Scott knew where Harry got picked up for the bus, of course. Just a couple blocks down the street in front of the junior/senior Catholic high school that went from grade 7 to grade 12. Harry was just in 6th grade. It would be his final year in Catholic grade school, which goes from K-6.
"6th grade," Scott grumbled. "How humiliating. And I bet with a 10 year old body instead of the 12 year old one I was supposed to inhabit, I'll show up smaller than everyone else in my class. My class!" he scoffed. "I mean the boy's class."
There were 5 other kids that were also being picked up at this particular location. One of whom, unfortunately, would turnout to be a classmate that was also a little asshole of a bully. Doubly unfortunately, this "little" asshole of a bully was nearly a head taller than Scott in his shrimpified form.
"Heh, what's with you?" the little asshole sneered at Scott. Looking up at the kid that he just now met for the first time, all Scott knew to was to say was "what?"
"You're looking shorter than normal."
"Maybe you just got taller?" was Scott's reply.
"Yeah, well, I doubt that."
Luckily for Scott, Harry wasnt a kid that was bullied. He wasn't a "popular" kid. But neither was he one to particularly be picked on. But this look ittle asshole was still an asshole just the same.
When the stupid bright yellow bus arrived to pick them up, the Little Asshole shoved past Scott. Being much smaller, he went tumbling to the side. Which made the Little Asshole laugh as he got on. A sign of weakness that caught the Little Asshole's attention. But Scott picked himself back up, and dusted himself off. He was ready to deck the kid, but Scott wasn't really ever much of a fighter. Even worse, being stuck with the stature of a 10 year old child against a boy bigger and more physically mature.
Whatever. Scott's goal was just to get through the day and think about how to reverse the crummy situation. He couldn't be bothered with any number of little assholes, no matter how many would end up inhabiting the classroom he was assigned to.
Speaking of which, Scott thought with alarm, "I have no idea where I'm supposed to go when I get to that school."
He now regretted never attending any of those PTA meetings. He was, afterall, too busy for work. Kept himself too pre-occupied. He sighed.
"I guess I'll just follow that Little Asshole where ever he goes. He must be Harry's classmate."
Scott decided to sit somewhere in the middle of the bus, away from the Little Asshole who of course, sat in the back. He also made sure he stayed away from the front. He assumed, and was somewhat correct in his assumption, that the front of the bus would be occupied by the younger/less popular crowd of kids as the bus stopped to pick up more little assholes.
At one stop, Harry's best friend, Dustin, sprang up the steps. He made a beeline right to Scott's seat.
"Hey, what's up, Harry?"
"Hey, Dustin. Nothing much." Scott said, inwardly irritated at his new name.
"What do you wanna do after school today?"
"Uh. Nothing. I have a little project I have to work on. For....for.....my dad." Scott hesitated and thought quickly.
"Oh? What's that?" asked Dustin. "Maybe I can help you."
"No. I messed up one of his projects, and he wants to "teach me a lesson." Scott said, thinking quickly still.
"Oh. Well. Me and the guys are gonna play some football after school."
"The guys?" thought Scott. "I dont even know any of his other friends."
"Sounds great. But I really gotta do this."
"It's cool," said Dustin. "Say," he continued. "You look....different...." he finally noticed.
"Yeah, everyone's been saying that lately. I think I may have lost some weight."
"Yeah! You look like you have! What's up with that?"
"Dunno," said Harry. "But my...uuuhh..." mom" said she is going to take me to the doctors I guess," he continued, cringing on the phrase "my mom".
"Heh, well, I hope I don't catch whatever weird shrimlifying disease you picked up," Dustin said playfully smiling.
"Yeah, well, I don't think you'll have to worry about that..." Scott said, trailing off.
Dustin looked like he was about to make a retort, but thought better of it. They rode the bus in silence the rest of the way to school.