The Invisible Boy

On Monday morning, Mrs. Carlotti introduces Justin, a new student, to the class. Brian smiles shyly at him. Some of the other kids sneak looks at Justin, trying to figure out if he’s cool enough to be their friend. They haven’t quite made up their minds yet.
At lunch, Madison and J.T. watch Justin eat with chopsticks. “What’s that?” asks Madison as she points at Justin’s food.
“It’s Bulgogi.”
“Bul-what???”
“Bul-go-gi. It’s Korean barbecued beef. My Grandma made it for me. It’s really good. Do you want to try some?”
“There’s No way I’d eat Booger-gi.”
And the kids laugh. All of them, that is, except Brian. He sits there wondering which is worse-being
laughed at or feeling invisible.
The next day, when Justin goes to his cubby to put away his backpack, he notices a piece of paper with his name on it.
“Justin I thought the bulgogi looked good.
Brian”
At morning recess, Brian finds a piece of chalk on the ground and starts drawing away.
“You’re Brian-right?”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks for the note.”
“Hey, Justin,” Emilio calls out from the tetherball court, “you’re up next.”
“Sorry, I gotta go,” says Justin. “By the way, that’s a really cool drawing,” he adds before taking off. Back in class, Mrs. Carlotti asks the kids to team up in twos or threes for a special project. The kids scurry around the room to pair off. Brian heads toward Justin.
“I’m already with Justin,” says Emilio. “Find someone else.”
Brian looks at the floor, wishing he could draw a hole right there to swallow him up.