~Chapter Twelve~
The next day, the three children spent recess at the swing set on the playground. Melissa and Ada sat on the swings whilst Marbles pushed Ada's swing. It was a beautiful day.
"So Melissa," Ada said, "Did I tell you there's an after school dance club?"
"Really?" the older girl asked, "What kind of dancing do they teach?"
"Very old dances," Ada said, "Like the minuet and the jig. They want to teach us a bit of history while also making things fun."
"I've wanted to learn the jig for a while," Marbles said as he pushed Ada's swing, "I saw it on television once and it looked rather fun."
"I've been a part of the club for two years now. I've become quite familiar with all the different styles, including the jig," Ada said shyly, "If you do join the club and have trouble learning, I could easily help you."
Marbles face turned bright red. "I would like that."
Melissa smiled as she watched the two.
"They're so perfect for each other," she thought, "If they would only admit their feelings for one another! But I suppose we're still too young."
"Uh-oh," Ada said as she saw Lauren and Francesca walking towards them, "Here comes trouble!"
"Well hello Miss Queen of the Popular," Lauren said addressing Ada, "Enjoying being the center of attention?"
"Leave us alone," Ada snapped.
"Aawww," Francesca said mockingly, "Need some alone time with your new boyfriend?"
"We are just friends!" Ada and Marbles said, both of them blushing.
"Is that so Marbles?" Francesca asked, "Then shouldn't you be giving your own sister a push, instead of someone who's 'just a friend?'"
Lauren walked up behind Melissa's swing.
"Here Melissa," she said sarcastically, "I'll give you a push!"
Before Melissa could even react in any way, Lauren took hold of the swing's ropes and brought them as high and far back as she could. Then she pushed it forward with all her might, sending a screaming Melissa flying off. She landed with a loud thud onto the grass. Lauren flipped back her wavy, dark red hair triumphantly and high-fived Francesca as their victim lay crying on the ground.
"I'm telling on you!" Marbles shouted as Ada ran over to her friend.
But Lauren and Francesca could care less. They had already made a habit of visiting the Principal's office and knew by now how to sneak around their parents' punishments.
"Are you alright Melissa?" Ada said concerned while Marbles ran to tell a teacher.
"I'm fine," Melissa said as her tears dried, "But that really hurt just now."
Marbles came back with Mr. Dell and Mrs. Wilson. Mrs. Wilson knelt down beside the girls.
"Are you okay sweetie?" she said rubbing Melissa's back, "Your brother told us everything."
"I'm okay. Really."
"You two should be ashamed of yourselves, treating a new student like that!" Mr. Dell shouted at the two bullies, "We are all sick and tired of you girls harassing other students! God doesn't like it, the victims don't like it, and your parents don't like it! You will spend your recesses in the Principal's office for the rest of this week! And if any of us hear one more story of either of you hitting, kicking, or purposely pushing someone again you will be expelled from the seminary! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!"
"Yes sir," the girls said monotonously.
"Good," Mr. Dell said calming down, "Now go to the Principal's office."
Lauren and Francesca walked casually to the school building, not really caring about the consequences they were about to face...
"I simply can't stand those two girls," Ada's friend Alice ranted to Melissa and Ada.
Ada and Melissa had gone to Alice's house to help her with the Science homework they'd been assigned in class and then play dolls afterwards. In just the one and a half days Alice knew Melissa, she had already decided that she would be a good friend. She was smart, friendly, and very caring.
"I agree," Ada said, "They're nothing but low-class bullies! Especially Lauren! She is such a... such a..."
"A witch! That's what she is!" Melissa laughed, finishing Ada's sentence.
"Exactly!" Ada and Alice exclaimed, also laughing at Melissa's remark.
"She really is," Alice continued, "I remember back in kindergarten, we were painting pictures and Lauren threw a full cup of black paint onto my uniform. And another time, near Valentine's day, we were cutting out heart-shaped cards. She came up behind me while the teacher wasn't looking and cut a huge chunk of my hair off!"
"My goodness!" Melissa exclaimed.
"And Francesca's almost as bad," Ada explained to the 'new girl', "One time she punched a boy so hard in the face he had a bruise for weeks. She was suspended for three days, but I say she should have gotten a month."
