Darling, just hold on

4. Consequences and solutions

Tuesday 01/02/2011- Wednesday 02/02/2011

Daniel Deakin POV

I just arrived home and it's 22.00. Phoebe and Daisy went to bed when I was left to bring Harry home. Lottie and Fizzie were just getting ready to go to bed when I arrived. They are only 10 and 12 years old but they were having so much fun. When all the children were in their rooms, I went to Jay. I had to talk to her about Harry.

'Hey babe' she said when I came into our bedroom.

'Hey, can we talk a little?'

'Of course'

'I'm a little worried about Harry. He seemed to have a great time here with the kids but at school, he is always really quiet. He has amazing grades but I've never seen him talk to other students. His also lives a few towns over, he must be riding his bike for almost an hour to arrive at school' I rant.

'You are worried, he's being bullied.'

'Yes, especially with the mirror incident. He seemed in a lot of pain.'

'I was thinking about that too. Do you think he has someone to talk to at home? He said his dad worked a lot and his mom died.'

'I'm not sure if I'm being honest. When we arrived at his house Everything was dark. Nobody was there. I think I'm gonna go early to school tomorrow to look at the hallway camera footage. I hope that I can see something through the glass doors.'

'Good idea. Let me know what you find when I arrive, but now it's time to sleep. Tomorrow is gonna be a long day.'

'Yeah, goodnight' And with that, I give her a kiss and fall asleep.'

The next morning, I arrive at school early. I walk directly to the office and place myself in front of one of the computers.
I look for the footage from during lunchbreak and at the end, I see Harry entering the bathrooms. Behind him I can also see Noah, Oliver, William and Elijah entering. From this angle, I can't see anything except them entering.
I have more luck with the second camera, that is filming through the glass doors. Just after they enter, I see Noah grabbing Harry's hair and yelling something but the cameras don't record sound. Then I see that they push him into the mirror and pulling at his hair again before kicking his stomach what made Harry threw up.
It's awful to see, but I'm glad it is recorded for proof. I really need to talk to Harry, but first to Jay.

When I walk out of the office, I see Harry walking in. He looks a lot better than yesterday but everyone could see he's scared to be here.

'Hey Harry,' I say, 'can you come to my classroom during lunch? I would like to talk to you a bit.'

'Yeah, of course. Is there something wrong?'

'That's what I wanted to ask you but we will talk during lunch. Now go to your class before you are late.'

'Okay, see you later.' And with that he leaves. I go to my classroom for first period.

During the small break between first and second period, I make my way to the teacher's room while I call Jay to meet me there. The video footage from the bullying yesterday, I put on a USB-stick this morning so I could show it.

The meeting with the other teachers ends and I'm disappointed. The only thing we can do is give the bully's detention for maximum a week. I hoped we could expel them, that Harry didn't have to walk in the same hallways as them.
I walk outside but quickly, Jay follows me.

'Hey, wait up!' She says when we are out the door. 'I know you are disappointed but what if we just look after him? We know after yesterday he loves music and he is a very good singer.'

'Yeah that's true but what do you suggest? We can't walk with him to every class.'

'I know but we can show him we are there for him, you can help him with his singing technique or with an instrument, he can eat lunch in the nurses' room if he wants to, so he doesn't have to sit alone in the cafeteria. Also, the kids really like him so if he wants, he can babysit the when we aren't home. We can do so much' Jay rants.

It is true, we can be there for him in other ways then to expel the boys who bullied him.

'You are right. I've asked him to come to my classroom during lunch today to talk. Can you be there too? I think it he feels more relaxed if you are there.'

'I will be there. See you then!'

'Bye' I answer and go back to my classroom for second period.

Harry's POV

I'm standing in front of Mr. Deakin classroom. I'm scared to go inside. He'd asked to talk to me, to ask me what was wrong, but to me it seems really obvious. It's what everyone tells me what is wrong. That I have no friends, that I'm weird, that I'm a waste of space, that I'm untalented. I mean, I know it's true, but they don't have to spit it in my face over and over again even tho I deserve it.

I'm so lost in my thoughts that I jumped a little when Jay laid a hand on my shoulder, asking me to go inside with her.

We go inside and Mr. Deakin is already waiting. I'm about to take a seat at my assigned desk in the back when he gestures to come and sit in front of him, next to Jay.

'So, Harry, I know you aren't really comfortable talking about what happened yesterday but you need to know that you can come to us if you need to talk to someone or if you need something.' Mr. Deakin begins.

'I know, you already said that.' I answer a little confused why he brought that up. Yesterday was one of the best birthdays I've had in a few years. Okay, it didn't start great and he didn't know what really happened, but when I went home with Jay and him, I really had a great time. But I know, it is only his job, he doesn't really care, why would he?

'You know that there is a camera in the hallway filming through the glass doors of the bathroom? I've seen the footage this morning. We know what happened.'

My mind is going in overload. I can't think of anything to responds.

'What's going to happen now?' I ask cautiously.

'Noah, Oliver, William and Elijah are having detention for a week. We can't expel them unless it happens multiple times.'

'They are going to think that I've tattled. They are just going to do more and more. I just want it to stop.'

Jay puts her arm around my shoulder to calm me down before she starts to talk.

'During the small breaks and during lunch, you can always come to the nurses' room or to Dan's classroom.' It is sounds weird to hear his name as Dan instead of Mr. Deakin, I think before she continues. 'If you are here, in the classroom, you can do your homework or if you want, you can work on your singing. Last night, we saw how much you liked it and how good you are. You could even learn how to play an instrument if you would want to.'

'Why would you do that for me?' I ask a little overwhelmed.

'It's simple' Mr. Deakin said before continuing. 'You are a good kid who isn't feeling good and we want to change that.'

'We would also like to ask you something.' Jay said. 'Dan and I are going to dinner next Friday with my parents and since Lottie are staying at a friend's house and our kids like you a lot, we wanted to ask you if you would like to come over and babysit them.'

'I would like to but I've never babysat before. I don't know how to do that. And if you come home, it is too late to go home. It is from school around 16 km, I'm not sure from your house' I answer in full honesty.

'We believe you would do a great job with the kids and one of us can drop you of at home by car or you can stay in the guestroom and go home in the morning. It's what you prefer.' Jay said.

'Then I would love to.' I say enthusiastically. I really liked the evening yesterday with her kids. They are a lot of fun.

'Now, let's eat before lunch is over Mr. Deakin interrupts my thoughts.