At last, something sprang to mind. Her bullies were big, strong and male. They were all a year or two ahead of her. They made advances on her, and she felt like they did not understand what it was like to be weak.
Not Jason Maas, a beefy offensive lineman who used his sheer size to get in the way of anyone who wanted to take him down.
Not the wrestler Thomas Parks, state champion at the 172 lb weight class last year.
Not Matthew Colby, the star wide receiver who felt that catching 32 touchdowns last season and being well on his way to 20 or 25 Division I offers made the school his personal harem.
So she began to build a wish that would have them in her shoes as she reached for the stone in her backpack.
"I wish Jason, Thomas and Matthew would spend the rest of this day as a girl just like me, weak, frail and preyed on by bullies who wanted them for their body, so that they would understand what it is like to be weak. I wish they had to do it in shoes just like mine, gorgeous high heels, so they could truly walk a mile in my shoes."
The stone flashed for a second in warm heat, then faded to room temperature and receded back into the bag.
Meanwhile, the bus rides of three of Victor Hills High School's star athletes were about to change in the most unexpected way...