"You're lucky to have not broken anything Melissa," said Alice, "In fact I don't even see any bruises on you!"
"I don't bruise easily," the girl answered, "I used to climb trees for fun back in our old home and there were plenty of times when I fell off the highest branches. But no bruises."
"Lucky!" Alice said.
Melissa smiled. "Well as long as they stay far away from my brother, they can do whatever they want with me."
"Good grief Melissa," Ada exclaimed, "I've never known someone to be so protective over a younger sibling!"
"I know," Alice added, "You sound like my mom right now."
Melissa smiled. "I seem to get these comments a lot."
Marbles watched Margaret Lovelace as she attempted to fix his aunt's laptop that had been damaged after she spilled hot coffee onto it. It was 3:45 P.M and the girls were still at Alice's house.
"Well, my friend, it would seem this time you've damaged your laptop beyond repair," Margaret said to Alexa, finally throwing her hands up in defeat.
"What are you going to do, Aunt Alexa?" Marbles asked.
"I'll have to buy a new one, unfortunately," Alexa said with a sigh, "I had so many pictures saved on there."
"Let this be a learning lesson, luv," Margaret said.
Marbles thought for a moment, then asked hesitantly, "Do you suppose..."
"Yes Marbles?" Alexa said waiting for the boy to finish his question.
"Do you suppose I could keep the laptop?"
Alexa was confused by this question.
"I see no reason why not. But what in Cyberspace would you want with a broken laptop?!"
"Maybe someday I could find a solution to these types of problems by using the laptop as a sort of experiment."
Margaret and Alexa stared at each other with a smile, both thinking the same thing.
"Just like Clyde."
"Alright," Alexa said, "But we'll have to find a space for you to work in."
"He could work in my attic," Margaret said, "There's plenty of space there."
"How does that sound, Marbles?" Alexa asked.
"Swell," Marbles said, "Thank you Miss Lovelace."
"You're very welcome Marbles." Margaret paused. "Don't you have any homework?"
"Not today," Marbles answered, "Our homework was to finish whatever classwork we didn't complete and I finished it all in class."
"Well, that's good," Alexa said.
"And I was the first student to finish!"
"Now Marbles, boasting isn't very becoming of a gentleman," Margaret said, "But that's wonderful Marbles. You truly are one of the most intelligent children I know."
"Your daughter is very intelligent also," he said smiling at the thought of Ada.
Margaret smiled too, knowing quite well that Marbles was beginning to have a crush on her daughter. "Yes she is. All three of you are little geniuses."
"Thank you," Marbles said before turning to his aunt, "I'm going to go to my room and read, if you don't mind."
"Of course I don't mind Marbles," Alexa said, "Have fun."
"It was lovely having you around while I worked on this," Margaret added.
"Thank you. It was fun to watch what I will eventually be doing some day," the boy answered.
Marbles then left the attic to go to his room, where he would spend the rest of his afternoon reading a biography on his favorite cyber-scientist.
"Such a sweet little lad," Margaret said.
"Yes," Alexa said, "Honestly, I hope he can, by some miracle, find a way to fix the laptop. I had so many wonderful photos of us all. I hate to think they're gone forever."
"At least there's a fair amount in your scrapbook," Margaret said.
"True," Alexa said, walking over to a nearby bookshelf and taking out said scrapbook.
Alexa flipped through the pages randomly before coming on one that made her laugh.
"Remember this?" she asked Margaret as she showed her the picture.
Margaret looked at the picture and began to laugh herself. It was a photo taken years ago at a Starlight Night party. In it were a young Clyde and Eileen in a competitive game of Chinese Checkers. It had been Clyde's favorite game and the playing pieces were the inspiration for their second child's name.
"What a night that was," Margaret said fondly, "I recall Clyde winning every round that night until Eileen challenged him."
"They were the last ones there that night," Alexa said, "Everyone else had given up winning against either of them.
"I do hope they taught the little ones how to play," Margaret said, "It would be rather ironic for a child named Marbles to not know how to play with them."
Alexa wasn't paying attention though, her gaze transfixed on the photo.
"Oh Eileen," she thought, "You'd be so proud of your children. They have such bright futures ahead of them."