Post by Nr1Humanoid on Feb 15, 2009 10:28:53 GMT -5
I decided to make an attempt at it not too long back. Who knows if I'm any good at it but I did anyway.
So, I figured why not try it out here.
So, if you have the time, enjoy:
BULLIES.
Nine year old Mattias looked fearfully around the corner of the building. He darted his eyes in every direction, begging, hoping, crossing his fingers, that his would-be attackers would be long gone.
But no such luck.
As he looked over at the playground he could see them sitting on the swing set. They were rocking back and forth, apparently being quite busy. But Matthias knew better than that. They were waiting for him. He was certain of it. No doubt, his ass was grass.
They were well known as the school's worst bullies; 11 year old Henrik, the tall blond boy from the Scandinavian family on the outskirts of town, and his neighbour, Blerim, a dark and handsome middle eastern boy. They were vicious, hurting younger kids badly for the least little imaginary transgression, though always careful to make sure it never showed. They threatened their victims into covering up their bruises until they went away.
They had never bothered him before but they were well aware of him now, oh yes, they were. And it was absolutely no one's damn fault but his own. Once again, he caught himself thinking about how he had gotten himself in this position in the first place. He had been minding his own business, when suddenly, Muhadi, Blerims 6 year old brother, bumped into him. For what seemed like the 100th time that Mattias had thought it out, he'd wished he had known whose little brother he was before telling him to shove off and leave him alone. He especially regretted calling the poor kid a little s***. He regretted that immediately, when he saw the hurt look on the little kid's face. He had tried to apologize but the kid had run away, off to tell his older brother what Mattias had said to him.
And now the two older boys were gonna really kick his ass. They would have done it when they first confronted him, but he had got away when the school's crossing guard had come along. But that was a week ago. He had managed to avoid them since then, hanging around the teachers in the schoolyard between classes, or close enough to be seen. They had finally given up trying to get to him during school and were now waiting for him to go home. He knew that they'd have a long walk home as they usually took the school bus, but Matthias guessed they thought it was worth it to have to walk if they could finally get him to themselves. That they were that determined to get him scared him half to death. They'd never give up. And he was absolutely terrified of what they would do. It occupied his every waking thought. And a nightmare or two.
Mattias now ran and crawled underneath the steps leading up to the main building, really squeezing himself in there. He could see their legs as they looked for him. And he was close enough to hear their voices.
"Where the hell is that little s***? I'm sure he hasn't gone home yet," he heard Henrik say.
"ASSHOLE! We are going to find you! You're around here somewhere! The longer it takes, the worst it's going to get for you! DO YOU HEAR ME?" Mattias heard Blerim yelling. He stayed put, not moving, hardly daring to breathe. He was convinced they could hear his heart, it was beating so hard and fast.
"Forget it," he heard Henrik say. "We'll get him tomorrow. Guess he sneaked by us. S***!"
"Maybe," he hears from Blerim before he starts yelling "Tomorrow ****sucker. We're gonna kill you. YOU HEAR ME?"
"He's long gone, Bler, don't waste your breath."
"Yeah, let's go. We'll get him eventually," Blerim says. Mattias finally heard them go away yet, he stayed still for at least another half hour before easing himself out of his hiding place. His leg had a cramp and he massaged it for a few minutes before heading home, brushing the dirt of his clothes. He walked carefully, looking everywhere, as terrible visions of beatings were going through his head.
When he finally approached his house, Mattias could hear playful laughter. It was coming from the house across the street from his own. He looked in that direction and saw the two brothers who had moved in there recently. They were playing on the trampoline outside, as usual. Thirteen year old Tommy and his little brother Kenneth, who was Mattias own age. He didn't know the little brother, as he lived with his mom and was only across the street two weeks a month. Being a smart boy, he figured that much out. He wanted to go over, but is too shy.
The two boys were wrestling around with Tommy letting Kenneth win as usual. He always made a show for his little brother, pretending the smaller boy nearly killed him with the slightest touch. But right now, the older boy was on top, tickling his brother unmercifully under the arms.
"Stop. Stop. I give, I give, stop!" Kenneth repeated over and over, howling with laughter. When Tommy finally quit Kenneth reached up and hugged his older brother tight before rolling him over to get himself on top. He was gonna get his revenge when suddenly their stepmother appeared on the house doorstep, announcing that they had to come inside as their favorite program was on in a few minutes.
