Jimmy

Chapter 2: Shooting Stars

The three of them were rarely apart after that. Usually they spent recesses in the library, reading books and studying, until about a week later. Becky stopped the other two as they headed for the library.

"Look--it's a beautiful day, sunny. We can't spend a day like this inside. Let's go outside on sunny days--and snowy days--and stay inside on days when it's cloudy or rainy. Okay?"

Harry started to protest, but Becky and Janey were already heading for the playground. Harry sighed and followed them.

The girls found a jump rope that no one else was playing with. "Do you know how to jump rope?" Janey asked Harry, who shook his head. "Then you turn for us, we'll teach you, and then you can try."

First Harry and Janey turned while Becky jumped. She missed, then missed again, and Janey switched places with her. Becky and Harry turned and Janey jumped.

"Got it, Jimmy?" Janey asked him after she'd missed twice.

"I think so," Harry answered uncertainly.

He switched places with Janey. The two girls turned the rope and Harry started jumping. After a while, he found he was getting quite good. "Hey, this is easy!" he said happily.

All of a sudden something hit him from the side, and he found himself lying on the ground. "Hey!" Becky complained. "That wasn't nice."

Harry rolled over to see what had hit him. His emerald green eyes widened behind his glasses, and he jumped up and started backing away from the hulking figure in front of him. It was Dudley. Dudley was in another classroom, so Harry hadn't seen him at all during school. Apparently Dudley resented that.

"You'd better run, Potter," Dudley said in an intimidating voice. "I'm going to squish you like a bug."

"How original," Janey said sarcastically, but Harry didn't stick around to deliberate. He was off like a shot, Dudley and his big, fat, stupid gang following behind, Janey and Becky following the gang.

Harry was small and speedy and didn't often get caught, but while trying to weave that day he turned the wrong way and didn't have time to dodge before Dudley's gang was on him. "Don't let him get away!" Dudley bellowed, and every other kid on the playground stopped what they were doing and formed a tight ring around Dudley, his gang, and Harry. Once they were sure Harry couldn't get away, they commenced pounding him like bread dough.

"Leave him alone!"

The gang actually stopped and turned to face these two small girls, standing with their hands on their hips, looking annoyed. "You heard me, Dursley," Becky repeated, except she pronounced it Duwsley. "I said leave him alone. What did he do to you?"

"He's alive," snapped Dudley.

Janey rolled her eyes. "Move it, Polkiess," she snapped, pushing Piers out of the way and moving over to Harry. "Come on, let's go swing or something," she said softly, helping Harry to stand up. She held his hand and led him out of the circle of kids and over towards the swings. The crowd finally dispersed.

"Thanks," Harry told them. Becky had already climbed on a swing and started swinging. Janey climbed on herself.

"No problem," she told Harry. "Piers is Becky's cousin, too, so I've known him forever. He's an absolute jerk."

Harry laughed. "Yeah, I'd noticed that too," he told her. He grabbed the chains of her swing, pulled her back, and let go, then started pushing her.