Chapter 2 - The Boy in the Front Row
The morning dragged on like a slow torture. While the rest of Room 4B learned addition and recited poetry, Emma and Lily stood barefoot by the doorway. Emma’s legs grew tired, and she eventually sank to the floor, curling her bare feet beneath her navy skirt. Lily remained standing, a tiny guard watching over her sister.
At 10:00 AM, the morning break bell rang. The children lined up to head to the courtyard.
Mrs. Thompson stepped into the hallway to speak with the floor administrator. Seizing the moment, six-year-old Julian Vance didn't run out to the playground like the other boys. Instead, he lingered behind, slipping out of line and walking straight over to the corner where the twins sat.
Julian reached into his pocket and pulled out a soft, blue silk handkerchief that bore his family’s embroidered crest. He knelt down right on the dusty floor next to Emma.
“Your foot is bleeding,” Julian said simply.
Emma pulled her feet back, terrified of getting yelled at again. “We’re not supposed to talk.”
“I don’t care,” Julian said. He took Emma’s bruised foot gently and wrapped the expensive silk handkerchief around her scraped toe. “My dad says rules without kindness are just excuses for bad people to be mean.”
Lily looked at the boy in surprise. “Your shoes are very shiny.”
“They’re stupid,” Julian muttered, looking down at his tailor-made leather loafers. He looked at the paper sticking out of Emma’s pocket. “Is that the letter for the teacher?”
“Yes,” Lily whispered. “The mean lady wouldn faint to read it.”
“Give it to me,” Julian said, reaching out a hand.
“Why?”
“My dad is coming to school at noon,” Julian explained, his small face serious. “He’s the Chairman of the Board. He sits in the big office with Mr. Sterling, the Headmaster. My dad hates when people lie, and he hates when children cry. I’ll give it to him.”
Lily hesitated, but looking at Emma’s shivering shoulders, she pulled the damp, folded note from Emma’s pocket and placed it in Julian’s hand.
“Tell your dad our mommy is a good person,” Lily pleaded softly. “She works really hard.”
“I will,” Julian promised. He stuffed the note into his inner jacket pocket just as Mrs. Thompson walked back into the room, her heels clicking loudly on the floor.
“Julian Vance!” Mrs. Thompson barked, her eyes widening in shock as she saw the richest boy in the state kneeling beside the barefoot girls. “What are you doing over there? Move away from them at once! They are being removed from campus!”
Julian stood up slowly, dusting off his knees. He didn't look scared of her at all. He gave Mrs. Thompson a long, cold look that looked eerily like his father’s famous corporate stare.
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“You’re mean,” Julian said clearly. “And my dad is going to take away your job.”
“How dare you!” Mrs. Thompson gasped, but before she could grab his arm, the school security guard arrived at the door, summoned by the office to escort the two barefoot children off the premises.
