Ordinary Days, Finding The Joy

When the alarm sounded at 7:00am, I wasn’t so much ready to begin the day.  A Saturday morning I’d rather sleep in until noon and just be lazy.  Things were just not meant to be ORDINARY today…

So first it’s off to Knoxville to take Garret to Sylvan Learning. A nice drive it was early in the morning around 8:30 as traffic was light, people were smiling as they passed by, those friendly Tennessee folks I adore. The sun was shining bright and the temperature was rising by 9:00am as I sat outside waiting on Garret’s session to end. Two hours of waiting equals two hours of catching up on friends blog post, then sneaking in a chapter or three of my latest read.

Time went by relatively fast as I got involved into the reading. Soon, he was finished and we were out of there. Plans to grocery shop and get home were the most clearest in my mind.  The drive back to Clinton was more pleasant today than most. Seriously, people were smiling today everywhere I looked.  Actually had a Policeman wave at us when we came through town. Now you know that’s not ordinary….or maybe it is in a small town.

I was loading groceries in the Explorer when Garret asked if we could go to the playground at the park later, so I thought since it was such a pretty day, why not!  This is where the ORDINARY day changed.

Now we go to the park often and there’s always something going on in the park. It could be baseball, soccer, tennis or basketball. But today, it was a Horse Show! It wasn’t advertised, just the annual event which takes place the first Saturday of June every year, but this year it was moved up a weekend because of the famous Clinch River Classic Softball Tourney held the first weekend of June at the ballpark.

 

I love the Clinch River Classic and enjoyed playing in it myself for many years, yet today my interest was clear in the form of horses…..everywhere!  When we parked, Garret immediately ran to the fence, losing all interest himself in the playground.  Horse trailers were coming in and unloading some of the most beautiful horses. One in particular caught my eye, a raven black beauty, his coat so shiny I couldn’t take my eyes off him. A younger man, mid twenties, smiled at us as we gazed at his horses taking pictures through the chain link fence. He asked if I wanted to come closer to take pictures and pet them. I was shocked but heeded his offer speedily, going over to the black beauty first.

I know most people would say the aroma of horses, hay and some manure is a terrible smell, but I for one enjoy the scents of being around the farm, so to speak. There are no words to express the feeling I had touching the big horse. He was of gentle nature, friendly and feisty both!  I drew myself close to him remembering the smell of my horse Midnight, I had as a child. The resemblance was close but this horse was much larger.  “He’s a barrel racer, loves to compete and can be a bit of a show off as well,” the young man quaintly stated. I truly believe this horse could be all those things as his eyes reflected dark blue in the sunlight.

“You wanna ride him?”, the man said. Well, I thought about my back, then without hesitation I replied, “Heck Yeah!” I didn’t even need a boost as I planted my foot in the stirrups, lifting myself up like it was a common thing!  There was this moment while sitting in the saddle when I closed my eyes and knew this was no ORDINARY day. This was the kind of day you think is going to be ordinary, but it goes from ordinary to grand in moments. I rode for only a few minutes, not wanting to tire him with an event coming, but I truly hated to dismount. The young man helped me off and I gave the horse a big hug, thanking him for a pleasant, short ride.  “Joker”, his name is Joker the man told me, introducing himself as Adam.  Nice to meet you, Adam. I’m  Wanda, and this is Garret. We shared some small talk for a few minutes then I took a few more photos.

“Show starts at six, head over and watch Joker, Nitro & Stone run the poles & barrels”, Adam spoke in a tone of friendship. Advising him, I’m sure we’ll be back to enjoy the show & thanking him for allowing us to get close to the horses & for letting me ride. A gracious smile emerged and a “you’re welcome” followed.

Garret and I headed to the coral to look at the other horses which were all preparing for the event. I snapped photos as I could but mostly, I enjoyed the moment of beauty surrounding us. We looked around for about an hour then headed home to eat, then took the hubby lunch early, so we could make the 6:00pm start time.

