Jimmy waited for the train to finish pulling into Grand Central Station. He'd had a lot of fun this summer back in Indiana. It had been good to see his old friends again and his cousins were now old enough to join in their games. He'd ridden his bike, built forts, climbed trees and swum in the lake. His uncles had even taken him and his cousins on a fishing trip in the deep woods. They'd had a great time camping, hiking and fishing.
I couldn't have done all that with stupid Steve following me around, he thought, imagining what it would have been like. Between his asthma, his flat feet, and his weak heart we wouldn't have been able to do anything. I would have had to stay behind to keep him company while everyone else had fun.
Sure, it isn't fair that he's so weak and sickly, but it's not my fault and it's not my job to make it up to him. I didn't miss getting into constant fights either, he admitted to himself. He felt a moment of chagrin when he realized that his father and Miss Murgatroyd had been right about how his friendship with Steve had limited his life. Well, he definitely wasn't going to tell them that, he thought.
The train juddered to a halt. Jimmy grabbed his suitcase and quickly found his family on the platform. After a series of hugs and a chorus of "look at you! You've grown so tall" the Barnes family made their way back to Brooklyn.
After dinner Jimmy went out to the playground. He spotted the Sullivan boys over by the tetherball court. Heading over to join them, he heard the sounds of a scuffle coming from alley behind the playground. Jimmy paused. Listening carefully, he could make out a familiar voice saying, "I don't like what you said, you bully!", quickly followed by "take that back or I'll make you," and "okay, you want a fight, I'll give you a fight."
Jimmy sighed. The day had been going so well, he thought tiredly, this is the last thing I need. You'd think Steve would have learned not to pick fights with people twice his size by now, but no. He took a few steps towards the fight then stopped. Why should I get involved with something that's none of my business? he thought. Resolutely, he turned around, and ignoring the sounds of Steve's latest brawl, walked over to the Sullivan boys, who seemed pleased to see him, and said, "Hiya fellas, long time no see."