"OK, Mom!" Tommy jumped high on the trampoline and his tall body landed gracefully in the soft grass. He turned, and held his arms out for Kenneth. The younger kid came over and Tommy lifted him off, putting him down on the ground. Kenneth looked up at him with admiration for his older brother radiating from his face.
"I love you," he said, grabbing his brother's hand.
"I love you too, f***face," Tommy answered. The boys always called each other that when they thought their parents couldn't hear. Tommy hunkered down and let his giggling brother jump on his back and they vanished inside the house.
Mattias had watched all this with a sad look on his face, wanting to rush after them; wishing he had an older brother who loved him and took care of him like that. It had always amazed him that a thirteen year old would hang out with his nine year old brother like that. Running inside his own house, putting down his backpack, he looked in the living room. His dad was watching TV as usual.
"What are you doing home so late? School was out over an hour ago," his dad said, his eyes never leaving the screen.
"I had to hide from some bullies," Mattias said, opting to go for the truth. His father put down his beer and looked over at him.
"Never hide from your problems, son. Face them and take the consequences."
"But they are bigger than me!"
"Still, you have to stand up for yourself." And that was all the help he got from his dad as he took a big swig of his beer and went back to the TV. He should have known better.
'Who cares what he thinks?' But Mattias did care. It hurt when his dad showed just how little he cared about anything but watching that damn TV. Despite his determination not to cry he could feel his eyes well up with tears. He angrily brushed them away and went to his room. When he heard the boys across the street coming out, he sat by the window as they kicked a ball back and forth.
After dinner he went out and down to the creek, sitting on the shore with his feet in the water. Summer vacation was coming up and the days were getting real warm. The cool water felt great washing over his bare feet. But eventually he got bored. It seemed being bored was all he did these days.
Mattias' best friend Ruben had moved away last month. Despite their intention to stay in touch, it never really seemed to happen. He really missed him. They had been inseparable since kindergarten and now he had nothing. Oh, he had a friend at school but they mostly only saw each other there, due to the distance between their homes. He wished he knew how to ride a bike so he could go there more often. Not that he had one. It was a long walk. He took it once in a while, but it didn't seem to be often enough.
Mattias had some money in his pocket and decided to go to the store and get a Snickers bar; his favorite. When he walked through the door, he noticed Tommy and Kenneth were there. Tommy was running around making his brother look for him while their parents did the shopping. Mattias felt jealousy well up in his chest and his appetite for candy went away. He looked at them a little more and left.
As he lay in his bed that night he couldn't sleep, nervously wondering what the bullies would do if they caught him. He got a restless sleep.
After that the weekend seemed to fly by. He spent most of it reading and entertaining himself down by the creek. He would sit by his bedroom window, peaking through the curtains whenever he heard the boys next door playing outside, daydreaming he had an older brother too.
********************
Mattias walked fast toward the school. He hadn't seen Henrik and Blerim yet. Suddenly he found a hand grabbing his shoulder. His heart started pounding in his chest as he was sure they had finally gotten him. He spun around and sighed with relief. It was only Justin, his friend from school.
"You scared me. I thought you were..."
"I'm sorry," Justin said, "but you can't hide from them forever, you know."
"I'm sure going to try." Justin looked at him with sympathy. But he felt he had to be honest.
"You can't have adults around you forever."
"Well, I'm sure gonna do something. There's only a week of school left." Justin's bright blue eyes looked at him.
"Let's go to class," he said, shaking his head. Just in case, they picked up their pace. And they didn't see the other boys for the rest of that day. Or for the next two for that matter. They weren' at school at all.
On the third day Justin suddenly said:
"They cut off a kids dick once, you know."
"They did not," Mattias said.
"Hey, I'm only saying what I heard."
"That's bull, Justin."
"They say that Henrik's brother is in Juvenile Hall after taking the whole blame. Never told anyone they helped him hurt the boy."
"I still say bull." But there was uncertainty in his voice. Then he shook his head, dismissing it.
***************
He woke that night to find his groin soaked. He looked into his boxers where he saw that all he was left with was a disgusting stump gushing out blood. He woke up screaming. His stepmother came in the room shortly after.
