The school day went by quickly. When it was time to do, Roddy smiled, grabbed his satchel, and ran out of the building. He was walking home, cautiously, when his phone beeped: it was Joe.

I am free today. When can we meet? – Joe

I just knocked off. – Roddy

I will come through at 5. Meet you at the gate. – Joe

What gate? – Roddy

Your place. – Joe

The bullies will be already there. It’s good. – Roddy

Don’t worry, I have a plan. – Joe

Roddy thought that Joe ‘s plan couldn’t work because they were outnumbered. He typed out a text message to Joe.

There are three of them, we can’t fight them.

He thought that Joe would think he was a sissy because he was behaving like a woman: he was scared and couldn’t fight back.

He deleted the message and never sent it: he decided to give Joe a chance. Maybe he could defend Roddy against the gang. He checked the time and saw that is was a quarter to four. He decided to buy himself a snack, so he could pass the time.

He bought a chocolate doughnut and a Coke. He ate his food slowly, and when he had finished, he checked the time: it was half past four. He stood up and walked out of the restaurant.

He put on his hoodie and started to slowly make the walk home. He didn’t notice Wendy, one of his friends from school, was calling him. When she got his attention, he crossed the road to be near her and Wendy grabbed his hand.

“Roddy, hey. Why are you in such a hurry?” she asked.

“Oh sorry, my mind is elsewhere. How are you?” he replied, checking his watch.

“Good. You seem miles away,” she said, concerned.

“Oh, yes, I have a meeting with a friend,” he replied, checking the road.

“We should meet here for lunch sometime. It’s been so long,” she said, hitting his shoulder with her fist.

“Yeah, I will let you know,” he crossed the road.

Wendy followed him, but he felt annoyed and didn’t want her to see what was going to happen between the bullies and him.

He reached the pavement and looked at Wendy. “You better go. I will holla at you,” he said and waved to her.

Wendy stood there, looking confused. Roddy checked if she was still following him but she was gone. He smiled and walked to the corner near his home. He peeked around the wall at the corner and saw James and his gang.

“Where is Joe?” he asked himself.

Joe came around the corner, but Roddy didn’t know that he was there, so it spooked him. Roddy wanted to scream but Joe covered his mouth with his hands.

“It’s me: I have a plan,” he said, and waved his hands to the left.

Roddy looked and saw three muscular men, coming out of a black car. Roddy’s mouth opened with surprise; he knew this was going to work. The three men walked up and stood beside them, and Joe began to tell them what to do. He had instructed Roddy to walk to his gate and act petrified. Roddy kept looking back at them but Joe kept throwing his hand with a serious face. Roddy decided to be confident and strong.

“Look who is coming,” Rasta said, alerting James.

They all looked furious and had creepy smiles on their faces. Roddy kept walking and pretended to be strong, but he couldn’t stop shaking.

James grabbed him and the rest of the gang started laughing.

“Where is my money?” James shouted.

“I…I…” Roddy was trembling.

“Look at him,” mocked James.

The gang laughed at him, bending over, laughing.

“You promised me money and now I am demanding to get it. I am your boss,” he said with an unpleasant smile.

Roddy kept trembling and looked towards the corner where Joe and his muscular men were. James suddenly noticed the way Roddy was looking behind him and looked in that direction. Joe and his friends hid quickly, and Roddy wanted it to be over and done with.

“What are you looking at?” James hissed. “You deserve a smack. Search him,” he continued, ordering his gang.

The gang of bullies held Roddy’s hands down and searched his pockets. He only had a 50 cent coin in his pocket, and James began raging with anger. He ordered his gang to hold Roddy down so he could beat him up. As James was punching him in the face, Roddy could taste blood coming from his mouth. He fell on the ground, holding his stomach with tears in his eyes.

***

Tell us: Why do you think Joe and his friends haven’t helped Roddy yet?