The Plant

The boy in the school yard

There was a boy in the school yard crying. I turned around to see what was happening and saw some few from my class pushing him around and laughing because he didn't defend himself properly.
I stared at them wondering if I should do something. Or rather what was possible for me to do as I wasn't the strongest myself. All I knew was that I wanted to save him.
Before I could do anything I saw other people begin to gather and protest against their behaviour. And soon after a teacher came out yelling angrily at them. The whole crowd went away except for him. He sat there left alone with the teacher, still crying. The teacher lifted him up and carried him into the office. I followed after but as soon as the doors closed in front of me I knew that I couldn't find out more. So I went back to the classroom with the others instead.
He never came back to the class that day. And I didn't see him for some days either. Maybe he is hiding at home? Or maybe he got sick?
The next time I saw him in class he was just pretending like everything was normal. Still talking to many of the boys in the class. Even some of those that pushed him. How does boys just laugh off things like that. I really don't get it. Why isn't he still hurt by it?

A year went by and I saw that something didn't feel right even though he seemed to smile and talk as if nothing happened to the other boys.
I guess that's just how it is, I thought and left it at that for the next few years.