Andy’s best ant friend is a school classmate named Dickter. Dickter is a bit shy and lives in the poorer section of town. Dicker has a disability. You see, when he talks, he stutters. When he gets nervous, his stuttering gets even worse. Too often other ant friends in school laugh at him when he has trouble speaking. Andy knows Dickter is very smart and is a loyal friend. Andy wants to help Dicker by being a good friend to him.
One day Andy decides that Joey needs to meet his best ant friend. He proudly introduces Dickter to Joey. Dickter just smiles and doesn’t say a word. When Dickter eventually starts to speak, he stutters and Joey laughs at him. This embarrasses Dickter, and Dickter decides he has had it and announces to Andy that he is going to run away. Andy decides to go with him so he doesn’t get lost and has a friend with him. They skip school and take off for the unknown.
Joey is in class all day and has no idea that Andy and Dicker have run away. Only at the end of the day, when Andy never returns home, does everyone know they’re gone. To find out what happens that painful day, you will have to get and read Run Away Ants in late 2014.
- What is a disability?
- Do you or a friend have a disability?
- How to you think kids with disabilities feel when other kids ignore or laugh at them?
- What can you do to help a friend with a disability?
- It’s your turn to make up the ending of this story—at least until you can get the book and find out what happens.
