Short Story #5: THE CHILD

THE CHILD

It’s the first day of second grade.

Mom drops me off at school, waving with the usual “be safe and make choices” she gives me every day.

I ignore her and walk into school. Well, trudge, really. I’ve never liked school very much.

For the most part, it’s a normal, boring day. Class, lunch, friends. Easy enough. Couldn’t be more boring. I just want to play outside.

Of course, a kid like me could never go a whole day without something happening. A kid like me never makes it through a day without getting in trouble.

And it’s the kind of trouble that gets kids like me sent to bed without dinner.

Or dessert.

I’m about ready to run outside, to find Mom’s car. I stop. Listen. Sneering voices, laughter, sniffling.

I turn the corner, peer down the hall. Three third graders and one second grader. He’s in my class. I can’t remember his name.

He’s the quiet one. The teacher’s pet. The kid I usually steer clear off. Too smart to have fun.

The scene is like something out of a Saturday morning cartoon. The smaller kid getting pushed around, three big bullies laughing.

I hate bullies.

I always have. Not for the usual reasons. Not because I’ve been bullied or because I used to be a bully or because I had a sibling that was pushed around.

I hate bullies because wimps are the only kids that bully other kids. And it drives me crazy. What’s the point? What’s it going to do for you? Why is that going to make you feel better about yourself?

“Hey!”

I step in the hall, make my entrance. The bullies stop, the small kid from my class looks surprised. He knows who I am. I’m the loudest kid in class. Not easy to forget.

“Who’s that, Chancey?” one the third graders mocks, shoving him. “Your girlfriend.”

Gross.

I walk forward, step right up to him. We’re about the same height. I’m tall for my age, tall for a girl, tall for a second grader.

“Knock it off,” I say.

The bully is laughing. He thinks this is funny. He thinks I’m kidding. He thinks I’m just a silly girl.

Fine.

I bring back a tight fist, punch him in the nose. That gets his attention. It should. He just got punched by a girl. A girl a whole year younger than him.

“Leave him alone.” I’m glaring. “I don’t mind beating up a group of boys.”

They’re staring, glaring, sulking off, and I turn my attention to the kid they were picking on. Chancey, they called him.

“You okay?”

I grin. “Good thing I don’t care.” I pause. “I’m Kate, by the way.”

“Alec,” he says. “Thanks.”

“No problem, Nerd.”

“Alec,” he corrects.

“Hey, I just offered to beat up a kid for you. I can call you whatever I want.”

He rolls his eyes.

“So, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, Nerd.”

“See you, Kate.”

I walk off, run outside, meet my mom in the parking lot. I hop in the car and she starts to drive. “What took you so long?”

“Nothing. I just had to help a friend.”

*****Okay! So that was the last of the short stories. Next week, the collection will be available as an ebook. Stay posted for details! Thanks guys!*****