"What is going on, Mattias," she asked.
"Just a nightmare."
"About what?" An honest kid at heart, he decided to tell her.
"They did no such thing," she said. "Don't believe such stuff. Just avoid them and they'll forget about you soon enough."
"They won't. They are vicious kids. They'll get me."
"They are only eleven years old, Mattias; don't be so silly."
"Yes, Maggie." And with that she was gone. She was even less help than his father. She was the only mother he knew. But she didn't love him, he was sure of it. He didn't think his parents even loved each other with their constant screaming in the house. He wished he had a step mom he could call mom. But he never did. And he knew he never would. They just weren't that close. Never had been. Only his best friend Ruben's mom had acted like a mother to him, and Ruben's father. They were the only adults who had ever hugged him. He remembered how good it felt when the dad had hugged him. Mattias had no grandparents. He missed Rubens parents as much as he did his friend. Maybe even more so.
********************
"Hey, assholes!" Mattias and Justin turned around. And there they were. Henrik and Blerim coming after them. They were back at school. Mattias and Justin had been relaxed during their absence and had dropped their guard. Now they started running as fast as their legs could carry them. Pounding along the pavement. But then, all of a sudden Mattias tripped, falling painfully to the ground and they reached him!
They shoved him over onto his back with their feet and stood over him. He looked up at them standing there dressed in their best gangsta' impersonation, as usual. Bandanas, their 50 cent necklace and baggy clothes. Mattias looked around. They were quickly surrounded by other kids but no one helped as he was hauled to his feet. He guessed they must be too scared to help. But Mattias realised he was wrong.
They were smiling! Even the girls from his class!
He knew he wasn't a popular kid, but he was surprised to see them looking forward to his humiliation. Henrik pulled on Mattias' hair; yanked on it in fact. Mattias was getting really afraid. Mattias knew they wouldn't be worried about their parent's reaction. They just didn't care and he suspected the parents didn't either.
Before Blerim could use his raised fist on him he was knocked to the ground. Mattias looked around and saw that Justin had come to his rescue. Henrik's surprise gave Mattias the chance to wrestle free; then he and Justin were running again, the older boys in hot pursuit. They reached an adult before they could be overtaken again.
"What is going on here?" said the adult loudly.
"They were after us. To beat us up," Justin said, indicating their enemies.
"You're ****ing dead, ****head," Blerim said. The teacher scowled in his direction.
Mattias couldn't believe Justin actually told. He backed up his friends words. He was just bursting with pride at his friend coming to his rescue. He was a target just for being Mattias' friend up till now, but that had changed. Justin knew it and still did what he did.
"We were not." This from Henrik.
"Yes, we were" Blerim said, with defiance in his voice.
"You are coming with me to the principal's office. Right now," the teacher said.
As they were marched off they looked back with hate in their eyes. Mattias shuddered, seeing that look on another child's face. Justin flipped them off behind the teachers back. Mattias looked at him in awe.
"Hey, we're in deep s*** anyway," Justin shrugged. The rest of the school year they were left alone. They were always careful to be seen by adults. But even when they came across the other boys, Henrik and Blerim didn't even look at them. They were actually ignoring them. Mattias hoped it was finally over.
***************
One week later Blerim and Henrik were walking down the street.
"I wonder where it is," Henrik said.
"Me too. But he lives around here someplace," Blerim followed up.
They had been thinking about Mattias since school was out. Their humiliation in the principal's office had increased their hatred of Mattias. Henrik didn't know why he hated the kid so. There was just something about him. One of those scrawny little four-eyed kids that begged for someone to beat the snot out of them. He just wanted to take his glasses and smash them. That was the first thing he was going to do; if he could just find him.
Henrik was in a particularly bad mood that day. His folks were gone for three days and had left him in the hands of his seventeen year old cousin, Casper. And Henrik knew what that meant. Nothing but humiliation and probably a beating. It had come this morning, the worst one yet. He ran from the house when it was over and now he needed to take his anger out on someone.
"There he is!" Blerim said, interrupting Henrik's thoughts. And he was. They saw Mattias walk inside a house they presumed was his. Blerim could not believe they had finally found him. A smile erupted across his face. He was looking forward to this so much. Henrik laughed; a nasty short little sound. They saw Mattias come back out and stand still on the front lawn. They followed his gaze and saw that he was staring at a teen on the opposite side of the street, jumping on his trampoline.
