It didn't seem right that Jorge was waiting for the school bus on an 85-degree morning. His family had moved to Arizona two months ago, and the heat was just one of the things he couldn't deal with. The other was the bully who lived down the street.
Danny had gone out of his way to make life miserable for Jorge. He made fun of the way Jorge talked and the way he dressed; and when Jorge joined a neighborhood soccer team, Danny made sure the team members shunned the new player.
Jorge couldn't understand how Danny wielded so much power. Granted, he was big for his age taller and more muscular than most eighth-graders-but his attitude was surly, and Jorge noticed that he struggled in school. Jorge talked to his parents about the bullying, and they counseled him to stand up to Danny.
"Bullies are usually insecure people who want to hurt others to make themselves feel stronger or more important," Jorge's dad told him.
Jorge recalled that advice as Danny and his friends swaggered up to the bus stop.
Instead of running away, Jorge stood his ground. He ignored the taunts and the shoving. Then, as the school bus arrived, Jorge turned to Danny. "I noticed that you didn't do well on that math quiz yesterday, Danny. If you sit next to me on the bus, l'lI check your homework and make sure you understand how to solve those equations." Danny's gang watched their friend expectantly, and at first Danny laughed at Jorge. When they filed onto the bus, though, Danny took the seat next to Jorge. When they filed onto the bus, though, Danny took the seat next to Jorge.
"Can you really help me with these math problems?" Danny asked. "My parents are going to ground me if I don't bring my grades up." "I'm sure I can help you, Danny," replied Jorge. "We'll go over these exercises now, and then maybe we can get together after school and do our homework." Jorge heaved a silent sigh of relief as the bus pulled away, and suddenly the heat didn't bother him quite as much.
4. What important lesson can the reader learn from this story?
A. Problems cannot be solved without the help of an adult.
B. Bullies will stop harassing you if you offer to help them.
C. It is best to ignore the behavior of bullies.
D. Problems can often be solved without anger or violence.