Just Try It

Chapter 40- The Text Message

Thursday, February 16th 7:35am

Swisher Apartments

Sondra was just leaving when Moe, Danica, and Henry hurried out of their place. Danica smiled and said, "We were just coming to get you."

Sondra smiled, twirled, and asked, "How do I look? Am I ready for my day in court?"

Danica examined her makeup and hair closely before pronouncing, "Perfect. You look like you could take on the world, but not like you are trying to be the grownup."

More and more kids Sondra knew surrounded them the closer they got to school. They were almost to the gates when multiple cell phones began beeping and ringing around them. Sondra glanced down and noticed one of them was hers, and it was the tone for a text message. Danica easily slid her phone from out of her backpack without even looking. Most phones were already silenced by the time Sondra had dug hers out of the inside pocket of her backpack. When Sondra looked she saw it was from Susie, she groaned and asked, "What does Susie want now?" as she hit the button to start downloading the download.

Danica didn't answer. In fact, the entire street was too quiet. When Sondra looked up, the first thing she noticed was Danica's furious face. Her violet eyes were snapping, and she spit out, "Bitch."

"What is it?" asked Sondra. "Is she directing us to do a bunch of laps even though she won't be at practice?"

Instead of answering Danica held her phone out to Moe.

Moe took one look at it and his tanned skin went pasty. He looked around and Sondra followed his gaze to see what seemed like everyone looking their way. Without a word, Moe turned and started back toward home.

As she looked after him in concern, Sondra asked, "Did he forget something?"

Danica sadly answered, "No. The text had pictures of the scars on his back." She took a step, but then stopped.

"Why are you stopping? You have to do something. Today is too important. He can't miss," Sondra desperately demanded of Danica.

Danica shook her head and her hair whipped around turned to face Sondra. "I have already told him. Everyone in the family has said that they don't matter. He needs to hear it from someone else. You go. He'll listen to you."

When Sondra hesitated, Danica shouted, "Go now," and grabbed her backpack as she shoved Sondra after Moe. "You might be able to convince him to come back to school. You have to hurry, so you don't lose him. If he skips today he will be off the team for sure."

Sondra nodded before rushing after Moe. He had a large lead, and she had trouble spotting him at first. She was beginning to think that she had lost him, but then she saw him duck into an alley a few blocks ahead. When she got to the entrance of the alley she saw Moe kick a garbage can, and hit the brick wall. Then he folded his arms against the wall, and rested his head against them. She had never seen anyone look so defeated and angry at the same time.

Sondra paused and then called out, "Moe?"

He jerked like he had been shot, and tensed up even though he didn't turn around. He asked in a harsh voice, "What do you want? You saw the pictures, didn't you?"

Only then did Sondra notice her phone was still in her hand. Sondra walked toward him slowly as she answered, "Not yet, I was busy following you. Is it really that bad?"

Sondra kept her eyes locked on Moe as she cautiously approached. Moe rocked his head against his fist and didn't answer. When she reached his side, he suddenly thrust his arm back toward Sondra. She jumped, until she noticed that he was just motioning for her to give him her phone.

If only she could get him to calm down and start thinking. He was so tense he could run again any second, and this time she might not find him. She reluctantly handed over the phone even as she said, "You have to go to school today. You have tests to take or you won't be able to bring up your grades."

Moe shook his head again and Sondra could hear the pain in his hoarse tones as he answered, "I can't."

Sondra tried saying, "No one who knows you will care."

Moe's bark of laughter held no hint of humor and he answered, "maybe not, but there are plenty of people who just look for a reason to dislike you."

It was hard to argue with something so true, so she tried switching directions. "Things like that always look worse to the person they are happening too. I bet the scars aren't as bad as you think."

Moe shook his head and insisted, "No, they are bad, and they are never going away."

A few scars would never change how she felt.  If only Moe could understand that.  Desperately, she asked, "If I look at your scars and say they aren't that bad will you go to school?"

Moe froze and Sondra thought that she might finally be getting through. He shrugged, but he didn't give back her phone to get her opinion.

Sondra waited several minutes for him to make up his mind. Finally, she realized that he would stay there all day if she didn't do something. She was done with him shutting her out. If he wasn't going to let her see a picture of his back, she would just have to look at the real thing. She silently slid in behind him, and started sliding his uniform shirt and Under Armor shirt up as he rested his head against the wall.

Cyber bullying is a real problem.  Please remember that what you post online never goes away completely and to always try to be your best online.  Don't use it as a place to spew the worst side if yourself and to hurt others. 
Thanks for reading.  If you liked the chapter, please let me know with comments or votes.  It means a lot to me.