Have you ever been at school and wondered how someone could be so happy on a Monday? Well, that's happened everyday at McNutly High. That someone is my little brother Sam.
"And remember," I hear dad and Dean converse.
"Watch out for Sammy and Kylie. I know dad," he responds. "Don't worry. We'll be fine."
"If anything happens," he continues. "Call me."
"Promise."
And then dad walks out the front door.
Dean walks over to the room Sam and I are in, walks to the couch in front of the television, and snatches the remote from Sam's hands.
"Hey," Sam hollers at his older brother.
"Aren't you supposed to be the grown up," I admonish.
Dean freezes and then, hesitantly, gives the remote to nine year old Sam and walks over to me, his precious ten year old younger sister.
"I really hate you right now."
"I know," I tell him.
________
Walking Sam through the doors of the new school, I make sure he has everything he needs.
"I know, Kylie," Sam says annoyed. This is the fourth school and it's not even the end of September yet."
I give him a sympathetic smile and say, "I know Sam. I hate this as much as you."
H
e sighs, and turns around to enter his classroom.
"See ya later Sammy," I holler.
"It's Sam."
I know.
_________
Fuck it.
I thow the stupid math packet across the motel room, frustrated that I didn't understand what was written on the paper.
"Why is this so hard," I yell.
"What's wrong?" I jump at Sam's voice. He'd been so quiet I'd forgotten he was in the room.
I walk over to the stupid math packet that was due in two days and say, "Math, Sam. That's what's wrong."
The real reason I am having a hard time isn't completely because of how confusing it is, but how many kids at school have been calling me dumb ass, or stupid, and how they don't think I can do it.
"Do you need help," he asks. I sigh and determine whether this fourteen year old could help his fifteen year old sister with her AP Calculus when he hasn't even made it to Honors Geometry yet.
"Go ahead," I spit out. I don't understand how he thinks he'll be able to understand this when I can't even understand it myself.
Surprisingly, he understood and got me to understand.
____________
"I hate all those assholes," I mutter as I storm into the motel room. I pull out my school crap while trying to fight the tears. Those kids at school thought they could talk about my family like that? They don't know half the shit I do and they call me stupid? Then again, maybe I am. Maybe I'm just as dumb as the rest. Maybe I am worthless and a mistake. Maybe no one really cares.
I hear Sam step into the room and quickly stop the crying. He can't see me like this. He'll call me weak, just like dad. Crying is a sign of weakness. Unfortunately, he can see right through me.
"What's wrong," he asks, deeply concerned.
"Nothing," I insist. "I'm fine."
He looks at me for a minute as Dean enters.
Sam pulls Dean outside and I hear Dean storm off, ready to rip someone's lungs out.
"Seriously, Kylie," he asks with Dean stand behind him. "What's wrong."
"Nothing," I repeat. "I'm fine."
My brothers pull me into a group hug as Sam says, "We know you're not."
If you are struggling with the bullies, don't listen to them. I'm not going to tell you to ignore them because, trust me, that doesn't help. Stand up to them and let them know that they won't bring you down today or tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. You are beautiful in every single way. Words hurt just as bad, maybe even worse, than sticks and stones. Bullying is NOT just kids being kids. It's kids harassing eachother. It's not just making fun. People have committed suicide because of this and I'm sick of it. I'll be there if you need to talk to someone.
#alwayskeepfighting
