On the first day of the sixth grade, I waited at the bus stop for the school bus.
On
the
first
day
of
the
sixth
grade
,
I
waited
at
the
bus
stop
for
the
school
bus
.
When it arrived, I got on and I noticed one little girl called Amy.
When
it
arrived
,
I
got
on
and
I
noticed
one
little
girl
called
Amy
.
She was different from everyone else on the bus.
She
was
different
from
everyone
else
on
the
bus
.
"Don't talk to Amy," warned Lauren, who sat beside me.
``
Do
n't
talk
to
Amy
,
''
warned
Lauren
,
who
sat
beside
me
.
"Or everybody will make fun of you."
``
Or
everybody
will
make
fun
of
you
.
''
Amy had many physical differences and the other kids always made fun of her.
Amy
had
many
physical
differences
and
the
other
kids
always
made
fun
of
her
.
Her eyes weren't straight.
Her
eyes
were
n't
straight
.
Her glasses were an inch thick.
Her
glasses
were
an
inch
thick
.
And she had really strange teeth.
And
she
had
really
strange
teeth
.
Every day kids shouted insults at Amy.
Every
day
kids
shouted
insults
at
Amy
.
They would say, "God, what a strange face!
They
would
say
,
``
God
,
what
a
strange
face
!
Stop looking at me!"
Stop
looking
at
me
!
''
For a while I shouted insults at Amy too, just so I could fit in.
For
a
while
I
shouted
insults
at
Amy
too
,
just
so
I
could
fit
in
.
After all, I didn't want the other kids treating me the same as they treated Amy.
After
all
,
I
did
n't
want
the
other
kids
treating
me
the
same
as
they
treated
Amy
.
But it made me sad to insult her.
But
it
made
me
sad
to
insult
her
.
I could see that the insults were making her feel ashamed and lonely.
I
could
see
that
the
insults
were
making
her
feel
ashamed
and
lonely
.
I began to pity her.
I
began
to
pity
her
.
Then I wanted to stand up for her.
Then
I
wanted
to
stand
up
for
her
.
I didn't know how to stop my schoolmates insulting Amy until the night of our class skating party.
I
did
n't
know
how
to
stop
my
schoolmates
insulting
Amy
until
the
night
of
our
class
skating
party
.
Our whole class was there, including Amy.
Our
whole
class
was
there
,
including
Amy
.
Amy didn't know how to skate, but I could see how much she wanted to have fun like the rest of us.
Amy
did
n't
know
how
to
skate
,
but
I
could
see
how
much
she
wanted
to
have
fun
like
the
rest
of
us
.
So I skated over to her and took her by the hand.
So
I
skated
over
to
her
and
took
her
by
the
hand
.
Holding her hand, I slowly pulled her, and together we began the journey around the skating rink.
Holding
her
hand
,
I
slowly
pulled
her
,
and
together
we
began
the
journey
around
the
skating
rink
.
I didn't say a word to her, and she didn't speak to me.
I
did
n't
say
a
word
to
her
,
and
she
did
n't
speak
to
me
.
She just smiled, and every once in a while she would laugh in excitement.
She
just
smiled
,
and
every
once
in
a
while
she
would
laugh
in
excitement
.
The next morning, on the school bus the other kids talked a lot about Amy and me.
The
next
morning
,
on
the
school
bus
the
other
kids
talked
a
lot
about
Amy
and
me
.
But nobody insulted her or me.
But
nobody
insulted
her
or
me
.
And they didn't do that for the rest of the year.
And
they
did
n't
do
that
for
the
rest
of
the
year
.
When the school year ended, my family moved away, and I never heard of Amy again.
When
the
school
year
ended
,
my
family
moved
away
,
and
I
never
heard
of
Amy
again
.
But I've always hoped that I changed her life for the better.
But
I
've
always
hoped
that
I
changed
her
life
for
the
better
.
She changed my life as well.
She
changed
my
life
as
well
.
After becoming her friend, I no longer tried to impress people by trying to act like them or dress like them.
After
becoming
her
friend
,
I
no
longer
tried
to
impress
people
by
trying
to
act
like
them
or
dress
like
them
.
I became myself.
I
became
myself
.
On the first day of the sixth grade, I waited at the bus stop for the school bus. When it arrived, I got on and I noticed one little girl called Amy. She was different from everyone else on the bus.  "Don't talk to Amy," warned Lauren, who sat beside me. "Or everybody will make fun of you."  Amy had many physical differences and the other kids always made fun of her. Her eyes weren't straight. Her glasses were an inch thick. And she had really strange teeth. Every day kids shouted insults at Amy. They would say, "God, what a strange face! Stop looking at me!"  For a while I shouted insults at Amy too, just so I could fit in. After all, I didn't want the other kids treating me the same as they treated Amy. But it made me sad to insult her. I could see that the insults were making her feel ashamed and lonely. I began to pity her. Then I wanted to stand up for her. I didn't know how to stop my schoolmates insulting Amy until the night of our class skating party.  Our whole class was there, including Amy. Amy didn't know how to skate, but I could see how much she wanted to have fun like the rest of us. So I skated over to her and took her by the hand. Holding her hand, I slowly pulled her, and together we began the journey around the skating rink. I didn't say a word to her, and she didn't speak to me. She just smiled, and every once in a while she would laugh in excitement.  The next morning, on the school bus the other kids talked a lot about Amy and me. But nobody insulted her or me. And they didn't do that for the rest of the year. When the school year ended, my family moved away, and I never heard of Amy again. But I've always hoped that I changed her life for the better.  She changed my life as well. After becoming her friend, I no longer tried to impress people by trying to act like them or dress like them. I became myself.