"Wonder if they are friends?" Blerim said.
"Nah, but it seems the kid wishes they were." Finally they saw Mattias walk away and they started to follow.
********************
Mattias headed for the creek. The heat was driving him crazy. He was gonna soak his entire legs in the chilled water. But first he really had to pee. Just in case someone could see, he walked over to a small wooded area that he knew was private. As he had been holding it in for a few minutes it felt real good to let go. When he was finished he turned around, and froze dead in his tracks!
'Oh, God, they've found me!' He quickly searched for an escape route. But there was only one way; through them.
"Well, look at what we have here." It was Blerim, bouncing a worn soccer ball up and down. "Seems we have a prize," he continued. Blerim was a particularly handsome boy, except for the malicious and unattractive sneer he always had on his face. A sneer so filled with anger and hate. Henrik jumped forward and grabbed Mattias roughly, digging his nails into his bare forearm.
"Let me go!"
"'**** you!" Mattias felt a tear run down his cheek, he was so afraid.
"Oh, look, he's crying," Henrik laughed.
"I'll show him crying," Blerim said. He grabbed onto the hem of Mattias' shirt and pulled it up over his head. Mattias was now totally blinded since the shirt was black. He felt something tight around both his wrists and his arms being lifted. When they let go he tried to drop his arms but they were stuck. He concluded they had tied him up. They had tied an arm each to two different trees with the belts from their jeans. Blerim then yanked Mattias shorts down, tossing it into the grass.
"This is gonna hurt" he said to Henrik. Mattias felt a chill hearing those words.
"Let me see his face." This from Henrik. The shirt was removed from Mattias' face just in time for him to see Henrik hurl his soccer ball straight into Mattias' stomach. The pain made him try to double over but he was unable to. He started crying. Another hard ball came. It smashed into his chest.
"Stop it. It hurts!" The two older boys laughed. Blerim took the ball and went behind him. It smashed hard into Mattias' thigh. Then the other one. Then an extra painful one in his lower back. Mattias felt Henrik's foot kicking his buttock hard.
"Please, no more. STOP!" Mattias' face was wet with tears. Blerim came around, in front of him and put the ball down.
"I'm gonna kick this in your face," Blerim said.
"First, I'm gonna smash these glasses" Henrik took them off as Blerim got to running speed. The shirt then covered Mattias' face again. He steeled himself for the upcoming pain. Suddenly, he heard a scream from Blerim. He then heard a thud like a body hit the ground.
"Hey, man...!" Henrik this time. Then he screamed. too.
"We were just having fun, dude," Blerim tried to plead.
"Shut up!" Mattias recognised the new voice.
"Get the hell out of here before I whip your stupid asses. And stay the hell away from him, or next time I'm gonna give you a damn beating you will never forget." Once again both boys gave a scream of pain.
"Never...****ing...forget. GOT IT, DIPs***s!?"
"Yes. Yes. Yes," two voices at once piped up, fear in them.
Then there were running steps, getting quieter as they went farther away. These were followed by steps approaching Mattias. The t-shirt vanished from his face and dropped down, covering his sore body. He saw a blurry shape in front of him before he felt his glasses being slipped on. Mattias took a good look, up into two very, very blue eyes; kind one's. Mattias threws his arms around Tommy's neck when his hands were freed.
"Thank you. Oh, thanks so much," he sobbed.
"It's gonna be okay, Matt. It's gonna be okay. They're gone now." Mattias liked it that he called him Matt. He'd never managed to get anyone to do it.
"I was so scared, Tommy." Tommy patted him on the back.
"Feeling better now?" Mattias withdrew from Tommy's arms, embarrased at himself for crying and clinging to him like some little baby.
"They're really gonna get me next time."
"'No, they won't. I won't allow it."
"You can't stop them when they get me alone."
"I guess I'm gonna have to stick by your side from now on then." Mattias looked up at him and smiled.
"You mean that?" Tommy pushed his blond hair away from his eyes and pulled Mattias with him to the water bank. Mattias winced from the pain all over when they sat down
"They hurt you pretty badly, didn't they? Wanna come home with me? That ball left some scratches on you. I'm sure we have something you can put on them." Mattias nodded at his new friend.. Maybe this would be a nice summer after all.
