Facing up to a bully
Derek was in Standard One and he was a well-mannered boy. His parents taught him to behave himself in school and not to fight with other boys. However his mild manner was wrongly perceived as weakness by some of the rougher boys. So one of them, an overweight boy that stood at least two inches taller than Derek, took to bullying him.
It began with shoving. Then the bully started hitting Derek as and when he felt like it. Recess time became an unpleasant time for Derek for the bully and his cronies would come looking for him. He did not fight back nor did he tell his parents or teachers because he did to want to cause any trouble. So he endured the bullying, for a few weeks.
Gradually the bullying got worse and Derek knew he had to face up to the bully, for better or for worse. So during recess one day, he stood in the shade of a tree and waited for the bully to show up. True to form, the bully came. This time Derek was ready. He held a short stick hidden behind his back.
The bully came with clenched fists but before he could land a punch, Derek lashed out with his stick on the bully’s legs. The bully cried out in pain and collapsed on the ground. Derek raised the stick to strike again but stopped when he saw that the bully was crying and begging him for mercy.
Teachers and prefects arrived to see what the commotion was all about. He and the bully were taken to the headmaster’s office and each given two cuts for fighting. It was worth it. The bully never troubled him again.