I met several new people today & this evening.  We had such a great time talking and enjoying the events.  I hope if anything one can take from this, it would be to make each day un-ordinary, find the joy out there to make you smile and renew your spirit inside. The feeling is

Supercalifrigalisticsuperaladociois!!!

Any day can be ordinary, if you let it be ordinary.  Today was definitely not ordinary to me. It may have started with the dimmer light of ordinary, but the brightness of the day has ended in a beautiful bliss in knowing, it was an ordinary day filled with joy. Find the JOY in your ordinary day tomorrow and make it EXTRAORDINARY!

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Winds Review by Erik Nelson

Speaking from a “Northern’s” perspective, I can tell that the south is a beautiful place. Not just because the weather is usually warmer than the north but because the actual environment of the south is a nice place. I’m not getting this perspective just from the media by watching movies or reading books that are being set in the south.
My grandparents live in Arkansas and every time I go to visit them, I feel very comfortable. Not just because I’m with my grandparents. Even when I’m outside of their home and I’m in a different part of Arkansas, I feel like I’m right at home. Speaking of reading books based on the south, I came across an author on Twitter by the name of Wanda Smith.
After we got to talking, she told me about her book, “Summer Winds”. As I was reading it, I felt as if it was a more romanticized version of “To Kill A Mockingbird”. Or maybe even a more innocent version of the movie “Sling Blade.” I didn’t bring up that book and movie just because they were set in the south. I did so because all three of them took a huge dedication into making their characters more realistic, their plots more interesting as well as their settings to be more lively.
In “Summer Winds”, I felt as if the great state of Tennessee was like another character, not just the setting. Wanda Smith not only devoted her time to create a great story but she also made sure that the setting was a real place. She didn’t have to do a lot of research because Tennessee is where she lives. Basically, the story centers around a girl named Sunshine. At fourteen, she enters the world of puppy love with the aide of tragic situations. However, more tragic situations separates her and her new boyfriend.
Of course not all of her love is lost since she’s got the support of her family but of course, family love and romantic love are apples and oranges. As more realistic situations combined with more tragic situations occur, we get the feeling that this is not the usual boy meets girl romantic story and it isn’t. Wonder why? Pick up the book and you’ll see what I mean.
As I said before, Wanda Smith did a great job at not only creating a great story with great characters, she also made the setting so realistic, it makes you think that the setting is another character. Wanda Smith also broke ground by not just having a happy go lucky romantic story, she gave us a realistic romantic story. If you’re into romantic stories no matter if you admire fairy tales or realistic, pick this one up! You are for sure to like it. You can follow Wanda Smith on Twitter @brknsunshine or like her on Facebook.

Disintegrate, A Short Story of Bullying

 

 Disintegrate

************************

Leigh…..Before I Fall

************************

        Leigh couldn’t take it anymore. To discuss the issues with her Mom or Dad were out of

the question.  Roaming aimlessly through the park on her way home from school she

stopped to sit on the decaying wood park bench to ponder those things which had

engulfed her mind to the point of just doing away with herself, escaping the long days of

hell.  The friends she had known since grade school now shunned her out of fear they

also would face the irony of the bullying she had dealt with for over a year.

         That first year of Middle school where different Elementary schools joined into a Middle

School with so many different kinds of kids.  Culture clashes everyone said, but it wasn’t

culture clashes, it was oh so much more.  Most of the kids were okay she’d thought but

those darker classmates which hung out in the halls being rude, degrading and abusive

to most everyone around were not the standard.  A group of undeniable troubled youths

which had in whole, created a gang like following who harassed others endlessly.  To pass through

the hall to go anywhere outside of class, the group seemed to lurk waiting to create a problem.  At first it

was annoying to her but it soon became firm she was the target and it had since turned

into a fight to survive each day without being hit, cursed and sometimes tortured with

words and phrases until she would run fast to escape their voices.  Endless media post

on social media made her close all accounts trying to end their constant badgering.

Nothing seemed to work.  Mockery was a constant breathing entity which permeated

their daily task.  The year had taken its toll on Leigh, the point of giving up arrived.