So, I figured why not try it out here.
So, if you have the time, enjoy:
BULLIES.
Nine year old Mattias looked fearfully around the corner of the building. He darted his eyes in every direction, begging, hoping, crossing his fingers, that his would-be attackers would be long gone.
But no such luck.
As he looked over at the playground he could see them sitting on the swing set. They were rocking back and forth, apparently being quite busy. But Matthias knew better than that. They were waiting for him. He was certain of it. No doubt, his ass was grass.
They were well known as the school's worst bullies; 11 year old Henrik, the tall blond boy from the Scandinavian family on the outskirts of town, and his neighbour, Blerim, a dark and handsome middle eastern boy. They were vicious, hurting younger kids badly for the least little imaginary transgression, though always careful to make sure it never showed. They threatened their victims into covering up their bruises until they went away.
They had never bothered him before but they were well aware of him now, oh yes, they were. And it was absolutely no one's damn fault but his own. Once again, he caught himself thinking about how he had gotten himself in this position in the first place. He had been minding his own business, when suddenly, Muhadi, Blerims 6 year old brother, bumped into him. For what seemed like the 100th time that Mattias had thought it out, he'd wished he had known whose little brother he was before telling him to shove off and leave him alone. He especially regretted calling the poor kid a little s***. He regretted that immediately, when he saw the hurt look on the little kid's face. He had tried to apologize but the kid had run away, off to tell his older brother what Mattias had said to him.
And now the two older boys were gonna really kick his ass. They would have done it when they first confronted him, but he had got away when the school's crossing guard had come along. But that was a week ago. He had managed to avoid them since then, hanging around the teachers in the schoolyard between classes, or close enough to be seen. They had finally given up trying to get to him during school and were now waiting for him to go home. He knew that they'd have a long walk home as they usually took the school bus, but Matthias guessed they thought it was worth it to have to walk if they could finally get him to themselves. That they were that determined to get him scared him half to death. They'd never give up. And he was absolutely terrified of what they would do. It occupied his every waking thought. And a nightmare or two.
Mattias now ran and crawled underneath the steps leading up to the main building, really squeezing himself in there. He could see their legs as they looked for him. And he was close enough to hear their voices.
"Where the hell is that little s***? I'm sure he hasn't gone home yet," he heard Henrik say.
"ASSHOLE! We are going to find you! You're around here somewhere! The longer it takes, the worst it's going to get for you! DO YOU HEAR ME?" Mattias heard Blerim yelling. He stayed put, not moving, hardly daring to breathe. He was convinced they could hear his heart, it was beating so hard and fast.
"Forget it," he heard Henrik say. "We'll get him tomorrow. Guess he sneaked by us. S***!"
"Maybe," he hears from Blerim before he starts yelling "Tomorrow ****sucker. We're gonna kill you. YOU HEAR ME?"
"He's long gone, Bler, don't waste your breath."
"Yeah, let's go. We'll get him eventually," Blerim says. Mattias finally heard them go away yet, he stayed still for at least another half hour before easing himself out of his hiding place. His leg had a cramp and he massaged it for a few minutes before heading home, brushing the dirt of his clothes. He walked carefully, looking everywhere, as terrible visions of beatings were going through his head.
When he finally approached his house, Mattias could hear playful laughter. It was coming from the house across the street from his own. He looked in that direction and saw the two brothers who had moved in there recently. They were playing on the trampoline outside, as usual. Thirteen year old Tommy and his little brother Kenneth, who was Mattias own age. He didn't know the little brother, as he lived with his mom and was only across the street two weeks a month. Being a smart boy, he figured that much out. He wanted to go over, but is too shy.
The two boys were wrestling around with Tommy letting Kenneth win as usual. He always made a show for his little brother, pretending the smaller boy nearly killed him with the slightest touch. But right now, the older boy was on top, tickling his brother unmercifully under the arms.
"Stop. Stop. I give, I give, stop!" Kenneth repeated over and over, howling with laughter. When Tommy finally quit Kenneth reached up and hugged his older brother tight before rolling him over to get himself on top. He was gonna get his revenge when suddenly their stepmother appeared on the house doorstep, announcing that they had to come inside as their favorite program was on in a few minutes.
