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Endurance
A Story Every Day in 2024 March 13th 73/366
Ryan sat resting his head on the glass, his breath misting and obscuring the fast-flowing hedges outside of the window. He retreated into his world of splayed hair and hot breath while the other kids on the bus shouted and laughed, shoved and teased.
He hated getting on and off the most. Once he was in position, in a seat, it was bearable. A moment of calm in a day that had the potential to be chaos.
He dreaded it.
Every. Single. Day.
If he kept as still as possible and avoided eye contact or facial expressions, he might just be able to sit unbothered.
The bus pulled into its bay at the school and he waited until he was last off. Seeing that the bus was empty, he got up and scurried to the doors, taking a moment to look left and right before stepping down. No-one there.
Safe.
He found his usual nook close to the bins at the back of the canteen. He had worked out that there was enough room for him to duck behind it, if he was quick. There were spells, days where he was left alone and often, if the area was empty of all others, he'd sit, ready to jump up, if necessary but sometimes it was nice to just take the weight off his feet and lean back against the wall, the sun on his face and hope the wind was blowing the smell of the rubbish the opposite way.
Those days were great.
But rare.
The bell went. Registration. His tutor was nice and sometimes, he'd chat with her. She had him sit by her desk and she'd confide things in him that made him smile. Sometimes, when she was marking at lunchtime, she would let him sit, while she played music and leant over books, hair hanging. He loved her for the shelter. He wished she could be his sidekick throughout the day.
Corridors beckoned and lessons. Head down, get through. Running the gauntlet. He had his routes. Avoiding fists and other hazards.
The highlight of his day? Home-time. Even better, if Mum said she could pick him up.
Freedom!
Until it all started again.
***
366 words
I used to be a teacher. The dynamics of being a kid are not ones that I would want to revisit for the world. School days, the best days of your life? Not for me at all.
And as a teacher? I used to provide a place for kids to come while I did my work. If they needed it. Where they felt safe.
I could do that, at least.
Thanks for stopping by! If you do read it, please do leave a comment as I love to interact with my readers.
73/366
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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Comments (20)
The anxiety of this story was absolutely palpable and unfortunately very relatable to so many kids’ school experiences. Amazing work here!
Congrats on Top Story!🥳🥳🥳
That's interesting.
Coming back to say congrats!!
Loved it!!! Congratulations on Top Story too!!!❤️❤️💕
Hello again. Congrats on the TS.
I was caught up in the story I forgot to hit like and say congratulations
This drew me back to the feel of school all over again. Thankfully I wasn’t bullied, or rather I didn’t tolerate it, everyone seems to get bullied or have fears at that age. Wonderful job of bringing out the emotions
Some stories have the ability to take you right back to a moment in time. This was one of them. Brilliant writing.
I resonated strongly with this. Was never bullied per say, but didn't find school a joyful time really. You should like a good teacher...offering that breathing space for anyone that needed it. I'd have appreciated that when I wasat school. Well done on this Chum and well done on it getting Top Story.
I was always bullied so this story was extremely relatable. I'm so happy that you did that for your students. The world needs more teachers like you!
There were days that were like this for me, though I always loved school. Regulated environment & social interactions were a definite plus for me as an undiagnosed autistic. Seeking out those who were being left out or abused & befriending them is definitely something with which I could identify, though my reasons weren't quite as altruistic as yours. They were the ones with whom I tended to feel the most comfortable & I didn't have to compete for their attention.
I felt this. The gauntlet of school.
I wanted freedom from school although no bullies dared to try it on me. Teachers have such a hard job and they will never know the influence they have - the things kids remember all their life from one moment or comment. ❣️
This is such a sad story, and sadder still the so many know it as truth.
Rd ~ "Endurance"...At 'Least' you're not, Cynical. Jb
Oh my goodness, the opening paragraph drew me right in! Using that tiny detail of his breath fogging up the window instantly teleported me into that space on the bus. Really, really well written here, Rachel! I felt this way a lot during my school years, and I can agree with your sentiment at the end: I'm glad to never go back to that period of my life!
This rings very true! I don’t think I’d be able to handle the bus rides some of my students endure. School days can be ruthless sometimes, so good of you to open your room as a refuge
I walked to and from school no matter the weather because I hated the bus, especially jr. high and high school. Kids yelling and some smoking, simply torture.
Wow, that is a blast from the past! How many times did I run that gauntlet? Really well done, Rachel. A sad reminder of how hard life can be even for the most defenseless.