lerksorstoremanagers,systemsanalystsorsultants.Theycamebarecessbearingthesignsoftheirabuse—blackeyesandbloodyheredweltoftears—butIedtoetotheirrescue,althoughperhapsIshouldhave.IfIhadeverusedmyrealstrength,Icouldeasilyhavedispatchedthebullieswithasingle,well-placedblow.

    Thegirls,intheirownway,sufferedworseindighey,too,dis-playedmanyofthesamedisappointingpersonalhabitsandlackofgeneralhygieheylaughedtooloudlyornotatall.Theypetedviciouslyamongthemselvesandwiththeiropposites,ortheyfadedintothewoodworklikemice.Theworstofthem,bythenameofHines,routioreaparttheshyestgirlswithhertauntsandshunning.Shewouldhumiliatehervictimswithoutmercyif,forinstaheywettheirpantsinclass,ashappenedrightbeforerecessonthefirstdaytotheunpreparedTessWodehouse.Sheflushedasifonfire,andfortheveryfirsttime,IfeltsomethingclosetosympathyforanothersmisfortuhepoorthingwasteasedabouttheepisodeuntilVal-entinesDay.Intheirplaidjumpersandwhiteblouses,thegirlsrelieduponwordsratherthantheirbodiestowintheirbattles.Inthatseheypaledothefemalehobgoblins,whowerebothasingascrowsandasfierceasbobcats.

    Thesehumanchildreogetherinferior.Sometimesatnight,IwishedIcouldbebackprowlingtheforest,spookingsleepingbirdsfromtheirroosts,stealingclothesfromclotheslines,andmakingmerry,ratherthanen-duringpageafterpageofhomeworkaingaboutmypeers.Butforallitsfaults,therealworldshone,amymindtettiandbeingarealboyagain.Intolerableasschoolwas,myhomelifemorethanpensated.Momwouldbewaitingformeeveryafternooendingtobedustingorcookirodetriumphan