Bullies

After what happened in P.E.

I didn't want to go back

I knew it wasn't going to be good

But it turned out so much worse

Than I would ever have thought it could

Blanked by my best mates

Taxed at the school gates

Punched in the face on the bus

For a while it got a little too much

Laughter resounding along the corridor

Me in a puddle on the floor

Anthony Pape leans over and spits

I don't want to remember any more

So Anthony was expelled for something else entirely

And term rumbled quietly on

I just tried to keep my head down

But ended up messing up my GCSE's

Much to Dad's disappointment

Though, mainly thanks to the encouragement

Of Mrs. Kovacic

I managed an A and a B in English

I'm in the library every lunchtime

Far away from the noise outside

Putting the finishing touches on my entry

For this short story competition

I got a phone call at work today

From Joshua's school

Asking me to come right away

I was in the middle of a Zoom

With one of our most important clients

Majestic Wine

He's been scrapping again

Broke a lad's jaw, and now he's suspended

Pending further investigation

What am I going to do with this kid?

Shaking the hand of the dour Assistant Head

I asked, "Does Mrs. Kovacic still teach here?"

"She's taking some well-deserved leave"

The old brick buildings

Have been replaced with glass and steel

At Blue Flames to watch the Under-21's

After a week of hardly talking at all

During a lull in play, I finally say

I know you've got a good heart