Iris has a pretty notebook

It sparkles and changes colors when you swipe

I like sparkles

I want to touch

She runs away and won't let me

Recess, my favorite time!

I love the swings

So does Iris

There's one swing left

I run

She runs

I win!

She starts to cry

"Let me see your book and you can use the swing!

I'll just play with it while you swing!

I'll stay where you can see me!

I promise!"

"NO!"

I'm mad now.

Then, I get an idea.

I look around

The teachers are talking

No one sees me

I take a big breath

Close my eyes

SMASH!

"OUCH! THAT HURT!"

I cry a lot

My nose is bleeding and

That front tooth is no longer loose

Miss S. comes running

"What's wrong?!

What happened?!"

"Beth hit her head on the swings!

I watched her!

It was on purpose!"

"Nu-uh! Not true!

Why would I do that!"

That tooth comes out

(Miss S. doesn't know

it was loose this morning)

"Miss S.! She did it!

Iris pushed me into the swings!

She didn't wait her turn!

She stole my notebook today too!

I said she could play with the cover

During snack time

But she won't give it back!"

Miss S. gives Iris The Look.

"Iris.. Is this true?"

"No! No!

She did it!

And my mommy bought me this book!

Beth has asked me for it all day!'

"Of course I ask for it

It's mine!!!

It was for my birthday yesterday!

Why'd you hurt me. Iris?"

Miss S. sighs.

"Iris, hurting our friends isn't nice.."

"I didn't!

And she's not my friend!"

"She was your friend yesterday..

Dear, let's just give the notebook back

And say sorry."

"I

DIDN'T

DO

ANYTHING!"

"Iris! Enough!

Apologize

Return the notebook

Or we will go to the office."

"BUT IT'S MINE!"

I still cry

Head in my hands

(So Miss S. doesn't see me smile)

"Iris

That's enough!

Book.

Apology.

NOW!"

Iris and me both cry

Not sure who's crying louder.

"Fine.

How about this:

No one has the book.

Give it to me

Then we all go to the office

And wait for your parents."

I gasp

"B-but Miss S.! Mis-"

"Enough!"

Miss S holds out her hand

Iris gives her the book

"Why do I have to go too??

I didn't do anything!

Iris is the meanie!"

"I will hear nothing else from either of you."

Miss S. gives us both The Look.

We all wait.

The office is scary.

I don't like it here.

I just want the book!

Mommy runs in

"Oh sweet baby!

What happened!

Are you alright?!"

She gives me kisses and hold me

I don't want kisses.

I

Want

The

Book!

"Ms. Santiago!

Tell me

Why is my child bleeding?!

What will you do about this?!"

"Mrs. White

Please wait until all the parents are here

Then we will figure out what happened"

It feels like forever

The book

The pretty

Sparkly book

Is on the principal's desk

So close!

Finally

My daddy

And Iris's mommy and daddy

Walk in

All the adults are yelling

Iris is crying

(Still?! What a baby)

I pout my lip as far as I can

I need to look sad

And hurt

Mr. D. stands up and hits his desk

"WILL EVERYONE STOP YELLING

FOR ONE SECOND?!"

The room is quiet

Except for sniffles from Iris

I sniffle too

(I won't let her win.)

Mr. D sits back down

"If everyone will calm down for long enough

I can call Tim in here

And we can look at the cameras.

That way we can stop fighting

And know what really happened"

I freeze.

There are cameras?!

Oh no.

A man walks in

"Here you are, Mr. Duncan,

The log-in information for the cameras"

He hands Mr. D. a piece of paper

"Thank you, Tim.

Sorry for the wait, parents

We just installed the cameras

So it's a new system that everyone is still getting used to"

He starts typing

Tim leaves

I stare at the book

And think...

Now is my chance.

If I don't get it now

I never will..

Mr. D. is done typing

Mommy and Daddy and Iris Mommy and Iris Daddy

Lean in to look at the computer

I grab my yellow pencil

(With the eraser gone)

Out of my shoe

Look around

Then go!

I grab it!

I have the book!

Iris tries to stop me

No one can stop me.

I stab her hand with the metal part of my pencil

She screams

I laugh

Take the book

And run!

Run!

Run!

Out the office door

Past yelling adults

Around Tim

He tries to grab me

(Stupid man)

So close!

I see the front doors!

I start to push the door open...

"Get back here

You devil child!"

Arms are around me

Pulling me back

I scream

Scream

SCREAM!

I bite Mr. D.'s arm

as hard as I can

(This.

Book.

Is.

MINE.)

He calls me a bad word

But doesn't let go.

The book falls.

I fight

Kick

Scream

Punch

But he's too strong.

My parents are yelling at him

"Let her go right now!

She was just defending herself!

She's just a little girl!

Get your hands off her!!"

They always have my back.

Mr. D. ignores them.

"Pam! Pam!

Call the police!"

We're in the office again.

Iris and her mommy and daddy aren't there anymore

It's just me, Mr. S. and Tim.

Mommy and Daddy are yelling at Miss S. outside.

She won't let them past the door.

I continue to fight

(Like mommy taught me).

I throw things

Kick the chairs

Punch Tim

Bite Mr. D. (again).

"GIVE IT TO ME!

I WANT THE BOOK!

IT'S MINE!"

They ignore me.

The police come.

My mommy and daddy start yelling at them.

They yell back.

I see them outside from the window.

The police push mommy and daddy onto the police car

Cuff them.

Mommy and Daddy get put into their car.

No! How can they help me from there?!

(They're useless

Just like everyone else!)

The police come inside.

I fight harder.

They're too big, though.

They cuff me pretty quickly.

I scream the whole way out.

"NO!

GET OFF ME!

GIVE ME THE BOOK!"

I see Iris

Her mommy is holding her.

"I HATE YOU!

I HATE YOU AND YOUR STUPID BOOK!

YOU'RE SUCH A BABY!"

The police take me outside

Shove me into another police car.

I make my eyes start crying.

"I'm sorry!

Please let me out

I'll be good!

I promise!"

The policeman doesn't listen.

Just gets into the front of the car

I hit my head on the window separating us

He jumps a bit

"HEY!

DON'T IGNORE ME!

LET ME OUT!"

He turns up his music so he can't hear me.

I pout.

I just wanted the book.

(Stupid Iris.)