           The old wooden bench was more comfort than her own bed she thought as hot tears

graced her face.  “Why am I the center of their fucking abuse?  Why did they single me

out in the first place?”  Leigh, sat crying alone allowing her thoughts to run rampant not

knowing what to do next.  In the dark recesses of her mind she was thankful it was

Friday and wouldn’t have to face them for two whole days.  Her thoughts were deeper

than escaping the bullying, it was the thoughts of escaping life which had overcome her

state of mind.  A short smile etched her face as she felt safe at the moment.  A moment

which wasn’t to last long.

         Her attention was drawn to a noise which startled her, recognizing its familiarity.  The

sudden jump of her heart told her the peace she had found momentarily had ended.

Unknowing of how to prepare for the on sought of more abuse to come, she inhaled

deeply in preparation for what she knew would be a battle of one against three.  Diligent

in her forethought, she was ready, almost pleased the group was within her sight as she

watched them approach.

       Three young girls, the girls who had bullied her over the past year, clad with their arms

linked together, bouncing toward Leigh happily to seize yet another encounter to

demoralize her.

*****************************

Katie…..The Unexpected Loss

*****************************

       Coming from wealth or simply having the benefits of a parents monetary uses, Katie

once was a sweet kindly girl.  In her early years of school her parents had been in

every aspect of her life from ballet to sporting events.  Shortly after she turned 10, her

parents divorced and fought brutally for who would have custody of her.  She had been

changed through the experience, creating an endless tunnel of hate for each parent who

had no regard for what she wanted which was simply a family.  She had shown signs of

rage to both parents but neither recognized the things they had already done left a mark

on Katie’s mental state.  She felt alone, abandoned by those who claimed to love her to

death, not being there for her anymore.   At now 13, she had learned to adapt in ways to extract

revenge of spite on her parents by getting into trouble.  Petty things as shoplifting,

hoping they or at least one would show her the love she desired to have.  A child herself

walking alone, uncared for really. Katie had her own perceptions of motherhood,

fatherhood and neither of hers fit the bill. On the occasion when she was arrested for

petty theft, it was a stranger in an attorney sent to bail her out.  Neither parent has

shown interest in aiding her.  The incident was washed under the table by a fancy

attorney, leaving her yet again to feel the neglect, the absence of love she had known

for so many years before.  The inability for her parents to see her cries for love, help,

understanding had been washed away in a bitter divorce.  The same cries which had

brought her to deal with the aches in her own mind and how to deal with feeling tossed

aside in life.

         Katie had now allowed her own hate of the situation with her parents manifest into a

brutal lashing of anyone who got in her way.  She targeted the quite kids in school, those

which ignored her and her friends existence as much as possible.  She had rallied with a

couple of girls in similar likeness of her own self, ones which exhibited issues of anger,

selflessness and the battle had begun.  Nothing would stand in the way of making others

pay for their heartaches which were buried inside themselves.

**************************

Abigale…..The Loner

**************************

       Abigale was a mild mannered kid coming from a prominent family in the community.  Although

her parents were together, they focused more on their older son, Trey, the football star

and all around sports extraordinaire.  Abby, as her friends called her, had never enjoyed

sports and voiced openly she had no desires for such things.  She was a book-worm.

Her studies kept her atop the highest members of academics but at home this wasn’t

near as important as Trey’s chance for a scholarship in sports.  It never seemed to

matter what she did as long as her appearance was at dinner.

      The things she did never mattered so sneaking out at night to meet up with Katie and

Lori was never known to her parents.  Their attention was so guided elsewhere, Abby felt

no worry of being missed.  She had debated the thought of killing herself to see if they’d

notice she was even gone.  It was when she had met Katie and Lori her life changed and she

had found a purpose.  Someway and some one to help through her own struggles by being a bully

like Katie and Lori.  She had choices but the bond of having someone care she

was alive was what had drawn her to them.  The beginning of a series of ruthless bullying

to many others on a daily basis.  Although many individuals were targets for them, the

three had targeted one poor soul, Leigh, and made all efforts to make her days a living

nightmare.

