The principal gets to hear a lot of wild stories. Still, this one will be memorable.

L. comes to me to say he’s being bullied. By whom? By M.. We go get M. M, I say, what’s the story? Are you bending L’s bus pass? Are you yanking on his backpack? M says nothing, but the silence is Hemingway-esque. All that’s missing is a canary feather dropping from his teeth. M had been teased last week, by O. M, I say, what gives? Wherefore thou teasest L?

M won’t say. I prefer not to answer, he tells me. From Hemingway to Melville we go.

L spills the beans in a heartbeat. If you want to rob a bank and need a partner, L is not your man. Good for L. It’s because of our deal, isn’t it?, he says.

M says nothing, silently.

We had a deal, L tells me, to trade projects. And I was tricked.

Tricked?, I say.

Yes, says L. He tricked me by not giving me the project as advertised. Were you selling your work, I ask. M shakes his head.

I wanted to do giant bugs and plants, but M sold me fossilized bacteria. The words pour from L in a rush, as if I had any clue what he’s talking about. He goes on: Mr. W assigned topics, and I wanted giant bugs and plants, and M said he had them, but when I got it it was really fossilized bacteria.

I can’t ask. But I have to: How much did it cost you?

Twenty-five dollars, says L.

Of which he still owes me twenty, says M.

You’re not getting any more money, I say.

I know, M says quickly. He is still furious. Did I mention that this happened 8 months ago?

Finally L apologizes. It was dumb, he says. Even giant bugs and plants is not worth twenty five bucks. And you should have known better.

So should you, says M. A pause. A long pause. Then: I accept. I’ve been waiting for you to apologize. It’s not about the money.

Sometimes it really isn’t. Sometimes, it’s about giant bugs and plants.