“How can you eat that?” Moxie asks, pointing at Pia’s steamed cauliflower.
“Like this,” she says, spearing some with her fork and stuffing it into her mouth. “It’s good. And it’s good for you.”
Moxie shrugs, reaching into her lunchbox to pull out a full-sized ice cream sundae, topped with all of the fixings—nuts, whipped cream, and two fat cherries. “Suit yourself.”
“I think our next service project should be to teach Moxie about eating healthy,” Acer says, unpacking his own lunch.
The school lunchroom is loud for a Monday, but, even then, the sudden sounds of arguing can be overheard from across the room. Acer’s ears perk up, trying to catch some of the conversation while the rest of the table waits patiently to see what he decides. When he raises his eyebrows and jumps out of his seat, the rest of them follow close behind, knowing that whatever problem it might be, they will be able to solve it by keeping a cool head and working together.
“What’s the matter, new kid? No friends?” comes a familiar voice from the back corner table. “Is that why you had to leave your old school? Because no one liked you?”
The Global Game Changers, with Acer leading the way, come upon their classmate Donald hovering over a much younger kid who is trying to eat his sandwich in peace. The new student does his best to pretend that he can’t hear Donald, but the bully is not so easily ignored.
“Maybe it’s time for another move,” he continues. “Because we don’t want you either.”
“I want him!” Moxie says, bounding up to the table with a flourish.
“Me too,” Acer says, getting between Donald and the new student. “He seems like a keeper to me. What’s the problem, Donald? Why are you bullying this kid?”
“Sam,” the new kid says.
“Sorry—Sam,” Acer continues. “So, why are you bullying Sam?”
“It’s none of your business, Global Lame Changers,” he says with a red face, wisps of blonde hair falling down over his eyes.
“Donald,” Pia says, “you were the new kid just last year! Don’t you remember how hard it is having to start at a new school?”
“I’m just giving him the same warm welcome I was given,” he says, his face dropping in a way that almost went unnoticed.
Pia did notice, though, pulling Acer and Moxie away to speak privately. They all understand how bullying works, and that trying to either ignore or confront Donald isn’t going to solve the problem, even if it seems like the easiest solution.
Sam will still have to see Donald every day at school, and they may not always be around to stick up for him. If they want to help, they decide, they are going to have to get everybody on the same team.
“Look,” Acer says to Donald and Sam. “Let’s call a truce for a second. Donald, why don’t you go with Pia and Moxie while Sam and I get to know each other better.”
Donald looks unsure, but, before he can respond, Moxie and Pia each grab an arm and quickly escort him to their table.
“You said you were giving Sam the same warm welcome you were given,” Pia says to Donald when they sit down. “What did you mean by that? Did someone bully you when you first came to this school?”
“Maybe,” he answers nervously. “Why do you care?”
“Well,” Moxie interrupted, puffing out her chest, “because we’re Global Game Changers! Caring is what we do—whether that means doing service projects to Ignite Good! or simply helping out other kids without expecting anything in return.”
“Maybe kids like Sam,” Donald says, “But you wouldn’t help someone like me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Pia says. “Everybody has the ability to be good. All you need to do is find your Heart and your Talent—then you can create a Superpower and do something great with it!”
“A Talent?” Donald asks, letting his guard down.
“Yeah! What do you like to do?”
“Well,” he says, stroking his chin. “I’m pretty good at public speaking, I never get stage fright, or anything. I was in the play every year back at my old school.”
“See, that’s a great Talent! You can use public speaking in a lot of amazing ways!”
“But what about my Heart?”
“Bullying is your Heart!” Moxie cheers. “I mean, right, Pia? Think about it, if you add a public speaking Talent to the bullying Heart you can do something really great!”
“Exactly,” Pia adds. “Like use your Superpower to introduce new kids like Sam around the school. It’s not easy being the new kid, remember? They don’t need a bully, they need a friend to help them fit in!”
“And then I can be a Global Game Changer too?” Donald asks.
“Both of you can,” Moxie says, pointing over his shoulder to where Sam is talking and laughing with Acer. “Why don’t you try starting over?”
Donald takes a few deep breaths, sighs, and lets all of the bad thoughts and frustration leave his body. He marches over to the table, nods at Acer, and shakes Sam’s hand, officially meeting him for the very first time.
