Thomas, The Bully

“Come here!”’ Thomas shouted. ‘’Else, I will beat you up’’

Bode ran towards where Thomas stood.

‘’What do you have with you?’’ Thomas asked, looking frightening.

‘’N…ohing’’, Bode answered. He was not only panting but also sweating and panicking.

‘’Did I hear you say ‘nothing’’

‘’Yes’’ Bode replied, though very faintly.

‘’Let me find out’’

Thomas began the search. He dipped his hands into the pocket areas of Bode’s school knickers, and then proceeded to his bag and front pocket of his shirt. Thomas found nothing.

‘’So, you didn’t come with anything’’

‘’My mother did not give me the biscuits’’. Bode replied. ‘’If she did, I would have given them to you’’

‘’That is none of my business!’’ Thomas said. He was angry at Bode’s reply.

‘’I will continue to bully you if you do not provide me my usual biscuits. You know this is not the first time I have been doing this to you.’’

‘’Yes’’

Thomas mildly pushed Bode. He saw himself fall to the ground.

‘’You know this is Break Time.’’

‘’Yes’’ Bode responded, looking scared.

‘’Now, before the count of three, run to the classroom! 1…2…’’

Before Thomas counted ‘3’, Bode suddenly took off from the ground and ran as fast as he could---away from his presence---to the classroom.

Thomas was a dark-skinned, plump-sized seven-year-old who was always fond of bullying Bode, his classmate. Bode was a six-year-old small-in-size and frail-looking boy who was always afraid of Thomas.

However, it got to the point Bode could not take it anymore. He was getting tired of Thomas’ bullying behavior. So, Bode reported Thomas to his class teacher, Miss Juliet.

Two days later, Miss Juliet instructed Thomas and Bode to sit in front of her, while she stood, minutes before the Break Time Period.

Miss Juliet pointed her finger at Thomas. ‘’It has come to my notice that you have been bullying Bode for a long time. Bode reported you to me two days ago. Now, this is the time to handle the matter’’. Her pointing finger went down. ‘’Is that true, Thomas?’’

Thomas looked guilty. ‘’Mmmm…Yes, Miss Juliet’’

‘’Why should you do that to Bode? Why have you been bullying him for so long?’’

‘’Mmmm…I did it because…. I did that because…of’’

Miss Julie was upset. She interrupted, ‘’Because of what?!’’

Thomas was scared. ‘’Because…’’

‘’So, you bully Bode for no reason, right? Thomas The Bully! You have now earned yourself the name…Thomas, The Bully! What has Bode done to deserve this from you, Thomas, The Bully?! Anyway, I will teach you a lesson you will never forget!’’

Thomas appeared unsettled. He looked upwards at the moving ceiling fan, sideways at the open louvers and downwards at the tiled classroom floor and wooden chairs. Bode was delighted as he was paying attention.

‘’Bode, why didn’t you report Thomas to me, long before now?’’ Asked Miss Juliet. She could not help but show her disappointment.

Bode was sober. ‘’Thomas told me that if I should report him to any teacher, he will beat me up!’’

‘’What?!!! Is that true, Thomas?’’

‘’it’s Not, Miss Juliet’’. Thomas denied. ‘’Bode is lying!’’

Bode was surprised by what Thomas said. He stood up, looking at Thomas. ‘’Thomas, you are lying. That was what you told me’’

‘’Bode, I never told you that!’’

‘’You’re a liar, Thomas. You have bullied me many times’’. Bode said. Tears dropped from his face to the ground.

Miss Juliet, listening to Bode and Thomas trade words, noticed Bode was telling the truth and Thomas was lying. She had pity on Bode but very upset with Thomas.

‘’Again, I ask you: ‘Thomas, is it true that you have been bullying Bode?’’’

‘’Y…es….Ma’’ Thomas answered, feeling threatened.

‘’Thomas, The Bully, I will give you a taste of your medicine. I will deal with you. Then you will realize you did not come to this school to bully others. Is it because Bode is not as big as you are?! You will have to follow me to the Staff Room!’’

Miss Juliet turned her eyes to where Bode sat. ‘’Wipe your tears. Everything will be fine.’’

Bode did as he was told.

Miss Juliet continued, as she was addressing Thomas: ‘’I will report you to other teachers. You will serve the punishment you deserve for the next fifteen minutes. This will serve as a lesson to others whose attitude is BULLYING!’’

She looked at her wrist-watch. ‘’it’s a few minutes to Break Time! Bode, go and have your break. But as for you, Thomas, The Bully, stand up and follow me! We are going to the Staff Room together.’’

Thomas Cried. ‘’I do not want to go there! Please Miss Juliet, do not take me there!’’

‘’Too late, Boy! Come with me!’’ Miss Juliet warned Bode: ‘’ Next time; learn to report issues like Thomas’ bullying attitude to me on time. Am I understood?’’

‘’Yes’’ Bode answered, happy like never before.

Miss Juliet dragged Thomas by the left hand to the Staff Room as Bode joined his peers to observe the break. Thomas served his punishment---his kneels touching the ground and hands up---for fifteen minutes.

For weeks, Miss Juliet took it upon herself to talk to Thomas on the need to stop the attitude of bullying. She influenced her colleagues to do same. Having taken her time to teach her pupils to avoid bullying or being bullied, Bode and Thomas became friends. Bode was never bullied again. Miss Juliet also took her time in teaching Bode how to be self-confident and be bold to withstand anyone who wants to bully him. Bode was never afraid of anyone, no matter the physique.