He waits impatiently on the corner
for the school bus to arrive
Once on, he sits quietly in the front seat
the one behind the driver
His only solace between the now and
the final destination

The bus stops
and the children run forward
anxious to catch up with their friends
He is the last one off
trembling as he makes his way down the steps
Nothing to shield him from the harsh words
he knows await him through the doors

They call him names, and pull at his clothing
they harass and tease, they torment and hound
while others look on, and laugh and point
and do nothing to stop this persecution

He will not report this to his teachers
for fear of retaliation
He cannot tell his parents
they do not understand it is not a phase
instead, he hides it within

Until the rage builds
and his only option is vengeance
And when he fights back and claims his place
he then becomes the bully.

Tell your children it’s okay to tell a teacher, a parent, a friend, if someone is harassing them or even one of their classmates.  Then take a stand for your own child.  As a mother of a bullied child, I can tell you there is no greater pain.  Don’t sit back and let it go…make a difference.  For more information on stopping bullying, visit http://www.stopbullying.gov/

©2014 Dorinda Duclos  All Rights Reserved