“Thank you, Rondi. I like you, too.”
“Thank you,” said Rondi. “Will you please kick me in the teeth?”
“No,” said Louis.
“Why not?” asked Rondi. “You said you liked me. If you liked me, you’d kick me in the teeth.”
“You know I can’t,” said Louis. “If I kick you in the teeth, then all the other kids will want me to kick them in the teeth, too.”
Rondi scowled. “Thanks for nothing, Louis!” she said. She crawled into the bushes where nobody would be able to see her mouth.
“Louis! Louis!” shouted Stephen and Jason as they ran toward him.
“Terrence stole our ball!” said Jason.
“I wish you children would learn to share,” said Louis.
“Make him give it back!” said Stephen.
Louis started to say something, then stopped. He twirled his multicolored mustache. “Hey, Rondi,” he called. “Will you help me?”
Rondi crawled out of the bushes. “You wouldn’t help me,” she said. “Why should I help you?”
“Terrence stole their ball,” said Louis. “Make him give it back.”
“Her?” asked Stephen and Jason.
“Me?” asked Rondi.
Louis winked at her.
Rondi’s eyes lit up. “Okay, Louis,” she said. “That’s a good idea. That’s a wonderful idea!”
She hurried across the playground. Stephen and Jason ran after her.
Terrence kicked a red ball up into the air, then ran under it and caught it.
“Hey, Terrence!” said Rondi. “That’s not your ball. You stole it!”
“Drop dead, Ketchup Head,” said Terrence.
Rondi walked up to him, stared him straight in the eye, and said, “In your hat, Muskrat!”
That surprised Terrence. He took a step back. Then he collected himself and said, “Dig a hole, Milly Mole!”
Rondi took another step toward him. “Kiss a goose, Dr. Seuss!” she replied.
Terrence looked around. A group of kids had formed a circle around them. “Go to jail, Garbage Pail!” he said.
Rondi held her ground. “Go to the zoo, Mr. Jagoo!” she retorted.
Everyone was very impressed by how brave Rondi was.
“Now, give me the ball!” she demanded.
“You want it?” asked Terrence. “I’ll give it to you all right!” He raised his fist in the air.
“Good, let me have it!” said Rondi. She smiled, showing him her two new teeth.