Being Courageous

"There goes the Wimp! What a loser!" Hugh and his friends would call out whenever Jimmy walked by. The rest of his friends would cackle and join in the raucous name-calling. There was nothing else Jimmy could do but sigh and chide himself for not having been vigilant enough to avoid Hugh and his gang. "How I wish I could grow a spine and stand up to that bully," Jimmy muttered to himself, wondering despairingly if the victimisation would ever come to an end.

It was time for recess. Jimmy sat on his seat quietly reading a book when he suddenly saw three shadows appearing on his table that looked like Hugh and the rest of his friends. "Why must it always be me? Can't it be someone else?" Jimmy thought to himself. His head hung low in disappointment. Hugh leaned over and glared at him with bulging eyes. Baring his teeth in an ugly snarl, he hissed, "Meet me at the playground after school. Do not come without thirty dollars. Understand?" Jimmy would have withered there and then. His quickening breaths caught in his chest.

“Ringgg!” the school bell rang. It was dismissal. Jimmy remembered what Hugh had said to him during recess. "I only have ten dollars now. What if I just go back home now and pretend that nothing happened?" Jimmy muttered to himself. another voice came in, ‘I would be dead meat tomorrow if I do not meet Hugh at the playground later, though.’ Jimmy was in a dilemma.

After a while, Jimmy finally made his decision. "I will just tell Hugh that I will pay him the twenty dollars tomorrow.

It is better late than never. Right? he muttered to himself. His heart pounded hard and fast as every step brought him closer to the playground. He paced up and down at the playground, stealing furtive glances for Hugh and his friends.

Once he reached the playground, Jimmy's heart skipped a beat upon seeing their arrival. "Where is my thirty dollars? Once I receive it, I will let you go." Hugh snapped.

"Oh no, I only have ten dollars with me now… but I will return you the remaining twenty dollars to-tomorrow!” Jimmy’s voice frozen in his throat as terror immobilised his vocal chords. Hugh's face turned red with anger. He clenched his fist and the veins on his arm and hand showed. He raised one hand and dealt a stinging blow on Jimmy's face. A red palm print appeared instantly.

"Ouch!" Jimmy holwed in pain. His eyes reddened and turned moist. He broke out into loud uncontrollable sobs which escalated into wails.

Little did they know there had been a passer-by who had watched the whole entire scene. She was completely bewildered by the sight. "Hey! Stop what you are doing now before I report this incident to your teachers!" bellowed the passer-by.

Hugh and his friends blinked continuously and stopped whatever they were doing. The passer-by unblinking eyes flashed with anger. "What are you doing to the poor boy? People your age should not be bullying others. Instead, you should go home and focus on your studies! Now, go home and leave this boy alone!" she snapped.

The three boys lowered their eyes and scampered off. After seeing them gone, Jimmy heaved a sigh of relief and could breathe more easily. "Are you ok ay? Your face seems very red." the passer-by questioned. "Yes, I am all right, all thanks to you. If you had not stood me up, I wonder what they would do to me! Thank you for being courageous and your help!" Jimmy said.