“It’s a fine line between being picked on at school and then becoming a bully yourself,”
says Patience (Kim) Thomson, who has just been to a school reunion.
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | | | At least there were two of them. They could |
| | | | | | | cheer each other up. Better still, they could |
| | | | | | | discuss ways in which to get revenge. It |
| | | | | | | didn’t matter if it didn’t always work out - the |
| | | | | 35 | | fun was in the plotting. They worked out some |
| | | | | | | good strategies. One of the best was to keep |
| | | | | | | cool when dealing with bullies, not act |
| | | | | | | scared. It’s no fun if they don’t get a reaction |
| | | | | | | out of their victims. Then they found an ally in |
| | | | | 40 | | Mark’s older sister. “Oh, I know them,” she |
| | | | | | | said of the bullies. “No one likes them. They |
| | | VICIOUS CIRCLE: It’s easy for a victim to turn | | | | | go for juniors because that’s the only way |
| | | bully, but you can stop this | | | | | they can throw their weight about. Anyway, |
| | | | | | | | they’ve nicked some cash and they’ll be |
1 | | | As soon as Kim saw him across the room | | | 45 | | expelled from school soon.” She was right |
| | | she knew it was Mark - even though she | | | | | and the bullying came to an end. |
| | | hadn’t seen him for years. He caught | | 5 | | | Shortly after Kim met Mark again, she saw |
| | | her eye and his face lit up. He came straight | | | | | another old friend, Sue. This reminded her of |
| 5 | | over to chat. There was a special bond | | | | | a time when she herself played a very |
| | | between them… years ago, back in | | | 50 | | different role. There had been four in Sue and |
| | | secondary school they had both been bullied. | | | | | Kim’s group at school. They shared |
2 | | | They were easy targets then. Both lived | | | | | everything - clothes, gossip, secrets… Sue |
| | | near the school so had to walk home. They | | | | | was the youngest and had an awful temper. |
| 10 | | felt safe in class because the bullies were in | | | | | One day the others got fed up. They were |
| | | the year above, but dreaded getting caught in | | | 55 | | spending the lunch break huddled in the |
| | | the cloakroom. An all too familiar voice in the | | | | | store room behind the stage. Sue lost her |
| | | corridor might warn them that trouble was | | | | | temper again and Kim and the other girls |
| | | brewing, but by then it would be too late. The | | | | | banged her head hard against the wall. When |
| 15 | | bullying would begin. Laces disappeared | | | | | she screamed they pushed her out and |
| | | from their trainers, their books had rude | | | 60 | | slammed the door. |
| | | messages scribbled on them, snacks and | | 6 | | | After that they would look right through Sue |
| | | money disappeared from their pockets and | | | | | when they met. If she tried to ring, they would |
| | | lunch trays went flying as they were jostled in | | | | | slam the phone down. Sue’s mother wrote to |
| 20 | | the dining room. But these were the small | | | | | Kim. She said Sue was unhappy and she |
| | | things. It was a lot more scary when they were | | | 65 | | wanted to help put things right. Sue invited |
| | | both tied to railings or pushed into a patch of | | | | | Kim to go on holiday with them to Spain but |
| | | stinging nettles. | | | | | Kim refused to go. |
3 | | | Why did they never tell an adult? When | | 7 | | | It was years since Kim had seen Sue, but it |
| 25 | | you’re new you don’t want a reputation as a | | | | | was clear that neither had forgotten. It was |
| | | grass. You don’t really know or trust any of | | | 70 | | Kim who left the party early. How do I know so |
| | | the teachers. And you can’t tell Mum and Dad | | | | | much? I leave you to guess. |
| | | because they’d only kick up a fuss when, for | | | | | |
| | | the first time in your life, you’re trying to be | | | | | Vrij naar een artikel uit: ‘The Daily |
| 30 | | independent. | | | | | Telegraph’ |