      With no one to talk to about her inner feelings, meeting Katie and Lori had made her

feel complete, not a useless girl who had little to look forward to anymore until the trio

had banded their miseries together.

******************************

Lori….Battered and Bruised

******************************

       It was shocking to know the events which had plagued Lori since she was four.  Child

abuse was a mild thing to assume after knowing her deep heart and the adversity she

had to face at a young age.  Her Mom was the only parent she knew since her Father

had left them.  She saw little of he mom as she worked two jobs leaving Lori no one to

talk to.  Times when all the things she’d remembered happening to her came flooding

back into her mind and rage was its way out.  Breaking things had become routine but in

banding together as a trio with Katie and Abigale, it somehow had given her a new

outlet to express the inner anger.  Rage so powerful from a youth one would be afraid as

an adult to deal with her in the state of anger she faced more often than not.  The sexual

abuse she had encountered years prior, had grown to make her a walking time bomb

and the switch was ready to be thrown.  The lashing out at males at school should have

triggered some adult to know there was an underlying issue needing help and begging

for it, yet it was left unchecked.

       Nothing was going to stop the intervention of this trio from making others lives a living

hell because theirs was not as it should be.  As with any issue eating away in the mind of

an unstable youth, Lori had found no outlet to aid her anger but had found two friends

which enjoyed the same line of misdoings and was thrilled to accompany and entertain

any idea which came to make another miserable.

********************************

The Outsider…..Looking in

********************************

         I’m the one looking in.  Searching somehow to find an avenue to this behavior in an

effort to help either of the four.  My thoughts spring into Leigh, a girl filled with fear

knowing or feeling she had no one to help her.  l see the fear in her eyes, a chilling vision

overwhelming to my own self, unimaginable to how she must feel inside as the trio of Katie,

Abby and Lori approached through the chain linked gate.

          Instinct? Instantly, I thought what would Leigh do? Run? Stand up to them? What recourse

did she have at this point? My mind rushed with many scenarios as I watched them get closer to Leigh.

          Katie spoke first. “What the hell are you doing tramp? Are you fucking lost bitch”? She

thrashed at Leigh.

Leigh looked at her with eyes so cold I could see the frost of her hot breath drift from her

lips.  The dark hoodie sweat shirt she wore was tightened as her hands were placed in the front pockets

pulling it downward.  Moments passed then Leigh stood up, facing Katie within inches of

her body.

          Abby, giggled as she spoke, “Oh I see the bitch is going to get fucking brave now”, she

bellowed smartly as Lori stood there motionless.  The mouthy Katie continued her farce,

taunting Leigh relentless with her abusive language.  Leigh stood speechless letting her

run her mouth.  I felt something in that moment, a moment which turned the tide of the

situation.  I sensed the road had come to a fork, the decisions from this point would be

determined by the driver which I felt had shifted to Leigh being in the driver’s seat.

         Leigh had sat so quietly on the bench studying her own thoughts, grasping her

backpack as if it were her sole possession left in life.

          She had issues at home but she had two parents willing to do anything for her, yet she

had never once mentioned the bullying which had gone on for over a year.  When her

grades had dropped, her parents had offered to get her a Tudor to help but Leigh

insisted she’d do better next semester.  She had understood fully the fact not much

improvement had come about since her mind constantly followed the angle of what the

bullies would do next.  She knew there was no reasoning behind being singled out.  It was

just a dastardly game the bullies played continually on her, trying to break her will power.  All

the days, weeks, months and now over a year had taken its toll on the young mind of

Leigh.  She had sat contemplating on the bench her next move as she heard the voices

of the girls approaching.  It would be only a matter of minutes now, before the situation

turned to a pitfall of loss I thought.

        Looking inside the globe unable to step in and help, my nails were bleeding from biting

them so deep into the skin.  Small drips of blood gliding down my forefinger allowed me to feel

the hearts of the girls gathered now around Leigh like a boxing match ready to proceed.

I prayed for intervention of the situation.