"OK, Mom!" Tommy jumped high on the trampoline and his tall body landed gracefully in the soft grass. He turned, and held his arms out for Kenneth. The younger kid came over and Tommy lifted him off, putting him down on the ground. Kenneth looked up at him with admiration for his older brother radiating from his face.
"I love you," he said, grabbing his brother's hand.
"I love you too, f***face," Tommy answered. The boys always called each other that when they thought their parents couldn't hear. Tommy hunkered down and let his giggling brother jump on his back and they vanished inside the house.
Mattias had watched all this with a sad look on his face, wanting to rush after them; wishing he had an older brother who loved him and took care of him like that. It had always amazed him that a thirteen year old would hang out with his nine year old brother like that. Running inside his own house, putting down his backpack, he looked in the living room. His dad was watching TV as usual.
"What are you doing home so late? School was out over an hour ago," his dad said, his eyes never leaving the screen.
"I had to hide from some bullies," Mattias said, opting to go for the truth. His father put down his beer and looked over at him.
"Never hide from your problems, son. Face them and take the consequences."
"But they are bigger than me!"
"Still, you have to stand up for yourself." And that was all the help he got from his dad as he took a big swig of his beer and went back to the TV. He should have known better.
'Who cares what he thinks?' But Mattias did care. It hurt when his dad showed just how little he cared about anything but watching that damn TV. Despite his determination not to cry he could feel his eyes well up with tears. He angrily brushed them away and went to his room. When he heard the boys across the street coming out, he sat by the window as they kicked a ball back and forth.
After dinner he went out and down to the creek, sitting on the shore with his feet in the water. Summer vacation was coming up and the days were getting real warm. The cool water felt great washing over his bare feet. But eventually he got bored. It seemed being bored was all he did these days.
Mattias' best friend Ruben had moved away last month. Despite their intention to stay in touch, it never really seemed to happen. He really missed him. They had been inseparable since kindergarten and now he had nothing. Oh, he had a friend at school but they mostly only saw each other there, due to the distance between their homes. He wished he knew how to ride a bike so he could go there more often. Not that he had one. It was a long walk. He took it once in a while, but it didn't seem to be often enough.
Mattias had some money in his pocket and decided to go to the store and get a Snickers bar; his favorite. When he walked through the door, he noticed Tommy and Kenneth were there. Tommy was running around making his brother look for him while their parents did the shopping. Mattias felt jealousy well up in his chest and his appetite for candy went away. He looked at them a little more and left.
As he lay in his bed that night he couldn't sleep, nervously wondering what the bullies would do if they caught him. He got a restless sleep.
After that the weekend seemed to fly by. He spent most of it reading and entertaining himself down by the creek. He would sit by his bedroom window, peaking through the curtains whenever he heard the boys next door playing outside, daydreaming he had an older brother too.
********************
Mattias walked fast toward the school. He hadn't seen Henrik and Blerim yet. Suddenly he found a hand grabbing his shoulder. His heart started pounding in his chest as he was sure they had finally gotten him. He spun around and sighed with relief. It was only Justin, his friend from school.
"You scared me. I thought you were..."
"I'm sorry," Justin said, "but you can't hide from them forever, you know."
"I'm sure going to try." Justin looked at him with sympathy. But he felt he had to be honest.
"You can't have adults around you forever."
"Well, I'm sure gonna do something. There's only a week of school left." Justin's bright blue eyes looked at him.
"Let's go to class," he said, shaking his head. Just in case, they picked up their pace. And they didn't see the other boys for the rest of that day. Or for the next two for that matter. They weren' at school at all.
On the third day Justin suddenly said:
"They cut off a kids dick once, you know."
"They did not," Mattias said.
"Hey, I'm only saying what I heard."
"That's bull, Justin."
"They say that Henrik's brother is in Juvenile Hall after taking the whole blame. Never told anyone they helped him hurt the boy."
"I still say bull." But there was uncertainty in his voice. Then he shook his head, dismissing it.
***************
He woke that night to find his groin soaked. He looked into his boxers where he saw that all he was left with was a disgusting stump gushing out blood. He woke up screaming. His stepmother came in the room shortly after.
"What is going on, Mattias," she asked.
"Just a nightmare."
