The Dawuni Files - A White Shadow

Chapter Six

Dawuni raced through the corridor, his heart pounding, Judith close to his heels. He burst through the porch door and saw Alfred lying on the driveway, his bicycle also on the ground. Dawuni's heart skipped a beat as he and Judith got to where Alfred was lying, but calmed a bit when he sat up holding his ankle and groaning.

"Al, what happened". Judith asked , her voice bursting with concern.

" I twisted my ankle as I was pushing off from my bike". Alfred groaned.

Dawuni helped him up, his arm over Dawuni's shoulders.

" Let's get you in and put some ice on it". Judith said.

"I don't think I can go to school", Alfred whimpered.

Dawuni sighed. Suddenly, he twisted away and pushed Alfred a little roughly. Alfred staggered and  stood on his legs  perfectly as he regained his balance. His  face flashed annoyance but quickly turned into embarrassment as he realized that Dawuni had seen through his pretense.

Judith stood looking at Alfred, annoyed at how he had scared the daylights out of them. She hissed and walked into the house, slamming the door behind her. Heads would roll when Alfred got back from school.

"Let me give you a ride to school, then when you are coming back from school you can pick a taxi." Dawuni offered, although it wasn't much of an offer but rather a command. Alfred pushed his bike into the garage and hopped into the front seat of Dawuni's car.

The blue Nissan rogue _ a gift from uncle Felix - purred as Dawuni pulled into  the road, driving towards Alfred's school. 

Dawuni glanced at Alfred. At age thirteen he seemed to be growing quite fast and his muscles were starting to fill out. The boy had the body of an an athlete , but his interests were far from sports, rather pulled towards reading and science.

"Do you want to tell me why you don't want to go to school?" Dawuni asked.

Alfred shook his head and looked out the window. Dawuni continued driving. The boy would talk when he wanted to.

"It's Evans and his gang". Alfred opened up.

"Those guys that always tease you?" Dawuni asked.

Alfred nodded." They are always calling me a sissy and a bookworm. It didn't really bother me at first, but it's now unbearable".

Dawuni's grip on the steering wheel tightened as anger flared up in him. He had had his own fair share of the teasing back in junior high school. But he always had his own little revenge. It was very amusing to watch thier sneering faces turn into pleading ones as they sent desperate signals to him for help in the exam hall, but he was always more than deaf to thier futile cries for help.

" You know, not going to school won't solve the problem". Dawuni said, matter-of-factly.

"I know, but I just want a day of respite".

"Have you told anyone?"

" I have reported it to our form master but he hasn't done anything". Alfred replied.

Dawuni made a mental note to have a word with the teacher some other time. Right now he had things to do and places to go.

" Let me give you some advice". Dawuni said, turning the car round a curve. " When you get to school and they tease you, just pretend that it doesn't affect. You know the saying ' sticks and stones may break my bones...."

" But words will never hurt me". Alfred completed, smiling ruefully.

But Dawuni knew better. Words could sometimes do more harm than sticks and stones.