Every day Olli waited at the park gates to pounce on smaller children and chase them through the park. When he caught up with them, he’d push them to the ground. Olli was eight-years-old and rather tall.

Today it was James’ turn to be pushed to the ground. James was seven and rather short. He usually made up for his lack of height by being smart. Being smart didn’t help with Olli though.

Now Olli the bully towered over James, because he had pushed James into the only puddle in the whole park!

            “Haha! Just look at your t-t-trousers. I b-b-bet your mother will have a f-f-fit, when she sees how d-d-dirty you are.”

            James had never felt so angry in his whole life. “B-b-better dirty than s-s-stupid like you, stutter boy!” James got up and shoved the surprised Olli right back. Now it was Olli’s turn to land in the mud.

James ran home. He felt a little guilty having made fun of Olli’s stutter. A boy who shoved smaller children into puddles only had himself to blame thought James later, when he washed his muddy trousers in the sink.

The worst of it was that Olli’s family lived next door. Every day he’d see Olli and remember what he’d said to him. James put his wet trousers on the washing line and looked over the garden fence. Olli stood in his own kitchen, trying to wash his own muddy trousers…only Olli clearly didn’t know how.

There were bubbles everywhere! Bubbles floated up to the ceiling and bubbles drifted out of the open window into the garden!

            “You’re not supposed to use the whole packet of soap flakes, silly.” James climbed over the fence and pressed his nose against the open window.

            “Who are you? The soap p-p-police?” Olli spluttered. A bubble exploded on his nose with a loud POP.

            “Nope. I’m the fire brigade!” James grinned. He stuck a garden hose through the open window and sucked up all the bubbles.

The bubbles floated off into the sky and exploded one by one.

            “I’m sorry,” said James, when the last bubble had popped.

            “Thanks,” said Olli and stared at his wet feet. “We must be the c-c-cleanest boys in the whole s-s-street.”

            “Yeah. It’s pretty disgusting, don’t you think?” said James and climbed in through the open window to shake hands with his new friend.