"Aren’t you coming?" asked Tahir, looking at Dawood expectantly. Tahir and Shahid were standing outside school. The first bell had rung, and the crowd of students started walking inside.

"But what if we get caught?" asked Dawood. He had never ditched school before.

"I’m out man. Tahir, let’s go. This guy’s a nerd. He’s too scaaaared to have fun," Shahid taunted Dawood. He pulled up his sagging pants and sauntered away.

"Have fun in school, fool," sneered Tahir, as he followed Shahid.

Dawood frowned as he started walking toward his class. He hesitated.

‘It’s not like we learn much in a day. I guess no one will notice if I’m gone for a day.’

He turned around again and ran after his friends.

"Wait up, guys!" he called out. He caught up to his friends. "Where are we going?"

Shahid looked at Dawood and smiled. "Have you been to Boomers?"

"The one that’s down the street?" asked Dawood.

Tahir nodded. He looked over his shoulder at the students going into the school.

"Boys, come back here," the school custodian called out.

"Come on guys! Let’s get outta here!" yelled Shahid. The boys ran all the way to Boomers.

Dawood stopped in front of the entrance, out of breath. "Man, I’ve never run that fast in my life!"

Tahir opened the door and walked into the arcade. "Let’s play 3-puck air hockey!"

The arcade was buzzing with lights and sounds from all the games. Tahir put coins in the slots, and it began whirring.

"Let’s see how much I’m gonna beat you by, Dawood," Tahir said, and the boys began playing. Hours passed by as the boys put in more coins and went on in their tournament, oblivious to their surroundings.

Dawood didn’t even notice when Shaista Auntie, his next door neighbor walked into the arcade with her baby. She had forgotten her baby’s shoes at Boomers the day before. Shaista Auntie looked at Dawood and frowned.

"Dawood! What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in school!" She shook her head in disgust. "And you two," she looked at Tahir and Shahid, "your mothers are going to hear about this, too!"

The boys hung their heads in shame.

"All of you, get your stuff," she said firmly. Shaista Auntie marched the three boys back to their school and outside the principal’s office, where the school secretary called their parents.

When Dawood’s mother arrived, Dawood saw tears of disappointment in her eyes. He felt a sharp pang of guilt in his chest. The principal called them inside before Dawood could explain anything.

"Please, have a seat," he directed Dawood’s mom to the empty chair in front of his desk. "I have to say, you are the last person I would expect in my office, Dawood. You have had nothing but a stellar record. Why would you ruin it by skipping school?"

Dawood said nothing. He just looked at the patterns on the carpet.

"You know, son. Friends are not those who make you worse; they’re those who want the best for you and help you strive to achieve it. You’re strong enough to stand up to peer pressure," the principal said.

Dawood’s mom said nothing. She just had that look of disappointment on her face.

"Well, I’m going to suspend you from school for three days, because those are the consequences for your actions," the principal told Dawood. "I hope I never see you in my office again for any bad behavior. It’s very unlike you."

"I’m sorry for all the trouble," Dawood’s mom said, before she walked out of the office.

Dawood couldn’t believe how much he had hurt his mother. She was not even looking at him.

"I’m sorry, Mom. I know I really messed up," he said.

"That doesn’t change the fact that you’re grounded for a month," she scolded.

Dawood became silent. He realized how much trouble he had gotten himself into because of giving in to his so-called friends. Next time, he would rather deal with being called a nerd than deal with all these consequences.