Noah Fisher lived with his mom, dad, and their dog, Dixie. He was small for his age, but as he always said: “Better to be small and quick than big and lazy.”
One day, Noah and his family moved to another town, and he wasn’t too happy about it. He missed his friends and felt a little nervous about starting at a new school.
On Noah’s first day, the school principal, Lene, walked him to his classroom. On the way, he bumped into a very tall boy.
“What’s your name?” the boy asked.
“Noah Fisher,” Noah said with a big, friendly I’m-new-but-nice smile.
“FISH BOY!” the boy sneered.
Noah didn’t know what to say.
“Kevin!” Lene said. “Will you stop teasing!”
She smiled at Noah. “Here we are. Your teacher’s name is Peter, and I’m sure you’ll like him.”
“Good morning, everyone,” Peter said. “We have a new student today – Noah Fisher. Let’s all say hi to him.”
“Hi, Noah,” the class said in unison.
“Hi, Fish Boy!” Kevin shouted.
“Kevin, stop that!” Peter scolded. “Noah, you can sit over there next to Ella and William.”
Noah’s face turned red with embarrassment.
The next day started off well. At first. But then it happened.
Noah was sitting and drinking his juice when Kevin “accidentally” bumped into him. Noah knew it was on purpose. Juice spilled all over his clothes.
Kevin laughed and ran away. Noah felt small, warm, and embarrassed.
“Are you okay?” Ella asked.
“Yeah,” Noah mumbled. But he didn’t feel okay.
After that, something unpleasant happened every day.
Kevin poured water on Noah’s painting. He grabbed Noah’s backpack and threw it around.
No matter where Noah went or what he did, Kevin was always there. And he was mean.
It just kept going… and going… and going…
One recess, Ella found Noah crying in a corner.
“Is it Kevin?” she asked gently.
Noah nodded. Then he told her everything.
“Just ignore him,” Ella said. “He’s just a boy. I’m your friend. I like you.”
Noah liked Ella too. He always felt better after talking to her.
But that feeling didn’t last long.
The next morning, Kevin was back—bigger and meaner than ever.
“You smell like fish!” Kevin shouted.
Noah’s whole body shook, but he remembered what Ella had said. And with a voice that sounded like his own, only stronger, he shouted:
“STOP! Stop calling me Fish! That’s not my name!”
Kevin was shocked. He stared at Noah and ran away.
But that wasn’t the end of Kevin’s bullying. Or of Noah’s new, powerful voice.
A few days later, Kevin pushed Noah. Hard. Noah fell backward onto the floor.
He was scared, but he refused to put up with it any longer.
“STOP BULLYING ME!” Noah shouted as he got back on his feet.
Ella was there, standing beside him.
“Go away, Kevin,” she said. “Or we’ll tell Peter.”
Suddenly, Kevin didn’t seem so big and scary anymore. He almost shrank. Then he ran away.
Noah finally felt braver and stronger… he had always known that being small wasn’t so bad after all!
Noah really hoped Kevin would leave him alone now.
But after school, Kevin walked up to Noah. Noah felt nervous.
“I’m sorry,” Kevin whispered.
“What?” Noah asked.
“I said I’m sorry, okay?” Kevin said. “I won’t do it again.”
Noah was happy with his new school now. And with his friends Ella and William.
And Kevin… well, he wasn’t so bad after all!
