Mum, Dad, and Me:
Imagine, a 6 year old boy walks up to his mother, tears in his eyes, saying he’d being bullied at school. The concerned mother shocked at her son’s revelation consoles him with a motherly hug. After calming him down, she delicately broaches the subject of the bullying.
Imagine then the 6 year old boy becomes angry, starts to stomp around the room, and pushing things over in his path. He screams out at the top of his lungs “they say that no having a dad means I’m stupid”.
Imagine then a mother taken back by her son’s outburst she begins the process of reassuring him that he’s not stupid. Then at the top of his lungs screams through tears repeatedly
“Where’s my dad”? Where’s my dad”? Before breaking down in an uncontrollable fit of anger brought about by loss.
Imagine then, the same mother, looking at her son who has dropped off to sleep, wondering how she explains his father’s absence. She lies awake crying, struggling to comprehend what had just taken place, where confused thoughts entered her subconscious. The following morning her son apologies for being angry with his mom, who cannot bring herself to tell her child why and how his father disappeared.
Imagine that little boy going back into the school where he was bullied and the mother feeling paranoid at not knowing which parents were still together and which parents were not. She drops her son off, goes home and makes herself busy, not knowing what the future may hold. She confides in her friend, who says
“If you ignore it long enough it would go away”. The mother feels relieved and unburdened whilst the scare of the young boy’s father absence has been deposited in his subconscious ready to recoil like a spring with anger, violence and depression as the search for the answer to the question about his father’s absence was swept under the carpet in an attempt not to protect the child but a mother who is too scared to face the truth.
Imagine, that that little boy went through adolescent, 20’s 30’s and 40’s carrying the burden of the most fundamental question that requires a proper answer when he was 6.
Imagine that little boy never enjoyed being taught anything by his father, never experiencing the love of his father, never feeling connected to family or community, never enjoying a proper relationship with a woman, combined with the struggle of his own parenting.
Imagine that child never felt whole.
Imagine if that was your son…
Baltimore Blues (For the victim turned perpetrator)
Omar was just like you, a young man with a bright future. He had been bullied many times. He didn’t fit in. He never found it a problem, but others at his school did. They wanted Omar to be a follower … a clone … the same as everyone else. They didn’t want Omar to be an individual with his own thoughts, ideas, and feelings. They wanted him to be part of a crew, a posse, and a gang. With each day at school came torment, verbal abuse, and physical attacks. Omar tried to defend himself, but felt powerless. He couldn’t fight back. The other kids in school also laughed at him. They said Omar was weak … useless and rubbish. It got so bad that Omar started to believe that he was no good. No one listened to him … no one helped him … and no one understood what he was going through. Omar was alone, depressed, and very angry. Then one day Omar snapped. He’d had enough! He wasn’t going to take it anymore. It was time to stop the bullying. anger stood in the corner of Omar’s bedroom encouraging him to get even with the bully.
“Go on get your own back” anger whispered. Omar listened to anger closely and was ready to go into battle, when stupidity appeared and had a quick word.
“You need a weapon. Don’t leave without one” stupidity smiled. Omar listened closely and placed a small knife in his pocket. Stupidity gave Omar a pat on the back and sent him on his way. Omar left his house feeling confident. As he turned the corner, he was met by foolishness, who gave him some last minute instructions.
“You can take them all on Omar. Remember you’re invincible”. Foolishness whistled loudly as three new devious characters appeared to help Omar on his way. They introduced themselves as nervousness, anxiety, and fear. They gave Omar some good advice and told him they’d be with him all the way. Omar stepped off even more determined. Bravery looked a distance away and tried to call out to Omar.
“Don’t’ do this Omar” bravery called out, but stupidity put a gag over his mouth. So Omar never heard what bravery had to say.
“Omar” another voice called out. Omar stopped.
“My name’s temper. I need to give you some advice”. Temper whispered something into Omar’s ears, gave his blessings, and sent him on his way.
Meanwhile love looked on helplessly, as death danced up and down smiling. Omar reached the school playground and scanned around.
His eyes focused on the bullies. He started to feel strange and was met by an even stranger character.
“Omar, my name’s confusion, you’re going to be alright” Confusion gave Omar a reassuring hug before walking off, laughing. The bully spotted Omar, gathered his crew, and headed towards him. Omar started shaking. Suddenly the knife in Omar’s pocket started to speak.
“It’s good to meet you. Glad we’re working together” the knife said. “I hope you know how to use me”
“Of course I do. I won’t let you down” ” Omar said confidently. Omar was then joined by conviction.
“Remember, believe you can do this. Don’t back down. Do what you need to do”
Omar’s heart pumped faster and faster and faster! The knife continued to talk to Omar and told him exactly what to do. Then the bully started verbally abusing Omar followed by pushing and shoving. Omar started to fight back. Then the bully slapped Omar hard across his face. Omar just lost control.
“Come on use me now” said the knife that sounded irritated that Omar was taking so long. Anger and rage appeared on the scene and came to Omar’s rescue. They stood either side of Omar and whispered in his ears. Omar screamed at the bully and then plunged the knife into his chest. There was a loud scream followed by a drop! The bully hit the ground screaming in pain. After a while he stopped breathing. Revenge arrived on the scene
“Well done Omar, you did it” Revenge smiled.
It was over! No more bullying .. no more torment .. no more pain
But for Omar there was no more freedom … Omar was 15 then … he’s 19 now. He has two new friends loneliness … and depression. They loved Omar and share the same prison cell. They talk to him all day and all night. Like true friends they’re always there for him. In fact they never leave him alone. Death sits reading a book in the corner of the cell. He’s in no hurry.
Peace
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