"About what?" An honest kid at heart, he decided to tell her.
"They did no such thing," she said. "Don't believe such stuff. Just avoid them and they'll forget about you soon enough."
"They won't. They are vicious kids. They'll get me."
"They are only eleven years old, Mattias; don't be so silly."
"Yes, Maggie." And with that she was gone. She was even less help than his father. She was the only mother he knew. But she didn't love him, he was sure of it. He didn't think his parents even loved each other with their constant screaming in the house. He wished he had a step mom he could call mom. But he never did. And he knew he never would. They just weren't that close. Never had been. Only his best friend Ruben's mom had acted like a mother to him, and Ruben's father. They were the only adults who had ever hugged him. He remembered how good it felt when the dad had hugged him. Mattias had no grandparents. He missed Rubens parents as much as he did his friend. Maybe even more so.
********************
"Hey, assholes!" Mattias and Justin turned around. And there they were. Henrik and Blerim coming after them. They were back at school. Mattias and Justin had been relaxed during their absence and had dropped their guard. Now they started running as fast as their legs could carry them. Pounding along the pavement. But then, all of a sudden Mattias tripped, falling painfully to the ground and they reached him!
They shoved him over onto his back with their feet and stood over him. He looked up at them standing there dressed in their best gangsta' impersonation, as usual. Bandanas, their 50 cent necklace and baggy clothes. Mattias looked around. They were quickly surrounded by other kids but no one helped as he was hauled to his feet. He guessed they must be too scared to help. But Mattias realised he was wrong.
They were smiling! Even the girls from his class!
He knew he wasn't a popular kid, but he was surprised to see them looking forward to his humiliation. Henrik pulled on Mattias' hair; yanked on it in fact. Mattias was getting really afraid. Mattias knew they wouldn't be worried about their parent's reaction. They just didn't care and he suspected the parents didn't either.
Before Blerim could use his raised fist on him he was knocked to the ground. Mattias looked around and saw that Justin had come to his rescue. Henrik's surprise gave Mattias the chance to wrestle free; then he and Justin were running again, the older boys in hot pursuit. They reached an adult before they could be overtaken again.
"What is going on here?" said the adult loudly.
"They were after us. To beat us up," Justin said, indicating their enemies.
"You're ****ing dead, ****head," Blerim said. The teacher scowled in his direction.
Mattias couldn't believe Justin actually told. He backed up his friends words. He was just bursting with pride at his friend coming to his rescue. He was a target just for being Mattias' friend up till now, but that had changed. Justin knew it and still did what he did.
"We were not." This from Henrik.
"Yes, we were" Blerim said, with defiance in his voice.
"You are coming with me to the principal's office. Right now," the teacher said.
As they were marched off they looked back with hate in their eyes. Mattias shuddered, seeing that look on another child's face. Justin flipped them off behind the teachers back. Mattias looked at him in awe.
"Hey, we're in deep s*** anyway," Justin shrugged. The rest of the school year they were left alone. They were always careful to be seen by adults. But even when they came across the other boys, Henrik and Blerim didn't even look at them. They were actually ignoring them. Mattias hoped it was finally over.
***************
One week later Blerim and Henrik were walking down the street.
"I wonder where it is," Henrik said.
"Me too. But he lives around here someplace," Blerim followed up.
They had been thinking about Mattias since school was out. Their humiliation in the principal's office had increased their hatred of Mattias. Henrik didn't know why he hated the kid so. There was just something about him. One of those scrawny little four-eyed kids that begged for someone to beat the snot out of them. He just wanted to take his glasses and smash them. That was the first thing he was going to do; if he could just find him.
Henrik was in a particularly bad mood that day. His folks were gone for three days and had left him in the hands of his seventeen year old cousin, Casper. And Henrik knew what that meant. Nothing but humiliation and probably a beating. It had come this morning, the worst one yet. He ran from the house when it was over and now he needed to take his anger out on someone.
"There he is!" Blerim said, interrupting Henrik's thoughts. And he was. They saw Mattias walk inside a house they presumed was his. Blerim could not believe they had finally found him. A smile erupted across his face. He was looking forward to this so much. Henrik laughed; a nasty short little sound. They saw Mattias come back out and stand still on the front lawn. They followed his gaze and saw that he was staring at a teen on the opposite side of the street, jumping on his trampoline.