        Although each girl had their own unique issues of problems, the manifestation of each

one individually had made the scene at the moment volatile.  I had a blast of scenarios

cross my thought processes of how this would end.  The eventual outcome would leave me

mindful of the will power one person can hold in such a situation.

*****************

Revolution

*****************

         The dense lighting in the park made the setting a cold dynamic place as Leigh

positioned herself standing face to face with Katie, not backing away from the apparent leader of the pack.

Fear was no longer expressed on the face of Leigh as it was thirty minutes ago.

The chatter of cursing from the bullies had strengthened her to the point it was now or

never.  Katie pushed Leigh trying to spark a defensive movement but Leigh shuffled back

around instantly, facing Katie with eyes of fire.

         Lori seemed to be frightened at the moment, unsure of the situation to come or maybe

feeling a change in Leigh.   Abby had become quite as well, allowing Katie to take the

lead.

     Leigh spoke in a normal tone, looking Katie directly in the eye.  She repeated in a

breathless grunt, “once is all I will ask.”

       Stunned at the words from Leigh, yet determined to remain in charge, Katie threw a punch

missing Leigh only by inches.  Leigh grabbed her arm quickly and twisted it with force as

Katie’s knees buckled to the ground.  Lori nor Abby flinched, shocked at the moment

Leigh had forced Katie down.  It was so silent you could hear the soft wind rustle the

newly falling brown leaves across the grass.  A moment locked in time not knowing

which way things were going to go at this point.

        It was shear fear which hit both Lori and Abby, leaving Katie to face whatever Leigh had

in mind at the moment.  From the silence broke a soft, gentle voice.

Leigh spoke clear in a soft stable whisper. ” Tonight one of us will die.  I’m unsure if it

will be I or one of you or all of us,” her words gaining the attention of the trio of bullies.

         The three were helpless as Leigh had reached behind her and exposed a handgun.

Katie was still on her knees, her teeth chattering in fright as Leigh’s words touched her ears.

“Why would you say one of us will die?”, Katie asked nervously while Lori and Abby had

not even the sense to flee.

       Leigh had dealt with her indecision of what to do, how to go forward in this case unable

to tolerate the bullying any further.  Her thoughts rambled of her friends who

disassociated themselves from her because of the endless bullying of the three girls.

How they began to grow farther away from her, fearing they would be targets as well.

Her voice was not harsh, more gentle and kind as she answered Katie’s question.

“I took my Father’s gun this morning, my full intentions were to come here and just end

my own misery of the maddening effects you three have had on me.  Your undying ability

to text me, call me, push, shove, slap, spit, destroy things of mine to a point I no longer

wished to live.  Death must be better than going through one more minute of your under

minding plan to mock me, or make me feel inhuman, unwanted.  So I feel this was your

main purpose, your eventual goal, to see me crumble and take my own life.  I feel since

you have worked so hard, for so long to get me here, shouldn’t you three have the

pleasure of watching it?”

       The words Leigh spoke had Lori in tears and Abby was so unaware as

 the horrific fear she might be seeing in minutes consumed her and she could hardly breath.

Katie, still on her knees with Leigh looking at her with no expression on her face, began

to tremble in the fear she had bestowed upon Leigh for so long.  Leigh wasn’t through

with her speech although.  The trio would explain what it was which gave them the right

or made them torture her to this moment.

“Tell me Katie, what did I do to deserve your tongue, you insidiously crude remarks?”

Leigh, still soft in her tone voiced to Katie.

        Katie, still pressed with her knees on the ground had nothing to say as the tears rapidly

ran down her face.  Her head nodded sideways as to acknowledge she didn’t know.

“Lori”, Leigh asked in a normal tone, “do you have an answer for me?  If I am to take my

life, shatter my brains here on all three of you, I want to be sure you carry the memory

of what you have put me through that drove me to this for the rest of your lives”, Leigh stated

without blinking.

       There was only a short, very low response as Lori managed to speak, ” I don’t know, it

was kind of like a game, Leigh,” Lori answered quietly with her head hung low facing the

ground, afraid to make eye contact.

