The prologue~
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He sighed, watching all of the other kids play tag or hide-and-seek with their friends. He went up to a kid, who was hidden behind a slide.
"Can I play with you guys?"
He hissed, "Be quiet, before they find me."
"Can I play too?"
The boy scoffed, "No. This is only for me and my friends only. No outsiders."
"Please?"
"Found you!" another kid said, tagging him. "Now, it's your turn."
The kid glared at the boy, who made his hiding spot get found. "No. Go on somewhere, tubby." He shooed him.
"What does tubby mean?" he asked.
The kid just rolls their eyes, walking away.
Disappointed, he walks away, taking the hint that he isn't well-liked by his peers. Across the playground, he spotted a boy sitting alone at a bench. That boy always sat by himself at that bench, at lunch, and on the bus too. When he thought about it, that boy always sat by himself and talked to no one. Not even the teachers. Maybe he'll make a new friend. He went up to him.
"Hi."
The boy looked up from the ground.
"What's your name?" a bigger boys asked, as he sat next to him. The smaller boy's attention returned to the ground, which left the bigger boy wordless for several moments. Maybe he didn't hear him. "What's your name?" he repeated louder, waving his hand in his face, trying to gain his attention.
He doesn't even glance at the boy. Instead, he arose from the bench, leaving the bigger boy by his lonesome.
The bigger boy angrily looked after the wandering boy. What's his problem? Why is he ignoring him?
"Hey," the bigger boy called after him, catching up to him.
The small boy settled himself into a swing at the swing-set and began moving his legs in a back-and-forth motion. He seemed to get frustrated, because his movements weren't progressing at all. The only thing that moved were his legs, which he flailed more crazily as the minutes passed.
"Want me to help you?" he asked, forgetting why he was even upset. In an odd way, he felt sorry for the smaller boy. He knew how irritating it felt when he didn't know how to swing. Maybe the boy is shy or something.
The small boy eyed him, fidgeting with his fingers, but reluctantly nodded.
He got behind him and pushed him forward, then pulled him back, giving him a finish push. The smaller boy continued the movements of his legs, which made him swing even higher. The bigger boy moved out of his way.
He sat down in a swing next to him and started swinging himself as well. During the occurrence, he couldn't help but look at the other boy, fascinated by him. It amazed him how quiet he is. He's never met anyone in his life like that.
"Are you mute?" he asked, eyeing the smaller boy as he swung. The smaller boy looks at him in confusion. He explains, "It's when you can't talk. My cousin from Wisconsin is mute. I just thought you were mute, since you're so quiet."
He shook his head. After awhile, a broad silence approached the two boys.
When the teacher blew the whistle, dismissing recess, the two boys stopped swinging.
The bigger boy gave up and started heading inside.
The smaller boy approached him. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he responded, surprised.
The smaller boy leaned in closely and whispered, "My parents say that I'm not allowed to talk to strangers."
"Well, you're talking to me," he pointed out, "So, does this mean I'm not a stranger?"
"I guess so." He shrugged.
"Then what am I?"
"A friend, I guess," he responded, shrugging.
The bigger boy beamed, "Friend?"
He nods, extending his hand out. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too!" he excitedly exclaimed, shaking his hand. The smaller boy almost lost balance at the strength of his grip.
He laughed, "You're strong."
"Boys."
Both of them turned to a staff member, who beckoned for them to return inside the school building.
During the remainder of the school day, he couldn't help but notice how everyone kept giggling at him. It got to the point where it bothered him, which it doesn't regularly. After school, he and the smaller boy got onto the bus, sitting next to each other.
The kids that sat across from them kept glancing at him and whispering. Whenever he caught their gaze, they giggled.
He looks at his new friend. "Have any idea why people keep laughing at me?"
"Maybe it's because you're fat."
"You think so?"
The smaller boy nods. "You're really fat."
"I know," he responds, hurt. "But, why laugh at me for it?"
"I watched a movie where this fat girl got laughed at before."
Embarrassment grasps him. So, that's what the kid meant earlier when they called him tubby.
"My mom says being fat will kill you," the smaller boy added.
"It will?" he asks in alarm.
The smaller boy nods. "You didn't know? My aunt died and she was fat."
He gulps. "So, will I die then?"
"You might," the smaller boy responds, shrugging, "So, what are you going do about it?"
"I'll stop eating," he replies, "I'll lose weight, right?"
"I don't know." The smaller boy looks unsure. "Don't you have to eat to live?"
"But, won't I die if I stay fat?"
They both thought long and hard about this.
"I can't have my friend die," the smaller boy stated, "So, I'll help you."
"You will?"
He nodded, smiling.
Once the bus made it to their stop, the smaller boy follows him home.
The two boys played for hours in the backyard, having a blast. When they played tag, the bigger boy could never catch the smaller boy without tiring himself out. According to the smaller boy, exercise made fat people lose weight.
That night, the bigger boy decided to not eat that night. He told his parents the news, but they insisted on him eating. So, while they were distracted, he dumped his plate of food into the large plant, by the computer desk.
He was starving the next morning and he let his new friend know.
"Do you want my fruit snacks?" the smaller boy offered.
"No," he responded, "They'll make me fatter and people will keep laughing at me."
When lunch came around, he also didn't eat at that time. So, when he arrived home after school, his parents were both sitting on the couch.
"Now, son," his father started, "Tell us about dinner last night."
"It was yummy," he quickly lied. "Ate it all up." Ironically, his tummy boisterously growled the moment he answered, as if it was telling him what a foolish statement to make.
"Then, why was it dumped in the plant?" his mother questioned.
"Dumped in the plant? I had no idea..."
"Don't lie to us," his father warned, "Tell us the truth. You know how it's bad to lie."
He told them everything, which resulted in him getting grounded and immediately fed.
"You're not my friend anymore," he announced the next day at recess.
"Why?" the smaller boy questioned.
He remarked, "My mom says fat is a mean word and friends don't call their friend fat."
"Well, you're really fat and that's not healthy."
"I'd rather be fat than be a puny lizard like you!" He shoves him. "You're the one who isn't healthy!"
He picks himself up from the ground, rubbing his knee. "You made me scrape myself, stupid!"
"It doesn't matter. We're not friends anymore."
Tears brim in his eyes, as he sneers. "I don't care. I don't want to be friends with a fatty like you anyways!" He stuck his tongue out.
"And I don't want to be friends with a little punk like you anyways!"
The smaller boy cried, "I was just trying to help you, so you won't die!"
"Liar! You told me to stop eating and it got me grounded!"
"No I didn't!" Now, the smaller boy shoved him this time. "You said that, not me!"
He shoved him back, making him fall to the ground. Once he stood back up, he punched the bigger boy in the face, striking his eye. "Fatty!" he insulted. "Fatty! Fatty! Fatty!" he screamed.
The bigger boy's eyes started watering from the hit. Angrily, he kicks his shin, causing him to fall back down. He takes advantage of this and starts swinging at him.
The teachers intervened, breaking up the fight.
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