think she is amazing.
Friday
I’m really quite glad I didn’t get into a sporting team. Reject sport or history club is really quite interesting. Today we talked about the Ancient Romans and the city of Pompeii. Our history teacher showed us pictures of the city that were almost unbelievable. So many people were caught trying to escape from the lava and ash and you can still see the bodies frozen in time. It would have been so frightening. One day I definitely want to visit Pompeii and just hope that the volcano doesn’t blow up while I’m there.
Saturday
Dad went into the office again this morning. I tried to clean up some of the mess in the house but it just seems like a waste of time. I cleaned up the same things last week and they are dirty again. Maybe I should just ignore the dirt and mess.
I decided to go for a ride on my bike, but couldn’t figure out where to go to. Then I thought about riding past Maddi’s house. Maybe she’ll be home and she’ll see me and decide to come for a ride too. Either that or she’ll think I’m a stalker! She lives about 10 minutes ride from my place, so off I took.
I was casually cruising down her street, pretending I don’t know where she lives, when I see a man walk to the car parked in her front yard. He is followed by the biggest dog or should I say horse-dog I’ve ever seen. I thought Maddi lives with her Mom. Maybe this is her Dad? And I think the dog is a great dane. I wanted to stay and watch, but it just felt too obvious. So I kept on riding past their house and around the corner. I got off my bike and hid it behind a tree. I had to solve the mystery of who was visiting Maddi and her Mom. I felt like a detective who was about to solve a mystery.
Getting down on all fours, I crawled behind the hedges on the footpath until I was in front of Maddi’s house. Everyone had disappeared back inside. Her house looks different to mine. Lots of flowers in pots, a peace sign and colorful little flags draped across the front deck. The curtains in one of the rooms were tie-dyed. It looks a little like a hippy house.
Then I could hear Maddi’s voice. “Tyson, Dad!” she yelled. So it was her Dad. And that was when the automatic sprinkler system came on. The water was smelly and it landed all over me. Maddi’s Mom came out and turned it off because the car doors were still open. I froze so she wouldn’t see me.
Then I noticed a green ant climbing up my leg and it disappeared as it made its way under my shorts. I told myself not to panic. Then another ant started to make its way up my leg, followed
by another and another. I was lying next to a nest. I tried to shuffle away and then I felt the first bite. I gritted my teeth shut. It really hurt! And then another one bit me. The pain was searing through my leg, but I still managed to stay still and not yell. But then the unthinkable happened and they all started biting me at once.
I screamed, jumped up and ran down the street. Looking back I could see Maddi’s Mom staring at me, a look of shock and concern on her face. “Green ant bite!” I called out to her, “it’s okay.” I rounded the corner, raced behind the tree and pulled my pants down. There were about 10 ants all feasting on me. I slapped them off and pulled my pants back on. The pain was excruciating! I couldn’t sit on my bike because most of the bites were near my bottom. I limped home, pushing my bike. It took over an hour!
The bites were red and raised, they looked really angry. I put some stop itch cream on them and lay on my bed on my stomach.
When Dad came home he asked if I was okay. What could I say? No, I was attacked by green ants while I was spying on a girl I like! That’s just way too embarrassing! Boy did I learn a lesson today. When you are spying on a girl, don’t do it next to a green ant nest!
Sunday
Last night I was feeling really bored and lonely so I took the fob
Diary of Mr. TDH AKA Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome - Book 1 Page 6
