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reached the first one, he leaped into its middle, landing on both feet, kangaroo style. Without a kangaroo’s tail for balance, his feet slid forward and he fell back. The sudden thud as he landed on his bum made him laugh. He laughed again as he leaped into the middle of the next ice pan. Running, jumping, falling, laughing, Aaron forgot all about Tufan as he crisscrossed the yard. When he saw another wide pan of clear ice he ran, jumped and landed in its middle. That puddle must have been deeper than the others, because his feet stayed under him, but the ice gave way and water geysered up. Icy droplets splattered his face. He laughed so hard, he hardly heard the voice that said, “Dweeb! Look what you did!”
    Still laughing, Aaron turned to find Tufan right beside him. He knew he should get up and walk away, but laugher fizzed and gurgled inside him, like the bubbles in soda pop. He put his hand over his mouth and did his best to keep it bottled up, but when Tufan flicked his fingers at a huge splotch of muddy water on his jacket, it burst out.
    â€œYou look like a mud monster,” Aaron sputtered. The laughter ended when Tufan shoved him to his knees.
    Jumping in the puddle had been fun. Kneeling in it wasn’t. Having Tufan’s face close to his own wasn’t fun either. He couldn’t help seeing the dark eyebrows angled over the nose, the mouth turned down.
    â€œThat’s angry,” he said, out loud. “That’s an angry look.”
    â€œYa got that right,” Tufan snarled, and Aaron realized he was in trouble.
    â€œSorry,” he said quickly. “I’m sorry.”
    The words didn’t help. Tufan pulled his fist back, and he threw two hard punches at Aaron’s shoulder. Then, in one quick move, he grabbed an arm and twisted it behind Aaron’s back. It all happened so fast, Aaron didn’t cry out until Tufan pulled the arm up. Then a squeal of pain escaped his lips. Tufan pulled the arm higher. “You really do have a death wish, Cantwait,” he said in a low voice. “I can’t wait to make it come true.”
    When he pulled the arm up a third time, Aaron shrieked and started to cry.
    â€œSuck,” Tufan taunted. “What a baby. You like playing in puddles? Stay in this one. Stay here till hell freezes over, or I’ll come back for you.” He leaned close. “And remember this. I don’t get mad. I get even.” Then he walked away.
    Aaron stayed where he was, tears streaming down his face, his legs soaking wet and freezing. My fault , he thought. My fault. I should have done like Jeremy said. I should have stayed away from Tufan.
    Ms. Masilo was on yard duty that morning. Aaron saw her come out of the school dressed in her high, shiny black boots, her long black coat and her furtrimmed hat. He stopped crying and dragged his sleeve across his face. He watched Ms. Masilo make her way down the school steps, one stair at a time, avoiding the ice and the scattered sand. He saw her walk to the edge of the pavement, where she stopped and surveyed the yard.
    â€œAaron?” she called when she saw him. “What are you doing out there? Get up. Get up at once!”
    Aaron squinted. Her lips were wide. Even from a distance, he could see her teeth. She was smiling. Was she happy? He couldn’t tell. He wanted to get up. He hiccupped. His teeth were clacking. He didn’t want Ms. Masilo to be mad, but with Tufan’s warning fresh in his mind, he stayed where he was. Ms. Masilo clanged the bell. “Get up right now and come here,” she shouted.
    Several smaller kids gathered, attracted by the bell and the teacher’s shouts.
    When Aaron didn’t move, they started to snicker. Ms. Masilo peered at the expanse of field she’d have to cross to get to him. She glanced at her black leather boots, sighed, and gingerly made her way across, followed by a cluster of curious little kids.
    â€œGet up! Get up