Miss Essie was grading papers, she thought about the first day of school, the children all bustling into the school room with excitement. She had looked around at all of them certain that she would be able to handle a classroom full of 20 children ages 5 to 14. She did have two students who were working part time at the logging camp and would be finishing school for the final time that term. Those students were given two major assignments and they had to work on their own for one, which was an essay on the history of America and the other was a team project. They were to study the culture of another country and together present a report, as well as a scale model of a town or place in that country.

She looked at the paper she was grading, Jeremy Bolt, Grade 5. He was a quiet boy, did not speak much in class but that was understandable with his stuttering. In fact, he was not the only child who had some learning difficulties, there was Samuel who had a hearing problem. She purchased some books on sign language and taught some signs to the other children to help Samuel communicate. She also found one of her students to be slow in comprehension but always willing to try to learn, once he learned he never forgot. His name was Buddy. He was a loving type of child. In the 4th grade but his academic abilities were at first grade level. He also had some problems with his ability to communicate so if he would get frustrated and then hit or yell or scream at someone. The other day, Jeremy was sitting and eating his lunch when Buddy came over and pushed Jeremy's lunch to the ground and sat down. Jeremy did not like that and questioned him first. Buddy threw the first punch, and they were fighting. She stopped them with the help of some older boys. She wrote a letter to Buddy's parents as well as to Jason Bolt, Jeremy's brother. She was expecting them to come that afternoon.

"Good afternoon, miss Essie!" a voice in the shadow of the door said.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Johnson. Won't you come in?" Miss Essie got up from her desk and walked over to Mr. Johnson.

"I hear we have had a bit of trouble with Buddy?" Mr. Johnson said.

"Yes, there has been trouble. It seems that Buddy does not understand what to do when he is frustrated. He seems to fly off the handle."
Mr. Johnson, although he was large and very tall, he was holding his hat in his hand and humbly spoke to Miss Essie: "I know. We have had a hard time keeping him in school. The last time he was in school the teacher would not let him come to school after a week there. My wife has three other children younger than Buddy and she has no real learning herself so we have just tried to do the best we can. I will take him out of school."

Miss Essie looked at Mr. Johnson, she had met all the families and knew almost all with the smaller children.

"No, Mr. Johnson, please do not do that. May I suggest, I would like to give Buddy a pal to play with him on the playground. Someone who can help him when he is frustrated or does not understand what to do. I will of course be working with him and giving him words and ways to calm down and deal with his frustration. His 'pal' would only help remind him what to say or do. Do you think that might help him in any way?"

Mr. Johnson could not believe his ears. A teacher who was willing to help his son. He had to think about that and ask Mrs. Johnson about that as well.

"Who were you thinking to ask to be his 'buddy'?" if you don't mind my asking said Mr. Johnson.

"I am not at liberty to say just yet. You and the other parents would have a meeting to see if that would be agreeable. I have not spoken to them as yet. They will be here shortly. Just then Jason Bolt walked in with Jeremy in tow.

"Good day miss Essie. We came to discuss Jeremy's 'fight' with Buddy?" Jason said with an air of superiority, not sure if Jeremy would be banned from school again.

"Good day gentlemen. I am glad you brought Jeremy I was going to ask you and Mr. Johnson about something. Jason looked at her expectantly.

"As you know gentlemen, we cannot have fighting or bullying on the playground or in the classroom. So, with that being said, I would like to propose that Jeremy and Buddy hang out together. Jeremy will be with Buddy to help him navigate some of the harder social activities and Buddy can help Jeremy with his stuttering."

Both men looked incredulous, and they both started to speak at the same time:

"What makes you think that Buddy, Jeremy….?"

"Gentlemen, I worked for a time at a special school for the blind and deaf. Now I know that Jeremy and Buddy are not deaf, or blind, but they had a system of assigning a 'buddy' to each blind person. The deaf would walk their friend to the table while the blind person would spell what was for dinner in their friend's hand. I know that this is not exactly the best way, but a way to stop fighting and disagreements is for the two boys to become friends." She looked at Jeremy to see what his reaction was.

