Notes

Lillian Parker was the meanest girl in the entire fifth grade at Bayview Elementary School. She and her group of friends found every opportunity to terrorize classmates with mean comments. Somehow, a teacher was never within hearing distance, so Lillian's victims were on their own.
I'd never been one of Lillian's regular targets. We didn't sit near one another in class, and I only rarely saw her. But one day, we had a showdown in the hallway.
Amy Rosa was a quiet girl who kept to herself most of the time. I was in a group with her in science class one day, and I could tell that she was really smart.
Lillian had cornered Amy at her locker, and I overheard her saying that Amy would never have any friends besides her books. Amy started to respond, but Lillian just talked over her. "Oh, you have something to say? That's new." Suddenly, I knew that I had to say something.
"Actually, Lillian, I am Amy's friend. As for you, are you sure that your friends aren't just your friends so that you won't bully them like everyone else?"
"Wh...wh...what? Of course not," Lillian stuttered.
"Being mean to people doesn't make you look cool. Lillian, it makes you look like a mean person. Let's go, Amy."
As we walked away, I looked back and saw Lillian with surprise and confusion still on her face.