Chapter 10

Milton nodded, looking ashamed. “A group of them. Pathetic, aren’t I?”

Calvin reached over and gave Milton a hug. “Sometimes girls can be even crueler than boys.”

“Why didn’t you report it?” JJ asked. “The school’s got a zero-tolerance policy about bullying.”

Milton didn’t say anything.

“Shame,” Calvin said on Milton’s behalf. “It isn’t easy, being a geek, not able to fight back, and when girls are doing the bullying, that’s even worse. And if you tell, then you’d get a reputation as a snitch, which only adds to the problem.”

Milton nodded.

Calvin tried to lighten the mood by telling them of the times when he’d had his head pushed down the toilet. “They were called Swirlies.”

Milton nodded. “They still are.”

“And if someone had taken a crap first, they were called Chunky Swirlies.”

Both Milton and JJ grimaced.

“Heavens, is that the time?” Calvin stood. “I better start supper. My man likes me barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen when he gets home.”