Veronica had a good idea who had been throwing her coat off the hook and putting tacks on her seat - the same kid who was tormenting her with those maddening jingles: Peter Wedemeyer. Peter had been asking for it. He was new in the class, and every new kid, sooner or later, had to be educated. Nobody else in the class would dare to tangle with her. They'd all been through it already one way or another. The girls were easy, but Veronica didn't really enjoy fighting with girls. They just stood there and cried. The boys were more interesting. Frank Scacalossi, for instance. But Veronica's strategy failed again and again with Peter, who, although he only came up to her shoulder, outfoxed her each time she got within reach of him. She needed a new weapon to beat Peter.
Then one day something new happened to Veronica; she did something she had never done before, and she discovered that the "weapon" she had been searching for was one she had possessed all along.
Then one day something new happened to Veronica; she did something she had never done before, and she discovered that the "weapon" she had been searching for was one she had possessed all along.
