Hannah sat at her desk in class and stared at the book in front of her. Right now everyone was learning math. Hannah did not like math at all. She looked up and studied her classmates around her. One girl was drawing a picture on her notebook, some of the kids were listening intently, and then she saw this boy named, Bryce, sitting beside her slowly unzipping Lydia's backpack in front of him.
He took out her pencil bag and slipped it into his bag. Hannah's eyes grew wide. What should she do? Bryce looked over to Hannah and put his finger to his lips telling her to keep quiet. She couldn't believe he had done that. Bryce was one of the most popular kids in their class. Hannah couldn't just raise her hand and tell on him. She would be the biggest loser in the class.
Slouching in her chair, Hannah thought about what she had read in her Bible that morning. Hezekiah was different from all the kings before him because he obeyed the Lord. God was with him everywhere he went. Hannah knew God was with her too, but was it her duty to make sure everyone else was following God's commandments?
She saw Lydia reach behind her to get something from her backpack. Lydia rummaged around and swept her hand from side to side in the bag. A look of confusion contorted on her face and she turned slowly back towards the front. Bryce stifled laughter and gave Hannah the shush gesture again.
When Hannah got home from school, she could not get Bryce and Lydia off her mind. She read over 2 Kings 18:5-8 again. It said that Hezekiah, "rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him."
Bryce is kind of like the king of our classroom, Hannah thought to herself. I don't have to stand for his bullying. I can rebel against his authority and do what I know is right. Just like Hezekiah. I serve God, not Bryce or any of my classmates.
The next day, Hannah went up to her teacher before class started and told her what had happened. The teacher, Mrs. Shalman, took Bryce out of the classroom and walked him to the principle's office.
The principle walked Bryce back to his desk where he opened his bag and pulled out the pencil bag. He plopped it on surprised Lydia's desk and glared at Hannah. The principle guided Bryce back out of the room.
Hannah knew this wasn't over, but the look on Lydia's face as she held her pencil bag made Hannah feel good.
