Refraction.

Pal.

"Hey, pal." I'd often say, as we spoke
Day after day. "How was school?"

I knew the boy's father cherished him dearly,
But how could he not realised that his boy
Was being bullied?

His father was my sweetheart;
The boy was troubled, yet a darling, and-
I thought- an open book, easy to read.
How could his father not see?

"Again, pal?" I could barely believe it,
But I could.
I've been there, closer than even the boy knows.
"What did they say today?"

The words he said... I knew them well;
His wounds were mine.

I hoped the boy wouldn't consider it a breach of trust,
As I pulled his father aside that night.
Never so quickly, had I seen a man crumble and cry.

He hadn't thought, he hadn't known-
Why hadn't he been told?
How had the school not noticed? Did they
Simply not care?
How could his new partner ease
Such a secret from his own son, one that hadn't
Even crossed his mind?

I explained all that I knew, and his sadness
Turned to rage, as it often did.
He wanted names, a lawyer, a violent approach,
Almost insensitive to the needs of his son.

After calming him down, making suggestions,
I left him to his own devices for a little while,
Although I was never away for long.

"Hey pal." I said to the boy, yet again. "How
Are things at school now?"

Better, it seemed- several bullies had been expelled,
And the rest had been dealt with in tow.
He mentioned, abashedly, that his father had been restrained
By one of his friends, lest he would have 'smashed in'
The head of the father of one of the bullies.

"I'm glad we got it worked out." I told him,
Pleased for the boy, less so with his father.

The violence, the rage... It was borne of trauma,
But he lacked repentance and humility.
Again and again, I heard these things;
That was eight months ago.

We went our separate ways a while after,
But today I received a message from a mutual friend.

He'd landed himself in prison, and whilst I was shocked,
I couldn't bring myself to be surprised.
The damn fool, no longer in a position to look after his son...

It had been a long while since I'd last said the words,
But I picked up my phone.

"Hey pal, if you need anything, let me know."

The boy needed company; a shoulder to cry on,
Someone who understood him, loved him.

Despite all that time, if he wanted it,
I'd drop everything to look after him.