Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Sir E. Robert Smythe and the School Bully

Sir E. Robert Smythe and the School Bully

Christina Weigand and Ricci Moore






Nathan and Paul have a bully problem. Billy, the school bully, has chosen them to be the target of his aggression. Paul along with Sir E. Robert Smythe of the Galactic Safety Council discovers the root of Billy’s issues and strives to convince the bully to change his ways.
When Billy runs away from home, Paul goes after him. Billy’s dad, the cause of Billy’s anger, finds the boys and threatens them. They are rescued but not before each are injured and Billy’s dad escapes.
During their recovery they learn more about each other and face Billy’s dad once again. Can they overcome their differences and confront the bullying going on in their school in before someone gets seriously hurt?




Excerpt



Paul plopped on his bed and stared at the computer screen. Mom had grounded him and said no computer time, except for homework, for a week.
     He tried to explain what had happened without ratting out Billy, but hadn’t been successful. He didn’t know how long he could keep this up. Sooner or later something was going to have to change. “I wish there was someone I could talk to about this,” Paul said out loud to no one, “but mom said no computer time so I can’t even call Nathan.”
     While brushing his teeth he thought about the great uneaten lunch mom packed, and the paper airplane Billy threw. He didn’t even see what was on the note before Mrs. Chrinshaw took it from him. It wasn’t until he was in Ms. Harris’s office that he got a glance at it and saw the monster that Billy had drawn. He had to admit Billy was a pretty good artist and wished he could draw like that. The only thing he could do well was run fast, and climb trees. There wasn’t much chance to use those skills in school, unless running away from Billy counted.
     Well no use worrying about it now. He might as well try and get some sleep. Paul pulled the blanket over his head and switched on the flashlight he had under the pillow. Grabbing the book he was reading for school, A Neverending Story, he finished a chapter before falling asleep.
     The bed shook and a bright flash of light startled him awake. The book fell to the floor as he threw his blanket off. Sitting on the foot of his bed was a creature unlike anything he had ever seen. Paul wasn’t sure whether to be afraid or brave. The purple and lime green creature had the head of the family’s Saint Bernard, the body of a large jack rabbit and the tail of a lion. A bowler hat sat on his round head and a monocle graced his one eye. He wore an orange vest with a chain and watch attached to it. In his hand he held a jade blue parasol.
     “You asked for someone to talk to,” the creature said in a proper British accent.
     “I did? Oh yeah, I guess I did. But what…who are you?”
     “Quit blubbering, Paul, we don’t have much time.”
     “You know my name? Who are you?”
     “Of course I know your name. As to who I am, Sir E. Robert Smythe, Senior Safety Ambassador for the Galactic Safety Council, at your service. You may call me Sir E. Robert. I have come from the planet of Gwill. Queen Sage realized you were in trouble and sent me to aid you. Now tell me about your problems.”
     Paul proceeded to explain everything that happened. When he finished, the creature sat on the bed in silence for several seconds and Paul began to wonder if this was real. He pinched himself. “Ow, that hurt.”
     “Of course it did. Why would you hurt yourself?”
     “I thought maybe I was dreaming.”
     “This isn’t a dream. Humans can be so obtuse at times. Now be quiet while I think.” They sat on the bed a few more moments and the creature started to talk. “We seem to have a twofold problem here. First, this Billy person has some anger issues. We have to discover the source of his angst and then we can better confront what is bothering him and put an end to his torturing you. Second, I sense that Morton the Morph has a hand in this and Queen Sage will need to be notified posthaste, before we can begin to solve the problem.”
     Before Paul could respond there was a flash of light and the creature disappeared.
     “Hey, wait! Where did you go? I still have questions.”
     A voice echoed in his room. “I will be there when you need me.”
     Paul punched his pillow and pinched his arm again. “Not a dream. Not much help either.”

     The next morning, he met Nathan and they walked to school together. Paul told Nathan about his dream, or at least what he thought was a dream. He still didn’t believe that Sir E. Robert Smythe had been real, even though he had felt the pain of both pinches to himself.
     “Yeah, probably a dream.” Nathan voiced his doubts. “But sounds like a cool dream. I hope it was real. That would be totally cool.”
     “I guess so,” Paul said as they walked up to the school. “What am I going to do about Billy?”
     “Let’s get in the school before he gets here.” They headed toward the door and saw an old, beat up extended cab pick-up pull into the driveway. A grizzled, middle-aged man drove. Billy sat with him in the front seat and a small woman occupied the rear seat. The man was yelling and smacking Billy’s head. The passenger side door opened and Billy jumped out of the truck before it could speed away.
     The bully ran toward the door, noticing Nathan and Paul standing there. He pushed Nathan out of his way. “What are you looking at, squinty eye?”
     “Nothing. I didn’t…see anything,” Nathan answered.
     “Good thing. Now get out of my way.” He pushed Nathan again and stormed into the school.
     “Wow, did you see that?”
     “Yeah, that guy was really beating on Billy. Do you think that was his dad?” Nathan said.
     “Not sure. I’ve never seen his dad. I didn’t even know he had a dad.”
     Nathan shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t be silly, everyone has a dad.”
     “I know, I just never heard him talk about his family.”
     The two boys walked into the school. Billy and his gang left them alone for the day, but Paul still wasn’t happy. He had detention today because of what Billy did yesterday.



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