They crowded still closer around him. "Stu-pid." Their laughter was terrible. He couldn't get away from them. He cried louder.
"Eric!" His mother's voice. He twisted around, saw her coming, running toward him along the bank.
"Mama!" He could move again. He stumbled toward her.
"He wants his mama," the big boy said. "Funny baby."
His mother was looking past him, at the other children. They stopped laughing abruptly. They looked back at her for a moment, scuffing their feet in the dirt and not saying anything. Suddenly the big boy turned and ran, up over the bank and out of sight. The other boy followed him.
The girl started to run, and then she looked at Eric's mother again and stopped. She looked back at Eric. "I'm sorry," she said sulkily, and then she turned and fled after the others.
Eric's mother picked him up. "It's all right," she said. "Mother's here. It's all right."
He clung to her, clutching her convulsively, his whole body shaking. "Why, Mama? Why?"
"You're all right, dear."
She was warm and her arms were tight around him. He was home again, and safe. He relaxed, slowly.