“Where ya goin lil fella” tormented Dennis. “Football” replied
Jack hesitantly. Whenever fella was included in one of Dennis’ sentences the
ending was never good. Sure enough this was no exception, Dennis stepped in
front of the exit. Jack eventually ended up doing something he would regret for
the rest of his life. Jacks’ popularity couldn’t do anything to save him.
Dennis had chosen his time carefully. 2:45. School was over there was no one in
school except him, Dennis and the other kids on the field. No witnesses for
Jack. The perfect situation for a bully like Dennis without many friends. Jack
tensed up. He rooted his foot into an offensive stance. Something he had picked
up in Karate. Unfortunately Jack had to be on the field in exactly one minute
and that was not going to happen if they kept staring at each other. AS Jack
pulled his hand up he already regretted it but there was nothing he could do to
stop it. His hand inched closer to Dennis’ face, both Jack and Dennis had a
face of astonishment. As Jacks’ right hand caused ripples on Dennis’, Dennis
let out a scream. He fell to the floor either from shock or pain. Jack let out
a gasp full of regret. He didn’t know what to do. He just walked down to the
field, with sweat in his hands, fear in his face and a head full of regret. As
he walked onto the turf, he was met by the coach. Coach spoke first saying “I’m
going to need it tomorrow, Jack, tomorrow.”
·
*
“Hey dad” said Jack as he
entered through the front door. ”Can you sign this ” asked Jack as he pulled
out a neatly folded piece of paper and handed it over to his dad. “Coach wants
it tomorrow and this time I’m tired of losing to Senfield”,”we’re going to win
this year”. Jack’s dad replied saying “Here you go and don’t forget to do your
Bio homework”. Jack replied by pulling out a clean white sheet of paper saying
“Already done it”, “I have practice tomorrow morning”. Jack didn’t mention
anything about Dennis. He wasn’t sure how his dad would react.
·
*
Jack observed the bending of
the grass that was blown gently by the breeze. The flowers swayed and trees shook
their leaves. To any other person it looked like a normal and rather beautiful
summer day, but not to Jack. He could tell that face from a mile away. The face
of Dennis Lutcher. Standing less than a meter from the football field he let
out a smile. “How’s your face” asked Jack who was immediately filled with
regret and stupidity. Dennis pulled out a book. Not any book. Jacks’ diary.
Jack was filled with shock , he stood there lifeless. That was when Dennis made
his move. He ran towards the entrance to school. The other kids weren’t going
to see that diary. Certainly not without a fight. Dennis was still catching up
with the other kids when a leg tripped him from behind. Dennis fell face flat
on the polished marble floor. Jack stood above him still retracting his leg. He
bent down and almost collapsed when he saw that there was no diary. Dennis
turned around with a lot of struggle, his lip was bleeding but he still uttered
the word “PAYBACK”. “FOR GODS’ SAKE CAN’T YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE FOR
ONCE??????WILL YOU EVER UNDERSTAND WHAT IT FEELS LKE TO BE ME? I MEAN SURE I
HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS BUT WHAT ABOUT WHEN I’M BEING BULLIED? YA’ THINK I LIKE
YOU BULLYING ME?” screamed Jack. He had had enough. “huh, what about me?
You ever think ’bout how I feel? I just wanted a friend and when I came to you,
you shut me out. You ever wonder how that felt?” said Dennis as he got up and
paced away. The exit door still swinging. Jack stopped. He was shocked. He
dragged himself home with hate. It took him a whole night to figure out what to
do.
·
*
The next morning he found
himself in Coach McKells room asking him for Dennis to be in his room. “It’s
either Dennis on the team or I’m leaving” exclaimed Jack. Coach was caught by
surprise, he said “but……Jack I can’t…””I QUIT” said Jack as he exited the
office. It took him longer than Jack had expected but it happened. “Dennis’s
number 8 and he better be good or you’re both out of the team” said coach. Jack
couldn’t help but smile.
·
*
“Dennis down the line”
screamed Jack as he played the ball through two defenders. Dennis understood
and he was chasing after the ball. With only the goalkeeper to pass, Dennis
slid the ball into the bottom corner of Senfield high school. ”YEAHHHHHHH” said
Dennis as he Brookland high school swarmed onto him. The match was over and
Dennis had scored the winning goal with only seconds left on the clock. “Good
job mate”said Jack. “Couldn’t have done it without you” replied Dennis.
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