I walked alongside my mom who was pushing my little sister in a stroller. It wasn’t long before we reached the park. As soon as we arrived I rushed off to play on the equipment.
Mom: Oh my, don’t go too far OP.
OP: Alright Mom.
I went up and down the slide a few times after the third time I noticed some boys were talking to each other and pointing at a tunnel; curious, I went to investigate why they were looking at.
Boy 1: Hey don’t go in there!
OP: Eh?
Boy 2: Yeah, there’s a monster in there.
I ignored them and looked anyway. It was pretty dark.  I decided to go inside and see what they were talking about.
Mysterious voice: G-g-go away!
I was taken aback by how much the voice didn’t sound like a monster; instead it was very soft and quiet. Steeling my nerves I figured there was nothing to be scared of and entered the tunnel.  Crawling in to the tunnel I thought of how cool it would be to make this place some kind of a fort or a hideout.
*bump*
I hit something as I went around the corner.
OP: Ah, what was that?
In front of me was a little girl, she had short brown hair and she wore glasses that seemed too big for her face to the point they were almost falling off. She was looking at me, visibly shaking with a mix of fear and shock painted on her face.
Girl: W-what are you doing here?
OP: Some boys said there was a monster in here and I wanted to see if they were lying or not. You haven’t seen one anywhere have you?
Girl: N-no.
OP: *sigh* Looks like they were lying.
The girl sat against the wall holding her knees.
Girl: Th-they were probably talking about me.
OP: Why would they be talking about you?
Girl: B-because I’m ugly.
OP:  Let me see those.
I take off her glasses; she tries to grab them back.
Girl: G-give those back! I can’t see well without them!
OP: Just a second, I want to see something
…
OP: I don’t think you’re ugly.
Girl: Eh?
I hand back her glasses.
OP: I don’t think you’re ugly with or without your glasses.
Girl:  B-but those boys said…
OP: Who cares what they said?!
The girl jumps at my outburst.
OP: The only one you should worry about is yourself!
Girl: hehe!
OP: What are you laughing at?!
Girl: It’s just that sounds like something a cartoon would say.
OP: S-so what?!
I try to hide my embarrassment considering it did come from a cartoon; my favorite cartoon, in fact. I had memorized it word for word.
Boy 2: He’s been in there a long time.
Boy 1: Yeah I wonder if the monster ate him.
OP: RAWR!
I do my best monster roar.
Boy 1: What was that!?
OP: RAWR!!! GET AWAY FROM MY CAVE IF YOU DON’T I’ll COME OUT AND EAT YOU!!!
Boy 2: There really is a monster!
Boy 1: Let’s get out of here!
OP: Come on let’s go.
The girl nods in agreement and we crawl out of the tunnel.
OP: Hey there’s my Mom.
Grabbing the girl’s hand I run up to my Mom who is sitting on a bench watching my little sister play nearby in the sand
Mom: Oh my. OP, who is that?
OP: This is… umm… this is… I don’t know.
Mom: Oh my, you never introduced yourself OP?
OP: Oh right! My name is OP, what’s your name?
Girl: M-my name is CHF.
Mom: Oh my, it is very nice to meet you CHF, are you from around her?
CHF: No, I live ummm…
CHF turns around searching for something.
CHF: Ah over there by the [insert landmark].
Mom: Oh my, that is quite a ways from here. What brings you over to this part of town?
CHF: My mommy is signing me up for school here.
Mom: Oh my, that would mean you would be in the same class as OP!
I shudder at the mention of school. I have a decent idea of what it is from the cartoons I watch and all I know is I don’t want to go there.
OP: But Mom I don’t want to start school.
Mom shot me a look. It was only for a second but it was all she needed. Any break, even for a second, from her happy, cheerful self was enough to make my blood run cold.
Mom: Oh my, do you plan on giving me this much trouble when school actually starts?
It was said in such a playful manner but behind those words I could feel it something telling me that I will go to school and I will not give her trouble about it.
OP: N-no.
CHF: Well... um... I don’t really want to go either.
Mom: Why not, dear?
CHF: Well the kids aren’t very nice here.
Mom: Oh my, but OP is nice to you isn’t he.
CHF: Well... yes.

Woman: Ah there you are CHF.
At that moment we all turned our attention to a woman wearing a skirt with a fancy white shirt, and a hot looking, dark blue coat under her arm.
CHF: Ah, mommy!

Now that she mentioned it the woman did resemble CHF. The color of her eyes and hair were the exact same color, though her hair was tied back into a bun giving her a very serious look and she didn’t wear glasses like her daughter.

Mom: Oh my, so you’re CHF’s mother.
MCHF: Yes, I am. I hope my daughter wasn’t giving you any trouble.
Mom: Oh my no, we were just talking about going to school this upcoming year.
MCHF: I see.
Mom: Your daughter told me something very interesting. She says she doesn’t want to go to school because some of the children were being mean to her.
MCHF: I don’t see how it’s any of your business.
Mom: Well, she is classmates with my son; I thought perhaps I could do something to help.
MCHF: My daughter can handle it herself, after all I won’t always be there to help her.
Mom: Isn’t that a little harsh? She is still a child.
MCHF: Life is harsh; it’s best to learn this as soon as possible.

Fear gripped me as I watched these two titans exchange words. Neither raised their voice but you could still feel the weight behind each word.

Mom: You can’t honestly want your daughter to learn something so cruel.
MCHF: I wish she didn’t have to but, the world is an unforgiving place.
Mom: That may be true, but I don’t believe that is a lesson to be learned at such a young age.
MCHF: And what do you propose I do? Go to school everyday with my daughter?
Mom: But there must be some way we can help without doing everything ourselves or leaving her all alone...

Mom looks my way, I look around trying to figure out who she is looking at. MCHF turned her head the same way. Was there something on my face?

MCHF: Ah, I see, that is a good idea.
Mom: OP, when school starts will you be CHF’s friend and make sure no one is mean to her?
OP: Sure.

I felt like I didn’t have a choice in the matter, but my answer would have been the same regardless.
OP: Alright.
MCHF: Isn’t that nice of him CHF?
CHF nodded in approval. MCHF looked at her watch.
MCHF: It was nice talking with you but I have a business appointment soon. Let’s go CHF.
CHF: A-alright, goodbye OP.
OP: Bye.

CHF and her mom walked away waving getting into a very nice looking car they drove away.