A boy in my 8th grade class who is usually very upbeat comes into my class one day upset. He slams his bookbag down on his desk. He is huffing and puffing, not talking and making jokes like usual. I found out later some girl told his girlfriend a mean rumor. When I asked him what was wrong, he replied simply, "Girls are stupid." Trying to get his mind off it, I pretended to be offended and questioned, "What about me?" He looked at me with honest eyes, and without thinking about it said, "You are a lady, you don't count."