Brain Juice (A Collection Of Short Stories)

Sarah's Story

Everybody experiences some form of bullying or discrimination in their lives - but nowhere near as much as Sarah does.

Sarah is as inoffensive as anybody could possibly be. She's very timid, but get to know her and she's loyal, friendly and highly intelligent - not that anybody looks beyond her exterior and attempts to show an inch of kindness.

Every day without fail, wherever, Sarah is assaulted with a torrent of abuse and torment. Sarah has had to learn to keep her head down, and ignore the shouts of "monster", "freak", "creep", and much worse. She can ignore the cruel notes on her locker and belongings at school, and the obscene graffiti messages that plaster the toilet walls.

But the thing that hurts Sarah is that things will never get any better. People are ignorant and intolerant; they're ashamed to not follow the crowd.

Sarah knows the younger children don't understand - the older pupils use them as a scapegoat when the teachers look for someone to blame. Occasionally, one of the lower years will pluck up the courage to slip a drawing of a mutant into her bag, or leave a toy monster on her desk.

Her grades are way below her academic potential, Sarah just doesn't see the point in drawing any more attention than she already does. Even the teachers - trained professionals - can't resist the urge to gawp awkwardly.

After all these huge knocks to her self esteem and confidence levels, Sarah is too ashamed to make an appearance at many public places. Every day, she hurries away from school by the quietest possible route - she feels safe at home, at least she's accepted there.

I've given myself the chance to get to know Sarah over the years, and I feel I'm so much better off than everyone else for doing it. Inside that tortured head of hers, is a glimmer of optimism, and a very bright personality.

I know that Sarah is not a monster. In fact, I think I know Sarah better than anybody else.

Because I am Sarah's second head.