He was a little guy. One of the smallest kids in the class. He had curly, fire red hair, the most shocking green eyes, and glasses. Everyday he walked to and from school, along a dangerous route. In his school there was a gang of boys who were of the worst sort. Always picking on him, and to his disappointment, took the same route as him.
It all started in 1st grade, kept going for 4 more years. Everyday, the teasing. the taunting... the pain. He begged his parents to do something, his dad said he just needed to be a man and deal with it. Smaller and smaller inside he grew, he walked with a shuffle, he never looked at anyone. No one knows his pain, he was so alone. He asked the gang to leave him alone, but that just made it worse.
His 10th birthday came, he never had a party, he never had friends. His parents gave him a brand new baseball bat, for he loved to play the game. That day he took it with him to school, to play in the field, alone. He was walking home alone, treasuring that bat.
Out of the trees, five of the toughest boys in that gang jumped out. Surrounding him and his treasured bat. ''Hey fire-top, where'd ya get that bat huh? Looks pretty nice, why don't you give it to us.'' The largest one leered. The little boy shook his head and tried to keep walking, two of the gang blocked his way. He tried going around but they pushed him down onto the gravel. He stared at them, all the years of hurt and abuse sparking in his eyes. Standing up he gripped the bat in his hand. He swung it at the gang, making the air whiz with the force. The gang jumped back in surprise, ''Whoa now little guy, don't be swinging it like that, you're gonna hurt someone.''
He swung again, smacking the leader across the head. The leader fell over and lay still, blood trickling onto the dirt. The boy gripped the bat tighter and glared at the other four, his eyes hard and cold. They scattered as the boy wiped off the bat and kept walking home, trembling with anger.
The next day he left the bat at home, just in case. After school he walked home slowly, lost in thought. Out of the shadows jumped a large, guy, nearly a man. He twisted the boy's arms behind his back as a second teen jumped in front of him. Both teen's faces hardened with anger. ''You cracked a bat across my little brothers head did you? You'll pay for that.'' The older teen started to punch the poor boy hard, hurting all over his body as he trembled and screamed with pain. They broke his jaw, and then some. They bloodied him, bruised him, till he was motionless and completely helpless.
They left him, lying on the road, his arm was broken, a few ribs, his was bloodied and bruised. When he opened his eyes, he couldn't move. He cried to himself, pain and anguish in his soul as he tried to get up, but he couldn't. An old man came out of the trees and kneeled by him, ''I saw what happened, sonny. Lets get you to the hospital and I'll call your parents.'' The boy nodded slightly, his face twisted with pain.
At the hospital his mother and father stayed by their son. His mother was crying and holding onto his hand, his father looked at him sadly, ''I'm sorry we didn't listen to you sooner. Don't worry, you'll never have to deal with them again.'' The boy stared up at his father questioningly. His father shook his head and sat down in a hospital chair, watching his only son.
When he got out of the hospital, he went to school twice, but his father drove him, the next day he was gone. No one knew where he went. No one knew why.
But you and I know, he left that town, and never went back, the abuse, the torment, was too much. Maybe he could've stayed. Maybe he could've had friends. But no one believed him, till it was too late, and now he is gone... Don't let this happen to anyone else. Be there, be strong...
