Speak Up
	
Mindy sat on the school bus with the usual girls. Approaching the next stop, Mindy thought, "Uh-oh, here we go again." 

Gawking out the bus window and pointing at her target of the day, Shawna started in, "There she is! Look at her ugly outfit! Just check out that freak's hair!" 

Shawna's friends craned their necks and guffawed loudly. As Alia climbed aboard, Shawna teased, "Get a load of Miss Loser!"

"Is that what they wear in your country?" taunted Kim.

Shawna's unbridled aggression could make anyone's life miserable. No one dared to confront her; she was determined to prove herself superior to everyone. Shawna was just plain mean, and Alia was her latest target.

Embarrassed, Mindy thought, "This is wrong. I wouldn't keep silent if I saw someone being physically assaulted."

Mindy moved to sit next to Alia, showing her support for the ridiculed girl. Once at school, Mindy took action. Striding into the principal's office, she announced in a clear, strong voice, "I'm here to speak up against bullying!"









- - - - - - - - - -
© Don Johnston Incorporated
For use with Protocol in Accommodations for Reading (PAR) by DeCoste & Wilson
donjohnston.com/par