Jim's first day of class in September was interrupted when a new student, Irvin, entered. Irvin showed an instant dislike for Jim, and before the day had ended Irvin had bullied Jim several times. The bullying continued day after day and not even Jim's best friend, Jack, would support him. Jim was so fearful of Irvin that once he pretended to be sick so that he didn't have to go to school. Only when a classmate, Jessica, befriended Jim and encouraged him did he find the inner strength to resist Irvin's bullying.