***

George pulled up to the school leaving five minutes to spare before the bell. "Okay boys, have a good day. Wing can you please walk your brother to class."

"Uh, Dad, what about lunch?"

"What about it?"

"You left them on the kitchen counter."

George smacked himself in the forehead. "Why didn't you say something?"

"I tried, but you told me later."

George said a vulgar oath under his breath. "Sorry, Sport. My minds on other things at the moment. Do you mind buying lunch today?"

Wildwing frowned. "Do I have a choice?"

"Not really, here," George handed Wildwing a wad of money. "Give Dive's money to his teacher."


"I will, Dad."

"Bye boys, see you tonight."

"Bye, Dad."

"Bye, bye, Daddy."

Wing and Dive watched as their father sped away. Wildwing could imagine that if he didn't slow down he was going to get a ticket. Dive tugged on Wildwing's shirt and pointed at the money in Wing's hand.

"It's called lunch money. We have to buy lunch today."

"Bad?"

"Very bad. The food's icky."

Dive frowned. "I don't like icky food."

"Sure you don't," Wing remarked sarcastically, knowing full well what Dive considered reasonable' and edible'. "Come on Dive, we're going to be late."

Dive watched Wing give Mrs. Duckers his money, and she gave him a piece of paper. He didn't know what it was, and frankly he didn't really care. What he had to figure out was who he was going to play with today. The class had divided itself into two groups, the boys on one side of the room and the girls on the other. Since Dive didn't really know any of the boys, he joined the girls. Rita allowed him passage and let him play with the girls, even though the girls thought it was funny. The girls thought that Dive was the only sensible boy in the school who knew which sex was superior. The girls were defiantly smarter and better then the boys! (According to the girls of course) The boys played some war game as the girls played hairdresser. Since Dive had long hair and was completely outnumbered, he was the chosen victim, er I mean, client. When they were done torturing, um correction, styling, Dive had several tiny braids and ponytails sticking out all over his head. Mrs. Duckers, being obsessed with taking pictures of her students, could not help but snap a shot of Dive's newest hair fashion trend. He looked ridiculous, but that didn't stop him from modeling his new do. He loved the attention the girls and the boys gave him.

Mrs. Duckers thought that the salon was fun and added some great shot for her new school year collage, but it was time for the children to go outside and play. She arranged the children in a large circle with on child on the outside. They were going to play duck, duck, goose'. Rita was the first child to be it. She walked the parameter of the class, who were seated on the ground. As she passed behind each of her classmates she would gently tap them on their head and repeat the same word. "Duck, duck, duck, duck."

Rita approached where Dive was sitting, as he whispered to the boy next to him. "Duh, what else would we be."

The other boy snickered and covered his beak. His eyes met Rita's burning glance and he stopped giggling. Dive on the other hand continued to laugh at his jest. A smug look crossed her small face as she tossed her braids behind her back. She had a plan to stop the insults Dive flung casually about. When he wasn't watching she walked coolly up behind him and slapped him on the top of his head. "DUCK!"

"Oww," Dive grabbed the top of his head, watching Rita's retreating back. "Duck, duck, duck," Rita sang, taunting Dive from the other side of the circle.

The boy sitting next to Dive laughed at Dive's expression of betrayal. "I guess you should have. *snicker* ducked."

"Shut up."

"No."

"Shut up."

"Make me."

Rita watched the argument escalate and found that it was the perfect time for her to strike. With Dive's back to her she rounded the circle and closed the distance between her and her prey. She lowered her voice as she spoke the repeated word and carefully tip toed towards her quarry. The other children could tell that she was settling in for the kill and held their breaths. Dive, unbeknownst to what was about to befall him, pushed the little boy and made a fist daring him to push back.

"Goose!" Rita screamed, slugging Dive on the back of his head before taking off running around the circle.

"What?!"

"Get her!" laughed the boys sitting around Dive.

Dive jumped up and ran after Rita. She had a huge head start, but Nosedive quickly closed the gap. He reached out and almost caught her flying braids with his fingertips. He was inches from tagging her and sending her to the mosh pit when she slid to safety in the spot he had just been occupying.

"No fair!" Dive protested. "She hit me!"

"So. I made it to the base fair and square." Rita said stubbornly sticking her tongue out at her advisory.

