Living with bullies

“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’