7
I contacted Ms. Johnson and enrolled Ashley
in dance camp.
At first, Ms. Johnson wasn’t thrilled. She
seemed to think I wasn’t paying enough.
attention to Chloe.
theugla
Within a week, though, she was treating
Ashley like gold. She stopped asking me to
send Chloe to camp.
I kept in touch with Ashley, offering support
and encouragement.
Everything was going well.
Then Ms. Johnson called. Ashley wanted to
quit.
I rushed to the dance camp, but Ashley
refused to tell me what was wrong.
Finally, Ms. Johnson told me the truth.
The other campers were mostly Chloe’s
friends.
Some even accused her of scheming, of
stealing Chloe’s spot.
Chloe hadn’t denied it. In fact, she had
encouraged the bullying.
I was furious.
Seeing how upset I was, Ashley grabbed my hand. “Mrs. Miller, I’m fine. Please don’t be
angry.”
“Please don’t let this ruin things between you
and Chloe.”
I sighed. She was so sweet.
Being bullied and ostracized, and she was still
worried about me and Chloe.
く
“I’m just… I’m heartbroken for you,” I said,
squeezing her hand.
Her lip trembled, and a tear fell onto my hand.
Warm and wet, like her kind heart.
