Oh, the life of a third grader

Ok, so Friday, I get a call about lunch time from Chloe's school, telling me there is some sort of debate/problem/disagreement between Chloe and another student over a cell phone. She said Chloe had a cell phone, and when confronted, Chloe told her that I had given it to her the day before. When she wanted to call and confirm that with me, Chloe started crying and altering the story. Chloe does not have a cell phone. So, they put Chloe on the phone, and I'm calmly asking her what in the world is going on. She tells me some kid wanted to trade a pencil she had for his cell phone. He said he lost his, and his mom bought him a new one, then he found the old one, and since it was dead, he decided he didn't need it anymore. By the way, he's seven. So, Chloe, who is feeling massive pressure over this cell phone phenomenon, and really wants one, saw it as an opportunity to have one, without Craig and I having to pay for one. (oh, the mind of an eight year old.) So, I get the office lady on the phone, and I explain to her the story, and who the kid is because they need to find out who the cell phone belongs to. So, after daycare Friday, Chloe goes over to Craigs mom and dad's to spend the night, because she is going fishing with them on Saturday, so I have to wait until last night to get the rest of the scoop in person.
Apparantly, this is a boy who is constantly bullying Chloe. He just won't leave her alone. He is a friend of one of her good friends, so he is always around when Chloe is playing with her. She won a goodie out of the prize box at school for turning in her homework, and she apparantly picked some nifty pencil, and she stuck in her pocket, and forgot about it, so she was wearing it out to the play are. So, this cruddy little boy, gets in her face, because he wants the pencil, and Chloe keeps telling him no, and to leave her alone. But no, he has to keep pushing, then he decides he will trade this phone for the pencil. I truly think Chloe knew it was wrong, but she said that he kept pushing the cell phone at her, and tried to grab the pencil. Chloe said she tried to get to a teacher on the play ground, but he kept blocking her and grabbing her as she was trying to run. So, I guess one of the teachers did see the squabble, and tried to call just Chloe over, because she was visibly upset, and the little punk got in her face, and told her to tell the teacher it was her phone, that I had given it to her, and not to tell her where it came from. So, that is why she lied to the office lady. So, no one is really sure if the story he told Chloe about the phone is true, or whose phone it really was. Man, I was so angry last night. What is wrong with these people? And why does just the secretary in the office get involved? Where is the principal? Where are the other teachers? Why the he*l aren't they keeping an eye on these kids on the playground? I am by no means saying my kid is perfect, but she never gets in trouble at school, and she is always telling me about two or three kids, that just won't leave her alone. There is one girl, that has been in her class since first grade, that is just nasty to Chloe. She makes fun of her teeth (poor girl, has bigger teeth than mouth. That's gonna cost me, but it isn't that bad. I've seen worse) or she makes fun of her clothes, which she gets compliments on all the time, so that one I don't get. She whispers, and pokes Chloe during reading group, until Chloe gets frustrated and yells at her, and then Chloe gets her name card pulled, and when she explains it to the teacher, the teacher just tells Chloe that she needs to learn to get along with everyone. Or, the little girl makes fun of Chloe on the playground, and tells Chloes friends how horrible Chloe is, until they stop playing with Chloe, and play with her. Anyone see a pattern? I personally think the little brat is jealous of Chloe, and is trying to take attention away from her. Maybe she knows she's a brat, maybe her home life is bad, I don't know, but she makes Chloe crazy. So, I asked Chloe if she wanted me to get involved with her teacher over this little brat, and the little brat boy on the playground, or if she just wants to let the last five weeks of the year ride out, and we can re-evaluate in fall. She says she'll ride it out, unless either of them do something that makes her feel scared. Usually if Chloe has someone who is bothering her, they are in a different class the next year, or they've grown up a little, and are tolerable, or even become one of her friends, but these two have been picking on her for years, I've about had it. I hate getting involved too much. I don't want her to get picked on even more from them. Craig keeps insisting on the "pinch them when no one is looking" approach. But, I just know she'll get caught, and since they suspend even in elementary school now for that crap, it's probably not a good idea. I really wish her teacher was more aware. This is the first teacher Chloe has had, that she didn't love. Hopefully next year we can get back to one she really likes. I feel really bad about that, because I recommended that teacher, because a friend of mine, who was doing her student teaching at the school last year told me she was fabulous. Maybe to an adult, but not to my little boo.