Several students immediately went pale.
“Parents have already contacted the administration,” she continued. “This behavior will be formally addressed next week.”
The room became completely silent.
“You are all about to become adults,” Mrs. Parker said firmly. “If this is how you treat someone for being different, then some of you still have a lot of growing up to do.”
Nobody laughed anymore.
Nobody whispered.
For the first time all night, the people who had mocked Elliot looked ashamed instead of entertained.
Then something unexpected happened.
Marcus — the captain of the soccer team and one of the boys who had laughed earlier — stepped forward awkwardly.
“I’m sorry, man,” he said quietly. “Seriously. That was messed up.”
Another student nodded.
Then another.
Suddenly, nobody wanted to be associated with the cruelty anymore.
Mrs. Parker handed Elliot the microphone.
“You don’t have to say anything,” she told him gently.
But Elliot took a deep breath and raised the microphone anyway.
