In the Woods When First We Met

100. "We Have To Be Nice"

On Thursday morning Prissy woke up with a fever.

"It's going through the whole school, mother," Jane said before they left. "Almost half of the younger children's room have been out all week. And it seems to be starting to hit our crowd now too."

"Well, you keep wrapped up," Mrs. Andrews said, worried. "And don't tarry; it's too cold to be outside any longer than necessary- get to school as quick as you can."

Jane and Billy left. They didn't talk on the way, at first, until finally Jane finally said, "I don't think you should bother Anne anymore. And I don't mean what happened, I mean...anything. No teasing, no name calling. And no barking at her like a dog."

Billy said, "I'm not taking orders from my baby sister."

Jane stopped walking and turned to him, looking angry. "If you don't want Mother and Father to know what you did, then you'd better do what I say."

"They wouldn't believe it, anyway," Billy said confidently, walking on- but after a moment of worrying, he decided he'd better not give Jane any reason to tell on him. So he said, "I'm done with her, anyway. I'm not going to waste time on her. I mean, she knows she's a dog without me telling her, right?"

"Be nice to her," Jane said. "Or I'm telling Mother and Father."

"You're wrong, being on her side," Billy said, annoyed. "I'm family, she's nothing to you."

"That's not the point!" Jane said. "You're always so mean to everyone!"

"I am not," Billy argued.

"Well, not to your friends, you're not. And not to Josie Pye. I guess you like her."

Billy didn't say anything.

"That's another thing," Jane spoke up. "Josie may hate Anne, but I think even she would be horrified by what you've done. So if you don't want to ruin your reputation with everyone at school- including Josie- then you better stop this right now."

"You know, you haven't exactly been friendly with her yourself."

"I haven't been horrible to her like you have!"

"No, but I don't see you doing anything to make her feel welcome here."

"That's not true," Jane protested. "I ate lunch with her yesterday."

"Oh really?" Billy asked. "And you didn't lose your appetite?"

"You really can't help yourself, can you?" Jane snapped, exasperated. "You better get some self-control and you better get it fast because we're almost to school. I meant what I said!"

She walked on ahead of him.

Billy quickly caught up. "Don't lose your marbles over it. I'm not going to treat her bad. You'll see."

"Good. I wish you could take back what you did, but you can't. So all we can do is not make things any worse for her. We have to be nice."

Billy looked grumpy but as they reached the schoolhouse, he said, "Fine."