The greatest love

SIX

Maddie

Seven months earlier

School was starting to get unbearable for Maddie. She started fifth grade last month in early February and already the amount of homework is increasing. There are math, English and science quizzes every week. There are team projects, which are absolutely painful for Maddie since no one usually picked Maddie for a teammate and the teacher had to assign Maddie to a team. Sometimes some kids would frankly reject Maddie, and when the teacher asked why, they said Maddie was weird. It was humiliating for Maddie and she wished she could do the project herself instead of being forced upon people who didn’t want her.

The worst part was, Sally was no longer her friend. Sometime at the beginning of the term, Sally invited Maddie for their regular play/study date at her house, and she said she couldn’t be friends with Maddie anymore. It really broke Maddie's heart. She knew everyone at school thought she was weird, unapproachable, never smiling, but she thought Sally was different. They had been friends since first grade. Sally said she was scared to be ostracized or even bullied if she kept on being friends with Maddie. Sally had her own little group now, and they even said to Sally that she should put on some distance between her and Maddie. Everyone is scared of being Phoebe and her gang's target. Maddie accepted that with a brave face, but when she walked home she cried her eyes out. She felt more alone than ever.

Maddie loved her mom and dad and brother, but they were just so busy. Dad was working hard from morning to night, her mom was always taking care of Timothy because Timothy often threw tantrums and needed to be accompanied at all times. Sometimes she would spend time with Timothy playing or learning, but he just was not someone she could talk to. Of course, sometimes they would have family dinner or watch TV together, but she just never felt comfortable confiding in her parents. She knew her parents felt relief that at least Maddie was very well-behaved, always did well at school, and never caused any trouble.

And of course, the bullying was still relentless. Almost everyday, Phoebe and her friends made fun of her, spit on her, called her names like fat and ugly and weird, bumped into her, spilled stuff into her bag and clothes, copied her answers (this was only Phoebe) and other things. The teachers turned a blind eye if they noticed any of this, so Maddie did not ever complain to a teacher. She had two more years of primary school and she did not want to make things harder for herself.

But today she couldn't help herself from being upset. In the classroom when the teacher has not arrived yet, Phoebe suddenly spoke out loud. “Did you know that Maddie's brother was autistic? Like, he has trouble speaking and understanding people. I heard that he hit his classmate on his head and the parents got involved. I mean, it’s no wonder Maddie is so weird. Maybe she is also a bit autistic. Maybe she has a hard time understanding when people talk to her. Maybe it runs in her family, you know?”

Everyone looked at her. Some scoffed, while others looked interested in what Phoebe said. One boy said to Maddie, “Is that true, Maddie?”

“It's none of your business. Leave my family alone.” Maddie said to him hotly, but directing the last part at Phoebe.

“Ooh and she has a temper too. Be careful when you talk to her guys. You better watch your heads, she could get violent,” continued Phoebe, drawing laughter from her friends and some other kids.

Phoebe fumed inside. How did Phoebe know about Timothy? It was true that Timothy got into trouble some time ago for hitting another boy and her parents had to go to school to sort things out with the principal and the other boy's parents. But Maddie was very protective of her brother. She would not let anyone badmouth him. She could get violent if anyone insulted her brother again.