       Leigh looked at Abby but no question was put to her, she cried profusely, knowing the

situation had become one neither of them had ever expected.  Abby was the one Leigh could

not understand at all.  Their families were friends and they attended the same Church.

This alone had driven in Leigh’s mind an inability to understand the purpose of

things Abby had engaged in with the others.  Regardless of any answer Abby could offer,

it had no reverence now.

         “Get up, sit down on the bench all three of you,” Leigh demanded.

“I want you all to be proud of what you have done, where you’ve finally pushed me to, I

need you to embrace my full meaning when I tell you it is you three which have

determined my fate and I pray you can live with that,” Leigh spoke as if she had scripted

the whole event, like she knew this moment was forthcoming tonight.

         The silence was deafening, only the smell and taste of fear itself lingered in the night

air.  A silence saying one beautiful girl would end her life in the moments to come

because Katie, Abby and Lori had pushed her to the edge of no return.

*****************

Broken Silence

*****************

        Lori’s voice was gravelled, almost in a stuttering mode when she broke the silence with

her voice. “Leigh, I cannot tell you why I have done anything which has already taken

place, I have no answer other than maybe following a crowd.  I have not the words to

begin to apologize but I will only say, it is not necessary to do this to yourself,” Lori went

silent after speaking, holding her head down in the shame of the revelations of how her

own actions affected another.

“So I am to take that for all the things you did personally, you are sorry, so I can think

twice about killing myself?” Leigh asked almost in a laughing voice.

“But did you act alone, Lori.?” Leigh questioned.

No response came from Lori.  The silence remained as they all thought of the time frame

in which they were in.  One stood ready to end their life at her own hand because of the

shear pain and torture from the three on the bench.  Time passed so slow.

        The darkness had covered the dimly lit park area and the hours had passed

unknowingly to all as time was not an issue considered by Leigh.  Her only concern was

relief from the pain inside herself.  She meant no harm to the trio of bullies, yet felt inside

her mind the venues of change.

        Katie stood to face Leigh, mocking her, taunting her she hadn’t the guts to do such

bullshit, telling her to do it if it was her wish.  Leigh looked at her intently, allowing her

mind to sort the leaders from the followers.  Abby was past the point of functioning now.

The fear bestowed on her face was that of a deer in the headlights look, unable to

move, barely able to breathe.  Katie’s face grew pale as Leigh stared at her.  A point in

time she realized Leigh was not joking, she was more than ready to show her audience

what their own acts had driven her to.  She sat back down then spoke in a mannered

voice to Leigh.

“Leigh, this is crazy.  For whatever I have done to you over this past year, it was

insidious and without any provocation from you.  It was just like a game at first.  A way to

amuse myself for not being loved or treated as I felt I should have.  I pulled Abby & Lori

into my circle.  I’m not saying I forced them but they followed my lead,” Katie spoke in a

frightened tone.

“Do you have any idea how I have felt for this whole fucking year, how I hated the night

to end because I knew I would see your pathetic faces at school? The fear of going out

to something as simple of a movie was taken from me, fearing a run in with you.  You three

have driven me to the point I wish not to live another day.  I want to leave this world and

put an end to the misery of simply being alive.  I never shared what I have went through

with my family, I love them dearly but to share what I feel with them wasn’t possible.  I

know they love me, they would move mountains for me.  I’m just a normal girl, not so

different from either of you.  I know doing this will hurt my parents deeply.  This decision

is mine.  It just happened by chance you three came to the park.  I didn’t need an

audience but since fate placed you here, maybe it’s time you see what your actions do

to others.  As you watch me die, I want you to have the image of your bullying planted

deep into your minds.  An image you will never forget.  And in ten or fifteen years down

the road,  when you have children, remember how you treated me and I will pray

this never happens to another person, even your own children.

***************

Revelation…..

***************

          A short time passed in silence.  No movements from Katie, Lori, Abby or Leigh.  A stance of

monuments they were. No words.  The sounds of heavy breathing had even subsided.  The girls watched

Leigh closely, expecting something at any moment.  They had each realized inside themselves what they had done.

