CHAPTER 90

HUDSON FINISHED HIS SANDWICH and kept his eyes on the D Hall entrance to the cafeteria. “Am I the only one thinking they’re coming for us at any second?”

Pancake tapped his phone. “Seven hundred sixteen views —and that doesn’t include them airing this on the news! This is going viral —you know that? Nothing I’ve ever posted on YouTube has had more than twenty views —and most of them were me. Incredible.”

Obviously Pancake wasn’t worried.

Maggie hadn’t taken a bite of her lunch. “Did you see Jo leave? She’s messed up. I think she’s in trouble.”

Pancake circled his ear with his finger. “They’re all a little messed up over there.”

“I’ve never seen her like this.”

Hudson had a hand in that, didn’t he? Posting Giovanna’s name on the City Hall sign. Yeah, that could mess anybody up. Then there was that whole fiasco with her mom.

“I wonder if I should try talking to her again,” Maggie said.

“She’s got the litter. And the pack,” Pancake said.

“She doesn’t have anybody,” Maggie whispered. “I think she’s been bullied by them. And she got bullied by us —when what she needed was a real friend.”

A part of Hudson wanted to get in Maggie’s face and tell her she was wrong. But deep down —way deep down —he feared she was right. Knew she was.

Maggie closed her eyes tight. “She’s hurting bad. And it’s partly our fault.”

Giovanna was the weakest member of the litter. And he’d nailed her. Punished her for what she did to Maggie. Hudson attacked the easy target, just like any bully would do. How had he not seen that before? God, I messed up royally here. What she needed was a little kindness. Oh, yeah —he’d crossed the line.

He’d meant to give Giovanna a little taste of her own medicine. But he’d given her a massive overdose. And what right did he have teaching lessons to anyone? “You’re right. She’s hurting —and I’m to blame.”

Maggie studied him. “You mean that?”

“I never meant to hurt her. Not like that.” What he’d done was so totally against how he’d been raised. Against everything he believed. He’d been in a boxing ring with the litter, and the pack —and he’d won. But he’d hit Giovanna hardest of all. Hadn’t Mr. Mann told him to look at things —at people —from all angles? He definitely hadn’t looked at things from Giovanna’s perspective. Not once.

And there’d been a price, hadn’t there? He’d been dishonest with his mom —and it likely cost her the job she really, really needed. He sent bogus letters to the news stations. His parents taught him to be honest —no matter what. Reckless words pierce like a sword. He’d prayed for God to help him. To guide him. But had he listened for an answer? Hadn’t he ignored what the Bible said? Suddenly Hudson felt embarrassed. Worse than that. Ashamed. “I really messed up.”

Even posting the film clips was over the top. He should have just brought them to the principal. He’d gone overboard . . . and now he was drowning in regret.

“I bullied them. Especially Giovanna.” The truth of it sunk in. Grabbed hold. “I bullied her.” How had it come to this? “I was so focused on protecting myself —and you guys —I didn’t even think how they might be hurting.” He pictured Giovanna as she left the cafeteria. She was definitely in bad shape. “I’m so sorry. I see it now.”

Both Maggie and Pancake looked at him like they had no idea what to say. Which was fine with Hudson.

Pancake’s shoulders slumped like he’d just been deflated. “So what do we do?”

Maggie shook her head. “I don’t think even Robin Hood could fix this one.”

If she only knew how right she was. He bowed his head. Drove his thumbs deep in his eye sockets.

“God,” he whispered, “I made a mess of things . . . and I have no idea how to fix it. Tell me it’s not too late. Show me the way.” Hudson’s mind rewound to Dad’s story of that Denny kid, a guy who was strong enough to treat others the way he wanted to be treated —even the undeserving. And the people who had the heart change toward the enemy army. They responded to the attack with simple kindness . . . and the enemy was forever changed as a result. That was how true change was created. Hudson had been doing it all wrong.

You’ve messed up royally. You became a bully. People got hurt. What do you do?

• A. The ends justify the means, right? Get over it. Move on.
• B. Don’t beat yourself up. They deserved it. This wasn’t all your fault.
• C. Tell yourself they’ll be okay. Maybe you’ll actually believe that someday.
• D. You were wrong. Own it . . . and make it right. Now —before it’s too late.

He looked at Wolfe’s table —and knew exactly what he had to do.