I saw the girl crying under the tree on many occasions. But I never helped her. I always thought that she should be strong enough to make it home before she cried.
      That was what I did. I sucked up what I heard, what was yelled at me, the rumors that ran through the halls, and everything else.
      But the one thing I could never suck up was when someone tried to physically attack me. That would set off my short temper and the person would wind up with a broken and bloody nose and I would be suspended, yet again.