Ranjit came home crying. It was the third time that week. He dried his eyes before he got to the garden gate. He wouldn't let anyone see how hurt he was.-not even his Mum. So, once inside the house, he ran upstairs to his room. He threw himself on his bed angrily.
"It's not fair! It's not fair!" he sobbed to himself.
When Ranjit first arrived at his new school, he made friends quickly and settled down happily to his new life. But within a few weeks, the taunts started. At first, it was name-calling, then kicks on the shins as he walked down the corridor. Now, the bullies would wait until he left the school grounds and was on his way home. Then three or four boys would pounce on him, emptying his school bag and damaging his books.
Ranjit didn't know where to turn. He was hurt and confused. He didn't know why he should be treated this way. And it made him angry that he felt so helpless and unable to deal with the bullies.
"Ranjit! Tea's ready!" It was Mum calling him.
Quickly, Ranjit checked his face wasn't red, then straightened his jumper. He ran down the stairs trying to pretend everything was just fine.
"Sorry,love. I've got to go round to Gran's. She's asked me to help her with some curtains tonight. You make sure you eat your tea." With that, she was gone.
Ranjit sat at the table, slowly eating, but not really tasting his meal.The doorbell rang. He went to answer the door. "Forgotten your key, Mu..."
It wasn't Mum. It was Andy from his class at school.
"I'm still having my tea, Andy." he said.
"I saw what happened on the way home today, Ranjit, but I was too far away to help."
"It's O.K." said Ranjit. but it wasn't really.
"No. It's not!" protested Andy. "I don't suppose you've told anyone, have you?"
"No",Ranjit admitted.
"Well, tomorrow, you're going to tell Mrs. Young about it - and I'm coming with you. No friend of mine's going to get bullied. But you're going to have to tell your parents you know."
"I know...Thanks .."
That night, Ranjit slept soundly for the first time in many days.
True to his word. Andy went with Ranjit to speak to Mrs. Young. Ranjit thought she might not listen. She might not believe him or understand. But she did...........
Being bullied for no other reason than it made the bullies feel they were better or stronger than Ranjit, left him feeling that he wasn't worth enough for people to care what happened to him. All that changed because one person-his friend Andy-cared. It was Andy who convinced him that he was important and that he didn't deserve to be treated this way.