"I stole your cookies today," Johnny told Mack, "because yesterday you..."

...took my Twinkies when I was in the bathroom at lunch, so don't even think about ratting me out to the teacher or I'll black your eye! I think I'll just poke both eyes. HA!" Johnny laughed but everyone standing around watching the argument knew that there was no real mirth in that laugh, only evil glee at the thought of hurting someone.

by Mary, Fredericksburg, TX

...stole my Hershey's chocolate bar."

I was sitting with them in our cafeteria but I didn't say a word. Mack always took food from us and got away with it. Although I had no proof, Sarah said she saw him take cookies from my lunch box too. She knew it was my lunch box because I had the only Coyote Sam lunch box in our entire school. It was a gift from my Uncle Joe and was over thirty years old. I know it was a mean and downright dirty trick, but I replaced his chocolate bar with some of my Mom's Exlax dietary supplement. Mom said that they look and taste just like real chocolate. All of a sudden Mack got up and ran towards the restrooms.

"I told you I would help you get even, dear brother!"

by Joseph L. Rose, Fairfield, CA

...stole my chocolate milk!"

"I did not," Mack vehemently replied, "Sarah took your chocolate milk, not me!"

Now, Johnny was confused, "But Sarah is the one who told me that YOU stole my milk! Why would she tell me that if it's not true?"

"Duh! What are you, stupid? Sarah told you a lie so you would be mad at me and not at her."

"Wow, I'm sorry, Mack. I didn't know that girls even liked chocolate milk."

"That's OK, Johnny, maybe when we get older, we'll know everything about girls so they won't be able to trick us any more."

Then, the bell rang, alerting all the children in the playground that it was time to head back into the school. Johnny and Mack walked back to their second grade classroom together, vowing to each other that they would never let a girl ruin their friendship.

by Stewart Lindsay, Buffalo, NY