KYLA

IT'S HER AGAIN

It was the ninth day of June of the year 1997. It was the first day of the school year and everybody's excited even me although it would mean that I will have to see the kids who bully me every day.

My Mom handed me my backpack and my lunch box. My brother and sister were already in the car outside waiting for me. "Rob, don't forget to eat your lunch, okay? Be careful. And just enjoy school," my Mom said and patted me lightly on the head. She always reminds me of these things. She knew I was not happy in school. She was always asking me why but I never said a word about it. I've never really had a classmate who became a good friend unlike my other siblings who are both popular in school. I've never told her that I was being bullied. I don't want her to know because I don't want her to get worried about me and because of the shame I feel for not being able to defend myself.

I nodded. "Yes, Mom."

I was on my way out when she called me and said in a teasing voice, "Don't forget to say hi to your new friend. What's her name again? Ah, Kyla."

"She's not my friend," I muttered under my breath and proceeded outside towards the car.

"You're too slow, Robert. We'll be late because of you. Hurry and get inside," Ken said impatiently.

My dad turned to us from the driver's seat. "Hey, don't squabble this early in the morning. It's the first day of school. Behave, kids." He turned the engine on and started driving.

"Hey, Rob. I'm so excited to see Kyla again. I could not believe that we're going to be classmates this year!" Sabrina said elatedly, perhaps for the thousandth time since she found out that Kyla is going to attend the same school as we do.

"Yeah, you've said it for like a gazillion times already," Ken replied and rolled his eyes.

Sabrina gave Ken a burning look. "I wish I had a sister. It sucks that all I have are two crazy if not boring brothers," Sabrina said and pouted her lips.

We arrived at the school gate shortly. Our Dad dropped us off and went away to drive to one of the furniture shops that our family owns in the city. My sister went ahead of us. My brother Ken went straight to his classroom so I was left on my own. I'm in grade two, my brother is in grade four and my sister is in grade five so their class rooms are quite far from mine.

As I entered our class room, two boys approached me; they were Joseph and Reynold. They are the infamous duo; the greatest hell- raisers and bullies in my grade and perhaps in the entire school.

Reynold wrapped his arm around my shoulders and said mockingly, "Hey, Robot! It's nice to see you again."

Joseph grabbed my lunch box away from my grasp. "Look Rey! He's got some delicious food in here."

"We're taking this, Robot. Thank you." Reynold said with an evil grin on his face. I can hear Joseph snickering behind me. The other kids in the room were just watching. They don't want to get involved in the fray because they're afraid to get in the bad side of the two bullies.

I was breathing heavily, I was so mad. "Please, just give that back to me," I pleaded but to no avail. The boys passed it back and forth between them while laughing. I was gripping the straps of my backpack tightly. I want to knock them down but I can't. I was afraid; afraid that my teacher would know I got involved in a fist fight and afraid that my parents would be called to come to school because of it.

"Please," I asked in a shaky voice.

"What did you say?" Joseph asked, placing his hand on his ear, as if not hearing what I said.