Damien

Damien couldn't eat his breakfast.

"Hey, munch. What's up?"

He didn't want to tell her because he knew she'd worry.

"Nothing," and he picked up his spoon and tried to eat some more of the porridge his mum had prepared.

"Do you feel alright?" his mum said, and she came round the breakfast bar to where he sat and put her hand on his forehead. "You don't have a temperature."

"I'm okay," he said, lying. "I'm just not hungry," which was true. He couldn't tell her it was because his gut was in knots and if he ate, he was liable to throw up. He couldn't face that happening and the questions that would follow too.

He thought about his day.

If he could just keep out of her way. He'd done it before. He could do it again.

He jumped down from the stool and landed on his ankle awkwardly.

"Ow!"

He went to put weight on it and felt it smart.

"What's happened?"

He sucked in his breath.

His mum came over and looked at it.

"I'll get some ice. Can you walk?"

He took some tentative steps and although it was hurting a bit, he knew he could go to school.

"It's okay. It just feels a bit weird."

"Well, sit here, we'll put the ice on it and see how it is. But I think no P.E. today. I'll write you a note."

He knew that he could make out it was worse than it was and stay at home. The relief would be wonderful! But the courageous, not yet defeated part of him knew that he had to confront her, it, this situation because if not, he would forever live his life a coward.

Knowing this gave him strength but it didn't stop his legs from shaking and his belly from churning.

"Ready? Here's your lunch money. And your note."

Tasha. That was her name. He felt quite sorry for her. She always looked so...grim.

He nodded to his mum's question and took the notes offered.

He could tell Tasha needed money more than him.

But a boy's got to take a stand against bullies and today might be the day.

***

365 words

I wrote a story for the Just a Minute challenge on here and thought I would explore, as I often do, the other side of things, of a situation I've created: an alternative perspective.

This story stands alone but is linked to Lunch Money if you care to make your way there:

I also wrote another story about bullying for the A Story Every Day in 2024 microfiction challenge as set by L.C. Schäfer, which is below and got a Top Story accolade:

Thanks for stopping by! If you do read it, please do leave a comment as I love to interact with my readers.

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