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!'

"Did too."

"Not!"

"Too."

"NOT!"

"Too."

"Children please. Nosedive, will you please be it?" Mrs. Duckers attempted to quench the argument.

Nosedive thought about the proposition, but he didn't see anything good from being it'. Being it' generally meant that Canard was trying to ditch him and Wing only went along with it because technically he was playing with them. "Do I have to?"

"No, but will you please be it'?"

Dive frowned and looked away.

"I'll give you a piece of candy."

That's all it took. The mention of candy helped Dive to make up his mind. "Okay!"

Rita let out a cry of disbelief and disgust. How come he got candy and she didn't? She was forced to be it' and didn't get a reward, but when he was it' he got candy. This was soooo unfair! Dive happily bounced around before resuming the game. Rita sat glaring at the blond with many ponytails and braids. Dive glanced at Rita and saw the daggers in which she was aiming at him. He beamed his best smile and stuck out his tongue at her. Rita jumped back, aghast by the insult. *I'll get him for that!* Rita thought. As the game progressed Rita devised a plan to humiliate Dive. All she had to do was to sit and wait. She would have her revenge today!

The lunch hour ticked closer and Mrs. Duckers prepared her class to go to the lunchroom for the midday meal. Dive stood in line with the other children buying their lunches, as did Rita. She marched two places ahead of Dive in line, smiling sinisterly. Soon her master plan would be put into action. Dive stood in line telling his other friends' corny jokes and doing stupid tricks. The children were having too much of a great time to notice the commotion at the end of the line. Josh, the big kid that had stolen Nosedive's cupcake the day before, pushed his way up the line taking what pleasure he could by hurting the younger children. Dive stood facing the kids, his back was to Josh and he never saw the attack, just the stone wall his face was smashed up against. "Outta my way shrimp!"

Rita saw the attack and smiled. She didn't have to get back with Dive; Josh had already done it for her. He had inadvertently helped his little sister out. Josh passed her by, having cleared a large enough path for him to transverse.

"Oww, jerk," Nosedive said pealing himself off the wall, back still turned to his assailant.

Josh spun around, almost slapping Rita across the face. "What did you say?" Josh barked.

"I said you're a jerk."

"Where does a girl get off telling me that?!"

Nosedive turned to find Josh's chest in his face. Dive looked up, ignoring the fire in Josh's eyes he answered back. "I'm not a girl!"

"Your not?" Josh feigned ignorance. "You look like one to me. Or are you a girly boy. You mamma probably wanted a girl so she dresses you like a girl."

"I'm not a girl!" Dive stomped his foot, accidentally flattening Josh's foot in the process.

Josh grabbed his injured appendage, his anger flaring to explosive proportions. "That's it girly duck!" Josh shoved Nosedive back into the wall. "Give me your money."

If a bully tries to take your lunch money always play stupid.' Wildwing's voice spoke in Dive's mind. "What money?" Dive asked, playing dumb.

"Give me your money or else," Josh threatened, balling up his fists.

Dive instantly displayed his wadded up cash for the bully. Josh snatched the desired currency and gave it a critical inspection. "Two bucks? Two lousy bucks? You had better bring me twice this much tomorrow or else girly duck!"

Dive, bewildered yet not dismayed, protested as Josh walked away. "That's my money!"

"No, it's mine," Josh gloated.

"But but now I can't buy lunch."

"Too bad girly boy, guess you're going to have to starve. Don't forget my money tomorrow. I'm a growing a boy and I wouldn't want you to pay the price for disobeying me."

Josh strode off laughing as he continued up the lunch line. Nosedive looked to the other children, all of whom looked away. They each took a step away, leaving Dive alone in his hour of need. The line moved forward, but Nosedive could not move. He we held to his spot with despair. If Wildwing had been there, maybe he would have his lunch money and not have been abused by the bully. But Wildwing wasn't there, and his advice hadn't helped. A silent tear rolled down Dive's cheek and fell to the floor. The children passing him by did not care about his sorrow or his lost money. All they wanted was food and he was standing in their way. One kid pushed Dive out of line and continued on up the line.

