"Oh look," Alice said, "It's the freak."
Sophie rolled her eyes.
"Have you looked in the mirror lately. I wouldn't go calling anyone else a freak Alice."
"I wasn't talking to you," Alice told Sophie, "I was talking to the thing that seems to think your buddy likes her. Who would like Tanisha?"
"I like Tanisha," Sophie said, "She happens to be one of my best friends."
"Some friend. She cheated at the contest you guys had. She got you in trouble with the prank she pulled. What kind of friend does something like that?"
Meanwhile president Martinez was talking with his wife.
"Darling," he said, "You know that Sophie is a huge Zac Effron fan."
"Of course," Jennifer Martinez replied, "Is there any particular reason you mention that?"
"I want to take Sophie to the Zac Effron dinner," the president explained.
"I would have been pissed if you didn't," Jennifer said with a supportive smile.
Meanwhile at school Sophie was being challenged by Alice.
"I don't owe you an explanation of why Tanisha is my friend," Sophie said, "She's my friend because she's my friend and I sure as hell am not going to allow you to make fun of her or call her a freak. You want to see a freak LOOK IN THE MIRROR."
Everyone laughed.
"THAT'S NOT FUNNY," Alice said going to take a swing at Sophie. That was not a very good idea. Sophie blocked the punch and twisted Alice's arm behind her head. The playground erupted in cheers. The school bell rang. It was time to come inside.
Sophie was called on to read her essay on friendship.
"Thank you," Sophie said, "When I was doing research I came across a quote that I think sums up friendship in a very simple way. A true friend won't just be there for you because they have to be but rather because they want to be. To me nothing can be more true. One of my best friends is about 6 years older then me. We fight sometimes. We tease each other all the time but Cory was there for me when the chips were down. He was protective of me when I was bullied not because he had to be but because he wanted to be. He explained that he loved me as a little sister, even though we are NOT related. Overall I have a lot of friends. All of my buddies are genuinely my fiends but in addition to Cory my best friends are my mommy and daddy. So that is my essay on friendship. Thank you very much."
