It was a crisp autumn morning at Oakwood Elementary School. Lucy Bright was excited about the day ahead, not because of her classes, but because she enjoyed spending time with her friends. However, there was a new boy in school who was causing trouble: Max.
Lucy first heard about Max from Emma, who was waiting for her by their lockers.
"Lucy, did you hear about the new kid?" Emma asked, her face scrunched up in concern.
Lucy shook her head. "No, what's going on?"
"His name is Max, and he's been picking on some of the younger kids," Emma explained. "He's really big and scary. Yesterday, he took Tommy's lunch money."
Lucy's heart sank. "That's awful. Why is he doing that?"
Emma shrugged. "I don't know. But everyone is really scared of him."
Lucy knew she had to do something. She couldn't stand by while someone bullied her friends. As the day went on, she kept an eye out for Max, wanting to see for herself what was happening.
During recess, Lucy saw Max for the first time. He was tall for his age, with a scowl on his face. He was cornering a smaller boy near the playground.
"Hey, give me your snack," Max demanded, looming over the boy.
"N-no, it's mine," the boy stammered, clutching his snack.
Max grabbed the snack out of the boy's hands, making him cry. Lucy felt anger bubble up inside her. She couldn't use her super strength openly, but she had to find a way to stop Max.
She walked over, trying to stay calm. "Hey, Max, that's not cool. Give it back."
Max turned and glared at Lucy. "Who are you to tell me what to do?"
"I'm Lucy, and I'm telling you to stop picking on people," she said firmly.
Max sneered. "Or what? What are you going to do about it?"
Lucy took a deep breath, thinking quickly. "How about we make a deal? If you can beat me in a game of strength, you can take whatever you want. But if I win, you leave everyone alone."
Max raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A game of strength? Like what?"
Lucy spotted a heavy tire used for gym exercises. "See that tire over there? Let's see who can flip it the farthest."
Max laughed. "Easy. You're on."
A small crowd gathered as Max and Lucy approached the tire. Emma looked worried but didn't say anything. Lucy gave her a reassuring nod.
Max went first. He grunted and strained, managing to flip the tire a few feet. He looked smug as he stepped back. "Beat that."
Lucy stepped up to the tire, her heart pounding. She knew she had to be careful not to show too much strength. She gripped the tire and pretended to struggle a bit before flipping it effortlessly, sending it rolling much farther than Max's attempt.
The crowd cheered, and Max's face turned red with anger. "You cheated!"
Lucy shook her head. "No, Max. I just know how to use my strength. A deal's a deal. Leave everyone alone."
Max glared at her but seemed to be thinking. Finally, he huffed and walked away, muttering under his breath. The crowd dispersed, and Emma ran over to Lucy.
"That was amazing, Lucy! How did you do that?" Emma asked, eyes wide with admiration.
Lucy shrugged, smiling. "Just a bit of practice and technique."
Over the next few days, Max seemed to keep his distance, but Lucy kept an eye on him. She noticed that he was often alone and looked angry or sad. One afternoon, she saw him sitting by himself on the bleachers, looking lost in thought.
Lucy approached him cautiously. "Hey, Max. Can I sit here?"
Max looked up, surprised. "Why would you want to sit with me?"
"I just wanted to talk," Lucy said, sitting down. "You seem like you could use a friend."
Max scoffed. "I don't need friends. People just get in the way."
Lucy frowned. "That's not true. Everyone needs friends. Why are you so angry all the time?"
Max sighed, his tough demeanor cracking a little. "My parents just got divorced, and I had to move here. I don't know anyone, and everything is different."
Lucy's heart softened. "I'm sorry to hear that, Max. It sounds really hard. But bullying people won't make it better."
Max looked down at his hands. "I know. I just... I don't know how else to handle it."
Lucy thought for a moment. "You know, there are better ways to deal with your feelings. Maybe you could join a club or a team. Find something you like to do."
Max looked at her, hopeful but uncertain. "Do you really think that would help?"
Lucy nodded. "I do. And if you need a friend, I'm here."
Max smiled, a small but genuine smile. "Thanks, Lucy."
From that day on, Lucy noticed a change in Max. He still had his moments, but he was making an effort to be better. He even joined the soccer team and started to make friends.
One day, as they were walking home from school, Emma turned to Lucy. "I can't believe how much Max has changed. It's like he's a different person."
Lucy smiled. "Sometimes people just need a little help finding their way."
Emma looked at Lucy with admiration. "You really are amazing, Lucy. You helped him without even using your super strength."
Lucy chuckled. "Sometimes, the strongest thing you can do is show someone a little kindness."
As the weeks went by, Max became a regular part of their group. He and Lucy even started a little competition of their own, challenging each other in fun ways that didn't involve bullying or being mean.
One afternoon, Max and Lucy were walking together when Max stopped and turned to her. "Lucy, I never got to thank you properly. For everything. You really helped me."
Lucy smiled. "You're welcome, Max. I'm glad you're doing better."
Max nodded, looking thoughtful. "I want to be better. And I want to help others too, like you do."
Lucy felt a surge of pride. "That's great, Max. Together, we can make a difference."
As they walked on, Lucy felt content. She knew there would always be challenges, but with friends like Emma and even Max, she was ready to face anything. With her secret strength and a kind heart, she knew she could handle whatever came her way.