Rita looked back, hoping to gloat, but instead she felt remorse. True she wanted to get even with Dive, but Josh was not the way to obtain the ultimate desired result. Rita ran back, grabbed Dive by his hand and pulled him back into line with her. Dive's protests were cut short by Rita's even shorter temper. "Oh don't be a baby. Maybe they'll give you a lunch anyway."

"You think so?"

"Maybe?"

The line in front of them drew closer and closer to the ordering window. As they drew near, Dive became apprehensive. He didn't know what the lunch person would say. Would he be eating today, or would he be sent home hungry? Rita went to the window first and paid for her lunch.

"What'll it be?" asked the heavyset older women with a net on her head.

"Hamburger."

"Next. Okay kid, where's your money?" The kitchen lady asked Nosedive.

"I don't have any, the big kid"

"What do you expect me to do about it?" she demanded.

"Can I have lunch?"

"No!" she practically laughed in his face. "No money, no lunch! Get lost kid, and get a hair cut!" The enlarged female rose from her seat and swung her arm at Dive, who dodged the attack.

"But I'm hungry," Dive complained.

"No money, no lunch, next!"

Dive sulked away, no money, no lunch and an empty stomach. He slunk into the cafeteria and found a seat at the kindergartner table. The kids each looked at him and if they were near him they scooted away. Rita walked in after Dive and seated herself next to him. "Here you go Dive," she handed Dive a small carton of chocolate milk.

"Thank you," Dive whispered, choking on tears.

Rita proceeded to cut her hamburger in half and divided up her vegetables in half as well. She placed her tray between herself and Dive. Dive didn't understand at first. What was she doing? He realized that she was sharing when she tired to spoon-feed him a spoonful of vegetables. He laughed at the action and took the spoon from her and ate the mixed vegetables. He thought that she was going to share all of her lunch, but she hogged the desert. The meal was too small to satisfy either child, especially Nosedive's bottomless pit, but at least they both had something. As they left the cafeteria to go to recess, Dive turned to Rita. "Where'd you get the extra milk?"

"I took it when the lunch lady wasn't looking."

"Why?"

"Because silly, I wasn't going to share my milk with you. You've got cooties!"

"Do not!"

"Tag your it!" a little girl shouted, tagging Dive on the back and running off. Dive smiled mischievously at Rita, but she dodged his sweeping hand. She ran off squealing with Dive hot on her heals. The game of tag lasted till the bell rang signaling the end of recess. It was hard for Dive to go back inside and take his nap. His body wanted to be awake and running around. He couldn't see how other kids were sleeping. Dive got up and found Mrs. Duckers going through some papers at her desk.

"Nosedive, your suppose to be sleeping."

"I don't wanna sleep. Can I color?"

"Sure."

Dive colored until it was art time. Today instead of playing with paint, they cut out shapes and glued them onto a cardboard poster. The whole purpose of the project was to keep the children busy rather then anything else. Dive cut out the pictures he had colored and glued them on top of one another on his cardboard. Mrs. Thunderbeak found Dive admiring his artwork at his table with five other children. She was very impressed with his handy work and he asked her to hang it on her refrigerator. She gladly accepted, but felt awkward about it when Canard and Wildwing came home. Canard tried several time to tear it off the appliance and throw it away, which always spurred an argument between he and Wildwing. It was a good thing that Nosedive had fallen asleep on the couch soon after Canard and Wing were in the home otherwise he would have been in tears by Canards actions. Mrs. Thunderbeak tried to have Dive take the artwork home with him to give to his mother, but he insisted on leaving it on her refrigerator. He said that he would make his mother another one the next day at school.

Dive was finding school to be rewarding in many ways. He loved spending all day playing with other kids and doing art. The three hours he spent alone with Canard's mom was fun too. He knew that the quality time was something he could use to his advantage in a few years. Especially to annoy Canard, but if Wing and Canard didn't repair their friendship soon his investments would all be for nothing.

Dive didn't tell anyone about the lunch time disaster. Don't get him wrong, he wanted to, but what could anyone do? He would just have to handle Josh on his own. Besides if he did tell his parents, guardian (Mrs. Thunderbeak), and Wing, they would only go ballistic with over protection. Dive wanted to be independent and in order to do that he didn't need any help from anyone. That and he didn't want anyone to know that he had been called a girl. If they knew that the reason why he was beaten up was because of his hair, then it would have meant a one way trip to the barber and snip, snip, chop, chop, good bye blond locks forever, and Dive did not want that.

