James and his gang were standing outside Roddy’s home and saw Roddy walking with Sophia. They walked backwards, hoping Roddy wouldn’t have noticed that they were waiting for him. James thought that if he did anything suspicious, the woman would call for help and they wouldn’t get their demands. Roddy saw them sneaking away from him, so he started walking as if he was super powerful. Sophia wasn’t aware of what was happening behind her, she only opened the gate and walked into the house: Roddy followed her, smiling at James, who lifted his fists up in response. James and his crew walked away.

Roddy was happy that Sophia saved him today. After settling on the couch, Sophia handed him juice and some rolls with tomato and cheese.

“Thank you, Sophia,” he smiled.

“You’re welcome. You sound much happier than you were earlier,” she stared at him.

“You did great today,” he said, sipping his juice.

“Don’t I always do great?” she asked, baffled.

Roddy stood up, holding his plate and glass. Sophia frowned and grabbed the plate and glass. She clicked her tongue twice and walked to the kitchen. Roddy stared at her and knew he had to say something to her about the bullies. She did everything for him, from laundry to cooking, so he knew she would try to help him.

“Sophia, you are the best; you know I can’t survive without you. Thank you for everything,” he said, following her.

“Thank you, I never thought you noticed anything. I remember where I used to work before I found work here; they never appreciated me. Your parents are good people,” she chuckled.

Roddy felt that it was best to tell Sophia about his bullies.

“Sophia, there are some bullies who always wait at the gate after school,” he confided.

“You mean those jerks we saw?” she asked, concerned.

“Did you see them?” he asks, puzzled.

“Do you think I am stupid? I could sense that something was up the way you were walking,” she said, rubbing his shoulder.

“I thought you didn’t see them,” he said.

“Report them to the authorities,” she suggested.

“I can’t…It will make things worse,” he said, petrified.

He walked to his bedroom, annoyed. He had hoped Sophia would help him without involving the police. He knew that that would only make it worse: what if James sent someone else to torture him while he was in jail? He threw himself on the bed and covered his head with a pillow, crying silently.

Sophia passed his bedroom and saw that Roddy was already asleep, so she walked to her bedroom and dozed off after thinking about Roddy’s situation.

Birds were chirping in the trees behind Roddy’s bedroom window but it wasn’t until a dog started barking loudly that Roddy woke up. He wiped his eyes and looked at the watch on the wall: it was already past seven! He rushed to the bathroom and took a quick shower. He threw on the first outfit that he could find and ran out of the house. He didn’t notice Sophia sitting on the patio.

“What about breakfast?” she called out, but Roddy was already running down the street.

She sighed and took her tray with food back in the kitchen and put Roddy’s plate in the microwave.

Luckily, Roddy didn’t meet James in the street. He quickly dashed into his class, and sighed in relief when he saw that the lecturer wasn’t in yet.

Tell us: If you were Sophia, what would you tell Roddy to do about his bullies?