       Leigh held the small handgun she had taken from her Father’s nightstand in her hand,

glaring at it, studying its outlines with her fingertips.  Her breath was creating a soft white

mist in the brisk air of the fall night.  She paced in short circles as the other girls sat

closer on the bench, huddled together in the nights chill, unsure in the next moment

what would happen.

       Leigh placed the gun closer to her chest….figuring if she hit her heart it would be an

instant death.  She didn’t want to shoot herself in the head, knowing her parents would

be grieving over her suicide was enough for her to leave her head intact.  The inability to

view her after death from a marred face etched a picture inside her head even she

could not imagine. Her own thoughts whirled in different directions as she comptemplated

what she was going to do.

       She thought of her Mom, how she tried to always give her

confidence.  She wondered if she would have shared this mess with her, could it have

end differently?  She had no answers, only to end the misery of her normal being.  She

was ready.

        Leigh looked at the three girls, tears flowing from their faces out of fear she was sure.

“I have no intentions of hurting you all, I just find it befitting you should watch the end

result of your work,” Leigh spoke whispering in a solemn voice.

Not one sound came from the once mighty trio who had for so long managed to make

her life hell on Earth.

       Leigh raised her arm with the gun in hand pressing it to her chest.  She said a short

silent prayer and spoke only the uttering words, “Forgive me, Lord.”

Katie jumped from the bench in a flying leap to grab Leigh and the silence was broken

with a single shot which rang loudly in the quiet park.  Two bodies lay on the ground

unmoving.  Lori and Abby stood breathless knowing Leigh had done it.  They were changed

instantly to different people.

      Katie’s arms moved to the side as she lifted off of Leigh, still lying on the ground.  Blood

was evident on the ground where her head laid.  The trio gasped at the site, knowing

inside their actions had caused a beautiful young girl to put an end to their self-inflicted

misery.

       Katie screamed to call 911.  Neither girl would touch Leigh as the fear had manifested to

the point they could not move.  Each one, looking at the other were ashamed at their past actions,

and knew all to well their lives were forever changed by their own actions. They embraced each other tightly,

waiting for help to arrive, not afraid to explain the circumstance of the events which had

happened to the Police soon to arrive.

“Why did it have to come to this, why didn’t we stop ourselves from being bullying

Leigh?”, Abby spoke nervously to the others.

Lori looked at Katie for a moment then asked, ” Why did you jump on her, Katie?”

Katie stood looking at Leigh, lying on the ground and took off her jacket and laid it over her

chest.

“Maybe I thought I could stop her, save her, something.  She was right you know.  We

had no reason to do what we did.  Leigh never did anything.  We targeted her, I targeted

her.  I take full responsibility for this.” Katie advised.

          The sound of sirens were distant but getting closer as each second passed.

The flashing lights gave realization to the fact Leigh had taken her own life from their

actions.  Actions which could never be reversed.  A lifetime of living with their actions over

the past year.  The cost of bullying.  The shame they will carry in their years ahead,

living in the fear for their children one day.  Each one remembering the words Leigh had spoken, and

surely never would forget them.

     The Paramedics worked with Leigh while asking the girls who she was, her parents name. Things

to help aid them in getting medical attention to her.  Abby knew her family well. They

attended the same Church ironically.  It was a revelation for her realizing what damage

they had done, knowing forgiveness may never come from their families, the

community.

“Can someone tell me what happened,” the Officer asked of the girls.

Katie stood forward to begin to tell the whole story, the truth of the story.  The Officer

wrote quickly as Katie informed him of all the events of the year and those of the last few hours.

“Do you understand you could have been killed trying to stop someone from doing

this?”, the Officer asked.

“Yes, but honestly, it would have been me deserving death, not Leigh.  I am solely

responsible for her death”, Katie explained

“Well, I’m not sure she is dead Miss,” the Officer explained. “She has a trauma head

injury but no apparent bullet wounds”.

“But, the gun fired when I jumped on her, it clearly fired”, Katie exclaimed.

