Kaleidoscope

The Bully

"Limp! Wimp! We'll give you a spin. You can run and hide and but we'll get you in the end!"

He turned and started to walk away.

"Where are you going? I just pushed you and took your lunch...Chicken! Chicken! Look at him go!."

He kept walking. He tried to shut out the taunts. What good would come from a response? He needed to get away.

"Next time...I won't let you leave....nerd."

He took the long way around to his home room. He had reached the door when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He cringed expecting the worse.

"Sorry...I did not mean to scare you...it is just that you need to tell someone."

He looked at her. He knew she was kind. They had known each other for years, though the last time they had played together must have been a couple of years ago. That was a life time for an 11 year old.

"I will." He stole a glance at her, and then looked away. Anywhere but her eyes.

"I am serious. Come with me now to the Principal. I'll back you up. Call your parents. It has to be now."

"I can't go now. We have class."

"If you don't go now, you won't later. I know you well enough. And he is going to push you more and more, if he doesn't get talked to."

He squirmed a bit.

"Not now....I'll talk to my parents when I get home. I don't want to disturb them. They'll be busy at work."

She stared at him.

"I don't get you. We get told about this every year. You have to talk or the bullies get bolder."

"I will."

He went to his desk and sat down. For a while she stood looking at him and then she moved to her desk. He saw her shake her head. Maybe in disgust. No. She probably felt sorry for him. She was nice.

After the class, he rushed out. He wanted to avoid the jerks. He was not going to get on the bus. He would walk, even if it took longer. It wasn't too bad. Just around 30 minutes or so.

As he turned the corner, he walked right into another boy.

"Oh...sorry...sorry. I did not see you."

The boy smiled.

"Don't worry about it. I think that you were too worried about cutting loose from here. It is not easy when you don't have eyes in the back of your head."

He was confused. What did he mean? And he was still standing there, blocking his way and smiling.

"I am sorry, but I have to go. I will be more careful."

"Okay, but can I talk to you?"

Who was this kid?

"I don't think I know you, and I have to go."

"Listen, don't worry about those kids. They can't hurt you. I want to help you."

Was this a trap? Was he one of them?

"I am not their friend. But I can be yours... if you listen to me."

Did he just read my thoughts?

"Not exactly reading thoughts but I know what you are thinking."

"That's freaky."

"It is okay. That's what the others always say as well."

"What others?" He was getting more worried and less comfortable with the conversation.