"Wonder if they are friends?" Blerim said.
"Nah, but it seems the kid wishes they were." Finally they saw Mattias walk away and they started to follow.
********************
Mattias headed for the creek. The heat was driving him crazy. He was gonna soak his entire legs in the chilled water. But first he really had to pee. Just in case someone could see, he walked over to a small wooded area that he knew was private. As he had been holding it in for a few minutes it felt real good to let go. When he was finished he turned around, and froze dead in his tracks!
'Oh, God, they've found me!' He quickly searched for an escape route. But there was only one way; through them.
"Well, look at what we have here." It was Blerim, bouncing a worn soccer ball up and down. "Seems we have a prize," he continued. Blerim was a particularly handsome boy, except for the malicious and unattractive sneer he always had on his face. A sneer so filled with anger and hate. Henrik jumped forward and grabbed Mattias roughly, digging his nails into his bare forearm.
"Let me go!"
"'**** you!" Mattias felt a tear run down his cheek, he was so afraid.
"Oh, look, he's crying," Henrik laughed.
"I'll show him crying," Blerim said. He grabbed onto the hem of Mattias' shirt and pulled it up over his head. Mattias was now totally blinded since the shirt was black. He felt something tight around both his wrists and his arms being lifted. When they let go he tried to drop his arms but they were stuck. He concluded they had tied him up. They had tied an arm each to two different trees with the belts from their jeans. Blerim then yanked Mattias shorts down, tossing it into the grass.
"This is gonna hurt" he said to Henrik. Mattias felt a chill hearing those words.
"Let me see his face." This from Henrik. The shirt was removed from Mattias' face just in time for him to see Henrik hurl his soccer ball straight into Mattias' stomach. The pain made him try to double over but he was unable to. He started crying. Another hard ball came. It smashed into his chest.
"Stop it. It hurts!" The two older boys laughed. Blerim took the ball and went behind him. It smashed hard into Mattias' thigh. Then the other one. Then an extra painful one in his lower back. Mattias felt Henrik's foot kicking his buttock hard.
"Please, no more. STOP!" Mattias' face was wet with tears. Blerim came around, in front of him and put the ball down.
"I'm gonna kick this in your face," Blerim said.
"First, I'm gonna smash these glasses" Henrik took them off as Blerim got to running speed. The shirt then covered Mattias' face again. He steeled himself for the upcoming pain. Suddenly, he heard a scream from Blerim. He then heard a thud like a body hit the ground.
"Hey, man...!" Henrik this time. Then he screamed. too.
"We were just having fun, dude," Blerim tried to plead.
"Shut up!" Mattias recognised the new voice.
"Get the hell out of here before I whip your stupid asses. And stay the hell away from him, or next time I'm gonna give you a damn beating you will never forget." Once again both boys gave a scream of pain.
"Never...****ing...forget. GOT IT, DIPs***s!?"
"Yes. Yes. Yes," two voices at once piped up, fear in them.
Then there were running steps, getting quieter as they went farther away. These were followed by steps approaching Mattias. The t-shirt vanished from his face and dropped down, covering his sore body. He saw a blurry shape in front of him before he felt his glasses being slipped on. Mattias took a good look, up into two very, very blue eyes; kind one's. Mattias threws his arms around Tommy's neck when his hands were freed.
"Thank you. Oh, thanks so much," he sobbed.
"It's gonna be okay, Matt. It's gonna be okay. They're gone now." Mattias liked it that he called him Matt. He'd never managed to get anyone to do it.
"I was so scared, Tommy." Tommy patted him on the back.
"Feeling better now?" Mattias withdrew from Tommy's arms, embarrased at himself for crying and clinging to him like some little baby.
"They're really gonna get me next time."
"'No, they won't. I won't allow it."
"You can't stop them when they get me alone."
"I guess I'm gonna have to stick by your side from now on then." Mattias looked up at him and smiled.
"You mean that?" Tommy pushed his blond hair away from his eyes and pulled Mattias with him to the water bank. Mattias winced from the pain all over when they sat down
"They hurt you pretty badly, didn't they? Wanna come home with me? That ball left some scratches on you. I'm sure we have something you can put on them." Mattias nodded at his new friend.. Maybe this would be a nice summer after all.