The gurney passed by them and Leigh’s head was wrapped heavily with bandages,

shades of blood oozing to the surface.

        Katie broke into tears looking at the lifeless Leigh.  Lori and Abby headed to the home of

Leigh to notify her parents.  The officer and a team of others were canvasing the park as

Katie waited.  The night had seemed the longest ever for everyone.

So much had invaded Katie’s mind now.  Her actions against another had placed a

horrible picture of herself in her mind.  She could find no answers to the

questions Leigh had asked a short time go.  The silence was deafening to her.  The

realization of the facts.

The Paramedic spoke loud in asking, “Are you Katie?”

“Yes?” she replied.

“The girl is asking for you”, the Medic spoke hurriedly.

Katie climbed into the ambulance and Leigh reached for her hand.

“Thank you for stopping me, Katie”, Leigh spoke soft and low. “I didn’t really want to die

but I had no other way out.” Leigh added.

“I’m sorry, Leigh.  For everything, for every time, just everything, okay”, Katie whispered.

Katie’s tears where evidence of the remorse she was feeling inside.  Seeing how her

actions and those of Abby and Lori had driven Leigh to the point of ending her life.

“There was no reason to do the things I’ve done, Leigh.  I can ask your forgiveness yet I

know it is not deserving.” Katie rattled her words.

“I am thankful to be alive, Katie.  I am simply thankful to be alive,” Leigh whispered.

*************

Life…….

************

        In many situations of bullying this is definitely not the outcome.  I chose this ending as I

could not bear the loss of another innocent child even in writing.  More often it is the tragedy of suicide

which claims the lives of countless children, teens and adults each year.  Yeah, bullying

isn’t age specific, it’s just a tool used by one or two to fulfill some void in their own

selves.  Some have the willpower to overcome the bullying, some do not.  I sincerely

wish we had no matters as this, but indeed it is growing issue.  There

are no answers to why others bully,  why they choose particular individuals to target.  I

only know the real victim in it all pays the ultimate price, not the bully or bullies.  In time,

maybe this world will change, but my hopes are more doubtful than promising as I hear

another example every day of the actions bullies take against a victim.

         As a parent, I know what my child does, in school or out.  If you have children, become a

force in their lives to know what they are doing or what someone may be doing to them.

Take a stand against bullying and use your parental rights to enforce schools to be held

accountable for such behavior by notifying parents of their child’s abuse in school.

People are not blind, they see.  Hold forums at school, home, church to enforce better

behavior.

        If bullying is an issue in the school where you attend, as a student stand up for

your rights and for those being bullied by advising the proper authorities.  Make sure

your parents know so they can demand action in the matter.  Don’t turn your back on

your friends or anyone being bullied.  The end to this abusive behavior begins with you,

me, everyone.

*****************************************

*****************************************

It was my desire to try and show the different sides of each person involved within this story.  I needed to try to look inside the mind of a bully, what made them do the things they do.  Although I do not support in any way such behavior, in writing this I found myself understanding that even the bullies, Katie, Abby and Lori all had underlying issues in their lives leading to such behavior.  I guess the best way to put it is no matter what the circumstances are behind bullying, it’s wrong.  There are way too many avenues of help for troubled kids today for bullying behavior to continue.  I hope everyone who takes the time to read this leaves there opinion on the situation of today’s society.  Change begins somewhere.

~The INDIE SPOTlight~is on W.P. Smith

~The INDIE SPOTlight~is on W.P. Smith.

~The INDIE SPOTlight~is on Gary Henry

~The INDIE SPOTlight~is on Gary Henry.

Some of My Favorite Books!

Some of My Favorite Books!.

The INDIE Crowd~~Featuring Jon Patterson Music

The INDIE Crowd~~Featuring Jon Patterson Music.

The INDIE Crowd~~Featuring Taylor Evan Fulks

The INDIE Crowd~~Featuring Taylor Evan Fulks.

The INDIE Crowd~~Featuring Erik Nelson

The INDIE Crowd~~Featuring Erik Nelson.

The INDIE Crowd

The INDIE Crowd.