The peddling box

Last night Little Bit said she didn't want to go to school today. Our conversation:

Little Bit with a big pout: "I don't want to go to school tomorrow!"
Me: "Well, you have to go back to school. It's not my rules. It's the state of Texas."
Little Bit: "But, I don't want to go!"
She starts to tear up.
Me: "Well, it's not my decision. If you don't want to go then you'll have to write the school board."
Little Bit leaves the room and then comes back in with a pen and a piece of paper. She writes this note:

"Please let Little Bit Donts Go to School that her tuimy hres."
(Please don't let Little Bit go to school; her tummy hurts.")

Me: "Look! The school board doesn't meet for another couple of weeks, I'm sure. So, you're still going to have to go. Now, what's the real reason you don't want to go."

Little Bit and I had a talk and she told me through big sobbing tears that Mean Kid has been mean to her in P.E. a lot lately. Thus, she didn't want to go to school anymore. We talked more and I told her that I would go with her to school and we would talk to the coach if she wanted.

Well, this morning came and Little Bit asked me over breakfast if I was still going into the school with her. I said yes, if she wanted me to do so. Little Bit held my hand through the whole school parking lot. In the hallway leading to the cafenasium (cafeteria/gymnasium), she told me she didn't need me to hold her hand.

At the cafenasium door, Little Bit let out a big puff of air and looked up at me with her big blue eyes: "Mom, I think I can handle this myself."
Me: "Are you sure? I don't mind going in with you."
Little Bit: "Yes. I can do it."
Me: "O.K. I love you bunches." I gave her a big hug. "If you need me just go to the office and tell them you're calling your mom."
Little Bit: "I'm o.k." And she marches off to her class.

After school, we get in the car after playing at the park with some friends.
Me: "Well? How was p.e. today?"
Little Bit, happily: "Fine. We ran today."
Me: "Oh, and you like that?"
Little Bit: "Yes. That's fun."
Me: "Well, how was Mean Kid today?"
Little Bit: "He got put in the peddling box today for passing everyone while running. He gets in the peddling box almost every p.e."
Me: "Do you mean the penalty box?"
Little Bit: "Yes. The peddling box."
Me: "Well, I'm glad you had a good day."
Little Bit: "I did."