"Ow. Why did you do that?" Amber gasped, rubbing her painful arm, trying to bite back tears. The stray ball lay forgotten at her feet. "You better stop hurting me, or I'm going to tell my mommy."
Mommy'd made Amber swear that she'd always tell her if anyone was mean to her.
"Oh no!" the older schoolyard bully sneered, winding up for another hit. "What's she gonna do, tattle to the principal?"
Pouting, the little girl tried to put on a brave face. "She'll just make you stop."
That's what her mommy'd promised her, and mommy always kept her promises.