Wildwing was silent that night and had his parents concerned looks upon him at the dinner table. This concern took the focus off Dive as he ate silently and feverishly. He was starved. His feasting continued to munch on goodies as the family watched television that night.

Bedtime rolled around and the brothers headed upstairs to get changed, brush their teeth and say their prayers. Dive came down to the kitchen, where his mother was making the next days lunches. He slid onto the stool nearest to where his mother worked wearing his yellow rubber ducky pajamas. Dive waited patiently till she finished the song she was humming before getting her attention. "Mamma?"

"Yes, Nosedive?"

"Do I have to have a sandwitch tomorrow?"

"Not if you don't want to, why?"

"I wanna buy lunch."

"Don't you like my sandwiches?"

"Yes Mamma, I love your sandwitches, but can't I buy lunch?"

"Nosedive, bed time," his father called coming into the kitchen.

"Just a minute George. Why don't you want your sandwich?"

"What's this?" George asked looking at Dive.

Dive looked at his father ashamed for asking for the money.

"Dive tell your mother why you don't want to eat the sandwich."

"I love Mamma's sandwitches. I uh" Dive looked at his feet. Suddenly they seemed so interesting.

"Nosedive."

"Please Mamma, there's a kid at school whose mamma and daddy don't give him any food and he's always hungry. He never gets to eat and the lunch lady is mean and won't let him eat." His words spilled out so fast that his parents had trouble understanding him, but his tears were all they needed to understand.

"Oh, Nosedive, sweetie, don't cry."

"I don't want him to be hungry."

"Oh, Nosedive, sure we'll give your friend a lunch. Here, I'll make him one right now."

"NO!"

"Excuse me?"

"Uh what if what if he don't like sanwitches?" Dive tried to hide his true intentions.

Anna looked at Dive stunned by his outburst. He wasn't telling her something and she knew it. "Okay," Anna conceded, knowing that the direct approach wasn't going to get her the answers she sought. "Your father and I will give you some money tomorrow for your friend. Do you still want to have the money too, or do you want a sandwich?"

"I want a sandwitch, Mamma please."

"Good, because I have one made especially for you."

Dive jumped off the stool to hug his mother's legs. "Thank you, Mamma." He gave her a kiss goodnight and ran out of the room. George gave him a playful swat as he ran past.

"What was that all about?" George asked Anna.

"I don't know, but I think something may have happened at school today that he hasn't told us."

"Why would he do something like that? He knows that he always talk to us."

"I'm not sure, but maybe"

"Goodnight, Mom," Wildwing interrupted her thought. He had come downstairs for his goodnight kiss. Wing stopped when he saw his parents faces. "What's wrong? Did I do something?"

"No, Wing."

"What are you talking about then?"

"Nothing's wrong, Wing, don't worry."

"Why are you two so upset. Mom you look scared. Did you get a call saying someone died?"

George laughed. "No, Sport, no one died."

"Your father and I were talking about your brother."

"Did he do something bad? If he did it was only a joke Mom. Dive wouldn't hurt anyone."

Now it was Anna's turn to laugh. It was the same as ever, Wing jumping at the chance to defend his little brother. "No, Wildwing, he just wanted to have some money to buy lunch tomorrow."

"Eww, gross, cafeteria food. Didn't he get enough of that slop today?"

Wildwing's exclamation and wrinkled bill caused his parents to erupt into a fit of mirthful laughter. "All right Sport, time for bed," George wiped away a tear and clapped his hands.

Wing frowned, but did not argue. He got his kiss and headed out of the room. "Good night, Mom, good night, Dad."

"Good night handsome," Anna called after him.

"Hey, what about me. Do I look like chop liver?" George retorted.

"Don't be jealous dear."

"You do see me standing here? Geesh, flirting with the enemy." George started to saunter out of the room, but quickly exited when he heard Wildwing and Nosedive laughing upstairs. "Bed time little men!"

"We want to play!"

"No, bed!"

Anna shook her head and finished making the lunches. She wanted to speak more with George about Dive's peculiar request, but there was not enough time.