"Okay guys, I have some exciting news, but first I need you all to settle down," Miss Queen Tibby said. I had been telling Ken and Maria a really cool story about my dad and how he fought a dragon to save my mom, but I shot to my seat for Miss Tibby. I was hoping she was finally going to award me for my good behavior- I'd gotten a gold star every day for three days in a row. A record, for me. The class record was Shawn's with twenty days in a row. Even Natara hasn't beaten him.
When everyone was in their seats, Miss Tibby went to the door and went out into the hallway. I turned to Ken, but he didn't know what was going on either. Neither did Matt or Maria. I even looked at Natara, but she was just as confused as I was. Maybe it was just a really big award?
When she came back though, there was another boy with her. He was really short and was looking at all of us like we were monsters. I made up my mind that I didn't like him. He was weird. Maybe he and Shawn would get along though. Maybe I could play pranks on both of them.
"Class, this is Oscar Santos," Miss Tibby said. "He just moved here, and I'm sure all of you will make him feel very welcome. Right, class?" We all nodded politely.
"He looks like a weirdy," I heard Blaise whisper to Natara. They both giggled and Oscar looked at them like a lost puppy. I had to agree with Blaise though. He was dressed like his mom dressed him this morning and combed his hair for him. I don't allow my mom to comb my hair anymore cause I'm a big boy and no one gets to comb my hair anymore. Not even me.
Miss Queen Tibby put him at the table Shawn sits at, but even Shawn was staring at him. We went through our normal lessons of the morning like stupid math and writing. Then we got to go to gym and play kickball. Ken and I always see who can kick it farther. He usually does, but once I hit Shawn in the face with the ball, so I think I'm better. Shawn cried though, and I had to walk him to the nurse's office and then sit out for the rest of the class.
I knew we were all secretly watching Oscar to see if he would be of any value to us. He was on my team though, and I had a feeling he wasn't that good. I got people to let me cut them though, so I got to kick right before Oscar. He hadn't really said anything yet, he just kind of stared at everything with a lost and blank expression. It was really annoying. I marched up to home plate proudly and managed to kick the ball far enough that I got to second base.
Oscar was up, and I saw a lot of the kids moving in from the outfield. He still had the same expression on his face as he kicked it, barely hard enough to reach the pitcher's mound. I stayed where I was, watching him run, and not very fast either, to first base. I saw Heather going for the ball though, and I knew what was about to happen before it happened. Heather threw the ball at Oscar with all her strength, hit him in the head, and he face planted into the dirt.
A bunch of the boys burst out laughing, but for some reason I couldn't bring myself to. When Oscar got up, I saw that he had a huge scrape on his face from his cheek to his chin, and before I knew it I was walking over to him.
"Coach Quinn," I said, "I'll bring him to the nurse's office."
"Thank you, Mal. That's very kind of you," he said. I led Oscar off the field and back toward the building. It was really awkward, cause he didn't really say anything and I didn't know what to say.
"Thanks," I heard him whisper.
"You're welcome."
A long silence hung over us again.
"I'm Malachi Fallon, but you can call me Mal," I said.
"I'm Oscar."
"I know. Miss Queen Tibby introduced you to us." His eyes got really big and round.
"Queen?" I grinned.
"Oh yeah. That girl, Natara, she has her own kingdom during recess and claims she's the queen, but I know that Miss Tibby is the true Queen of the playground," I said. "Natara's just a princess."
"Are you part of the kingdom?" He asked with real curiosity in his voice.
"Well, I used to be. But then she banished me. Twice." I didn't like admitting it, but I knew it was only cause she hated me. She never banished Ken and he did all the stuff I did. We were quiet again, but soon I saw Oscar grin again, this time with a glint in his eye that I knew meant we were gonna do something awesome.
"We should start our own kingdom!" He exclaimed. "You and me, we'll be the Crown Princes and we can rule it together!" I smiled so big my cheeks hurt.
"That's a really cool idea!" I said as I held out my hand. "Let's shake on it. You and me, Prince Oscar and Prince Mal, the rulers of Natara's rival kingdom!" His hand slid into mine and we shook hands. We ran the rest of the way to the Nurse and when we got back to the classroom we started planning our kingdom and our flag.
That day at recess, the two princes of the French Fry Kingdom attacked Natara's cupcake kingdom. We got captured and thrown in jail, but we spent the rest of recess plotting our escape and revenge.