It Could Have Been Me

The Replacement

I realized too late that watching Netflix all night,
Especially before a school day,
Was a terrible idea I tried to fight,
But woke up late anyway.

Being a nerd made getting ready easy.
I really didn't care if I looked freaky,
I slipped on my Tees, jeans and sneakers in a jiffy,
Trying to avoid being tardy.

Fully dressed on my Tees, jeans and sneakers,
I rushed out of the house to catch the first bus.
On a second thought, I should have jogged a few meters,
But the jeans gave more reasons for my ceaseless fuss.

Getting to the bus stop was a huge relief
As I saw the school bus come to a stop.
I tried to climb in, but suddenly felt stiff.
I felt a rough pull, a tug on my top.

I swallowed hard when I saw Fat Joe.
He dragged me away and pushed me to the side.
He sniggered, saying I was too slow,
As I heard him stomp towards the bus and climbed inside.

I glared at him angrily as he took the last seat.
"So long, Sucker!", he yelled as the bus drove off.
Stifling hot tears, I sighed in defeat,
Wishing I was a little bit tough.

I adjusted my glasses as I dragged down the road,
Processing what happened few minutes ago.
My backpack suddenly felt like a heavy load,
As I brooded deeply on my bruised ego.

The crashing sound I heard
Brought me back to reality.
I looked up ahead
At a scene which looked ghastly.

I doubled my footsteps as I got closer to the scene.
I gasped as I saw the school bus compressed by a truck to a wall.
I blinked twice, not sure of what I had seen.
The medical team where already there with just a phone call.

I couldn't hold back my tears
As I saw Fat Joe.
He was injured badly
From his head to his toe.
Many of the students had been hurt pretty bad.
But Fat Joe's case was of all the most sad.

As I scurried away,
I couldn't but hear a little voice say,
'It could have been you facing fat Joe's fate'.
I've never been more grateful for going to school late.

Few months later,
Fat Joe was back in school.
As I looked at his scars that weren't so cool,
The truth that it could have been me,
Had never been so real.