Aly had been siting in the office for almost a whole hour–or at least that's what it felt like. Opal had been glaring at her the whole time, but kept her thoughts to herself.

When the principal finally had time to see them, he motioned Aly into his room, but asked Opal to stay seated. Good. Aly didn't want to see Opal a moment longer.

"So, I hear you got yourself in trouble again." The principal said after they at sat down.

Aly looked down and absently traced a crack on his desk.

"Can you tell me what happened?" He prodded.

Aly looked up, eyes tear-soaked. She felt like her heart was an empty cavity.

"This morning," she started shakily, "I brought a book I made to school with me, but when I showed some boys on the playground–" Aly choked on a sob. "They ripped it up and threw it in the mud!" She burst into tears.

"Don't cry," the principal said in his gruff voice. "These things happen all the time. Boys will be boys after all."

And in that moment Aly could almost believe him. Almost.