fiddlesticks?â
âKids who not like me,â Shawn said.
Abby nodded. âI figured that, but who?â
âI not say.â Shawn got up and walked toward the kitchen.
âHey, come back!â Abby called.
But Shawn didnât answer. He couldnât.
There was a big lump in his throat.
TWO
The next day was Friday, March first.
Miss Hershey made an announcement to the class. âToday is the beginning of Music in Our Schools Month.â
Shawn grinned. ââVery good,â he whispered.
Abby smiled at him across the row.
Shawn thought, Music month great idea.
Miss Hershey talked about composers. Famous ones. âThe Three Bâs,â she called them. Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms.
She wrote on the chalkboard: Bach has a birthday this month.
âWho knows when this composer was born?â the teacher asked.
Shawn sat up straight. âYes!â he said. â1685, very long time.â
Miss Hershey smiled. âThank you, Shawn. Thatâs correct. March 21, 1685. A long time ago, indeed.â She wrote the date on the board.
While her back was turned, some kids made faces at Shawn. âFiddlesticks,â they said.
Abby heard.
So did Miss Hershey. âNo talking, please!â
Shawn slumped in his seat. He couldnât help being small and thin.
He stared at Miss Hersheyâs desk. There was a suggestion box at one end. Miss Hershey emptied the box every Thursday. She read the suggestions to the class, and they discussed each one.
I write suggestion for box, thought Shawn. I tell teacher about make-fun kids.
Miss Hershey walked to her desk. âClass, please open to page 57 in your Language arts notebook,â she said. âWe will work till recess.â
Shawn looked in his desk. He found a notebook and pencil. He began to write his name on the seat-work page.
âPs-stâfiddlesticks!â someone whispered.
It was Ronny Kitch, the boy behind him.
âHey, fiddlesticks boy,â Ronny whispered again.
Shawn refused to turn around.
Ronny tapped Shawnâs shoulder. âWhat page are we supposed to do?â he asked.
Slowly, Shawn turned. He was going to be nice. He was going to give Ronny the page number.
But now Ronny was making his eyesslant. He was pulling at his eyes on purpose. Making fun of Shawn. âOnly a sissy plays a fiddle,â Ronny hissed through his teeth.
In a flash, Shawn turned back around. He was not a sissy!
Instead of starting on the assignment, Shawn pulled out a fresh piece of paper. He glanced at Miss Hersheyâs suggestion box.
He wrote: I not like to tattle. Students call me name. Name is Fiddlesticks. Because I short, little person. Because I come from Korea and play violin.
Shawn read what heâd written. Then he picked up his pencil again.
I make suggestion for box. Can teacher make name stop? I thank you very much.
Respect to you,
Shawn HunterâLi Sung Jin,
from Korea
Shawn folded the note and pushed it into his jeans. Before recess, he wouldvisit the suggestion box.
âHey, fiddlesticks boy,â Ronny said in his ear. âWhat do you think youâre doing?â
Shawn froze.
Had Ronny seen the note?
THREE
Ronny Kitch raised his hand. He waved it high.
âYes, Ronny?â Miss Hershey said.
âI need to speak to you,â he said.
Miss Hershey called him to her desk. They were whispering. Ronny shook his head. Then he turned and pointed to Shawn.
Miss Hersheyâs eyebrows flew up. âShawn Hunter?â she said.
Quickly, Shawn stood up and bowed.
The kids snickered.
But Miss Hershey was kind. âIn America, we donât bow when someone speaks to us,â she explained. âDo you understand?â
Shawn nodded. He almost forgot and started to bow again.
âWill you please see me at recess?â the teacher asked.
Shawn nodded again. âI come see you.â
He sat down, worried. What had Ronny just told Miss