Kickball and Hardhitters

There were two kinds of children on the playground-- ones who played kickball in the parking lot and those who jumped rope. Lizzy did neither.

One sunny afternoon, while Lizzy was sitting alone at the swing set, she was suddenly and unfortunately knocked off her swing with a kickball to the face. As she was lying there on the ground she eyed Tommy as he flew around the bases for a homerun. The more she looked at Tommy the more she hated him. Tommy was big for his age with black eyes to match his heart. Tommy was always putting bugs in her hair and stealing her animal crackers at snack time.

When Tommy reached home plate, Lizzy was waiting for him and screamed, "I'm gonna tell on you!"

"It's not my fault you were in the way."

He can't be serious. But Lizzy knew he was serious, it was in his eyes. "Not if I tell on you first." And with that she took off running.

"If you tell on me I am going to pick you up and never let you back down."

"Not if you can't catch me."

But before she even got passed the monkey bars she was two feet in the air, supported only by her overalls.

"I hate you Tommy! Put me down! Put me down," she squealed.

All the other boys and girls laughed as she kicked. Just then the snack bell rang and she was sitting on the ground, whipping her eyes. During naptime, Lizzy didn't sleep. While all the other kids were lying on their blue mats, she was thinking of a plan. She had to stop Tommy from picking on her. She thought about it until all the other kids woke up. She thought about it on the bus ride home and at the dinner table. And suddenly when she was brushing her teeth before bed it came to her.

The next day at recess Lizzy didn't sit by herself on the swings. Instead she lined up on the blacktop as the team captain prepared to pick his team.

"Joe."

"Mark."

"You, in the red shirt."

"Lizzy! You aren't allowed to play. Kickball is for boys. Go over and play sissy jump rope."

"No. I am allowed to play kickball if I want." she said as she stomped her foot.

"Come on, just let her play, Tommy." Lizzy was surprised to hear one of the boys say.

And Lizzy did play. She was nervous when it was her turn to kick. What if she missed? Lizzy kicked the ball, it wasn't even a good kick but nobody caught it! Lizzy ran as fast as her little legs could carry her. She made it around first base and was heading for second.

Tommy was standing in the baseline! Lizzy didn't even slow down. Tommy wasn't budging. They were getting closer. Clash! Thud! Everyone stared in awe as the pavement turned red with blood.

The teachers came rushing over to see what happened. Mr. Baker came up to Lizzy and put his hand on her shoulder...

"He got what was coming to him," he whispered so no one could hear.