JACK THE KING (Lord of the Flies reimagined)

Part 19 - CHILDHOOD ABUSE (Flashback chapter)

PIGGY/JASON 

He is a small boy, only 6 years old but always happy. Always smiling and laughing and playing. He loves his parents and they love him. There are really no problems for Jason. Until one day the grown-ups sit down with him for a ''chat''. They have that serious look on their face, the one they always have when something bad has happened or if Jason is about to be told off

''Have I done something wrong?'' he asks, head bowed 

The grown-ups smile and pat him on the head ''oh no no, you have not done anything wrong don't be scared. The thing is Jason, you will have to go and stay with your Aunt, you know the one? The one who always gives you sweets whenever you see her''

''But I don't want to stay with her I want to stay with my mummy and daddy''

Then the adults smiled and tried to explain to a 6-year-old that his parents were dead

''You can't see them, Jason. you see...well the thing is...well, did anyone ever tell you about Heaven Jason?'' 

Well, Jason refused to believe that his mummy and daddy were in heaven, this was a complete lie. They wouldn't have left without him!

He was taken to his Aunts place by a social worker

''He is very upset'' she said, stating the obvious ''Right now I don't think he really understands what is going on''

You poor poor boy'' his aunt said and hugged him ''Don't you worry Jason, my love, everything is going to be just fine. We'll have a great time together''

But over the next few months, Jason became angry. he was angry that his parents were not coming back and he cried for them and he started to behave very badly

Auntie wasn't sure how to deal with him at all, she thought maybe if she spoiled him with sweets and cakes and pies and biscuits it would help and Jason got fatter and fatter

The teachers at Jason's school began to get concerned about him and called Auntie in for a chat

''He is getting very fat'' they said with concern ''he used to be a healthy slim boy and now he is getting obese. We are rather concerned''

Auntie took a hanky out of her pocket to dab the tears off her face

''It's all he wants to eat'' she said ''cakes and chocolate and whatever garbage he can lay his hands on. Try giving him a plate of salad and he refuses to touch it! He is taking the death of his parents very badly you know!''

''But maybe we should try and do something about his weight, the other kids have already given him a nickname. They've started calling him Piggy'' 

Auntie bowed her head in shame and made a confession ''It's probably my fault, you see I called him Piggy in front of some of the kids when I picked him up at the gate, they overheard and started chanting it. I'm very sorry''

By the time Piggy was 10 he was being bullied mercilessly every day at school. Many days Piggy Piggy would go home and tell Auntie about the bullying.

One day he came home from school with a nosebleed 

''Them boys got me again Auntie!'' he said tearfully ''they were waiting at the bus stop again''

''You poor boy, sit there and I'll get you something to cheer you up!'' she said and went and got a plate of  cakes for Piggy