Innoculation

Charlie shoved Cho's head from behind. "You stupid Chink!" Cho wasn't sure what "Chink" meant but his body flashed with anger. He whirled around with fists raised. The dusty metal swing slipped from under him, dropping his body to the ground. Cho sprang to his feet but Charlie had already walked away, laughing loudly with two other boys.

If only he'd learned Taekwondo like his brothers. One swift kick in the head and Charlie would fall screaming, blood pouring from his broken nose.

Someone tapped lightly on Cho's shoulder. He spun around, whispering "Kick him in the head." A girl, his classmate, froze with eyes wide open. She held out half of a cookie and said, "Chips Ahoy?" When Cho didn't take it, she placed it on the swing and ran back to her giggling friends.

Charlie shouted "The Chink likes girl cooties!" but Cho couldn't hear him over the crunch, crunch of chocolate chip cookie in his mouth.