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Topic: Bullies (08/09/04)
TITLE: An Angel's Visit By Barbara Ann Smith 08/16/04 |
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The school bus arrives shortly after I get to the stop. I climb aboard, grab a seat close to the front and watch as the other kids walk pass me to other seats. As I look around, I'm the only one sitting alone, all the other seats are filled. I don't give it much thought thinking maybe it was an oversight on their part. The rain is splattering against the window of the bus and as it crookedly streams down the window I try to figure out what image it looks like. I'm deep in thoughts when a jerk of my hair causes me pain and I think, "Oh, I've caught my hair in the crease of the seat." I reach my hand under my hair bring it around to see if it's stuck. Suddenly, a yank at my hair again, I turn to see the boy who was making fun of my hair pulling his hand away. I turn back and continue to look out of the window and he pulls my hair all the way to school. My head is aching but I don't dare look at him.
When the bus gets to school, I jump off and start to walk up the walkway to the school's entrance. I'm unaware he is behind me, he speeds up and sticks his foot out to trip me, and I fall down. All the kids are sniggering, poking fun at me and one of the older kids makes an oink, oink sound and calls me Miss Peggy. I can feel a pain like a knife stabbing into my chest the insult hurts so badly. I can't believe this is happening to me, I haven't done a thing to any of these kids. They pass me in laughter and none of them stop to assist me. I get up, my dress is wet and I've broken a strap on my sandal. I want to cry but I remember a passage I'd learned in Sunday School, "God is with thee in all that thou doest," I brush myself off and hold my head high and walk to the school's entrance. I whisper a prayer, "God, give me strength to make it through this day."
It was shortly after lunch period and I saw someone bring a note to the teacher. She looked up, "Emily Murphy raise your hand please and come forward to accompany this lady to the principal's office." I was trembling all over; I'd never been in the principal's office. I slowly walk into his office, there sits the boy and the kids who had called me those awful names. The principal said, "Young man someone saw you pull Emily's hair this morning and also saw you trip her on the sidewalk. They heard these other kids snickering and making fun of her as she was on the ground. I've called each of your parents and none of you will be allowed back into this school until accompanied by your parents, along with a written fifty-word apology and, on assembly day each of you will be called to the podium to apologize to Emily in front of the entire school and, if this ever happens again you'll be permanently suspended. Now, each of you walk up here and address her with an apology."
My days at the stop are now trouble free and I have a lot of friends to sit by me on the bus. I know God sent an angel to watch over me that day and I'm thankful I remembered His words, "God is with thee in all that thou doest." (Genesis 21:22)