Jason looked at Jeremy, Mr. Johnson looked at Jason and Jeremy as well. They smiled a little awkwardly but then they turned to Miss Essie and Mr. Johnson said

"Mr. Bolt, I will check with my wife, but it seems that Miss Essie has a way that might keep both our boys in school, what do you say?"

Jason looked at Mr. Johnson, then at Jeremy.

"Jeremy, what is your opinion?"

Jeremy looked at his older brother, Jason had decided long ago that in order for all his brothers and him to get along they would have to each have their say. He would not influence their decisions until both had had their say. Jeremy as usual could not tell what Jason or Joshua thought.

"W-W-well J-j-j-jason,"

"Alright slowdown, have your say!" Jason said encouraging his younger brother to speak more easily.

"I like B-B-Budd-Buddy well enough. He, h-h-he just startled me! M-M-M-Miss Essie, w-w-w-wh-wh-what am I s-s-supposed to do?" Jason nodded his approval and waited for Miss Essie to reply.

"Jeremy, first of all thank you. Second, all you need to do is play with him and help him to play with the others. Guide him a little when it comes to asking for things, looking, and talking to your friends help him with the social graces."

Mr. Johnson asked: "What is Buddy's job then Miss Essie?"

Miss Essie looked at Mr. Johnson and said: "Buddy's job will be to support Jeremy whenever he is talking. That is if you don't mind having some help, Jeremy?'

Jeremy nodded his approval, as did Jason.

"Miss Essie." Mr. Johnson said: "I think my wife will be very glad to have Jeremy helping with Buddy. I also think that Buddy will be very glad to help Jeremy as well."

"Mr. Johnson, did you not bring Buddy with you?"

"No Miss Essie. I thought he was going to be kept home so I wasn't sure if bringing him was the right thing to do?"
"I understand, I would like to see Jeremy and Buddy together and talk to them before Supper tonight. Is that alright?"

Jason and Mr. Johnson said OKAY.

Miss Essie is there something Jeremy can do for you right now. I have to get back to the camp. He can go home when you are finished. Miss Essie nodded her approval and set about having Jeremy clap the erasers and clean the black board.

About 20 minutes later, Buddy and his father showed up. Miss Essie was just about done grading papers when they walked in. Jeremy stopped as well.

Thank you, Mr. Johnson. I will talk with these boys alone if you don't mind. This has to be something that they need to be responsible for. Not their parents or brothers.

Mr. Johnson nodded and left. Miss Essie looked at both boys. Buddy, was a little on the heavy side, taking after his father. Jeremy was a bit skinny but very strong, since he usually helped out at the logging camp. Both boys stood respectfully at her desk waiting for her instructions.

"Okay, boys, you may each take a seat. I am going to explain the 'buddy system' to you…."
Buddy perked up, he liked that is was called 'buddy system' he smiled. Jeremy sat at the desk hands folded, sitting up straight and attentive.

"This system you will discover is used for the deaf and blind. The blind is paired with the deaf for dinner. The deaf person walks the blind person to the table, the blind person spells out the dinner menu for the deaf person. Do you understand?"
Both boys looked at Miss Essie, Jeremy said:

"But, Miss Essie, we are neither blind nor deaf?"
Buddy looked at Jeremy and nodded his head. Both looked up at Miss Essie.

"Buddy, Jeremy, you are going to pair up. Buddy, you will be with Jeremy and help him when he is having problems stuttering. Jeremy, you will be Buddy's 'buddy' on the playground. You will help him when he is having problems with other kids. Do you both understand now?"

Both said yes. Miss Essie was not satisfied and had them repeat what she had said. Then she asked if they needed another example?

Jeremy looked at Buddy and Buddy looked at Jeremy, they both shook their heads no.

"Okay, then, I expect you to work with each other. This will be your responsibility. You are partners and each of you must work together to make that relationship work. Do you understand?" They both shook their heads yes. Miss Essie then dismissed them.