wouldn't let me play with them or their friends.

You're not cool enough, they'd say.

Being left out all the time made me feel sad and lonely.

That's not OK the way those guys are treating you, said Kate.

You need to tell a grown-up.

But I don't want to be a tattle-tale.

When you're having problems and need help,

going to a grown-up isn't tattling, she said.

It's reporting.

So I went to our teacher, Mr. Kramer.

You did the right thing by coming to me, he said.

From that day forward,

Mr. Kramer made sure everyone got a chance to play.

And I finally got to show off my sweet soccer skills.

That felt pretty good.