On the playground swings, Luca and Rin pumped their legs and flew side by side through the air.
Lots of kids at Gulch Valley Elementary loved the swings. Especially Bo Borden.
Bo came running up to the swing next to Rin, plopped in the seat, and shouted, “Let me show you how it’s done!”
He began pumping his legs harder and harder. Higher and higher he soared. He was laughing. “Look at me, look at me,” he called. “I’m the king of the world!”
Bo was looking sideways at Rin, trying to catch her attention. Like most of the kids, she was trying to ignore him; she was a fast learner.
Bo leaned toward her and began to lose control. He twisted as he swung, and soon he was swinging into Rin’s path. “Whoa, whoa!” he screamed.
THUNK!
“Aaack!” cried Rin, suddenly clutching her face with one hand. She slowed her swing to a stop and began to cry as an angry mark appeared on one cheek.
“You kicked me,” she sobbed as Luca and other children gathered around her.
“Gee, I’m sorry,” said Bo, who had fallen off the swing and was now nursing his own bruised knee nearby.
“It’s ok,” Rin said. She tried to smile. “You didn’t mean it.”
Luca got close enough to Rin to whisper softly, “Come on. I’ll show you where the nurse’s office is.” She nodded slowly, her eyes closed, one hand still on her cheek.