Don't Be a Bully

Dan Snyder

Right before Robbie and his four brothers piled into Bubba’s van. Robbie’s dad Jimbo squeezed his large frame halfway into the van and shouted all of his sons name out excluding Robbie and said “Take care of that scrawny little puke, Robbie!”  Then slammed the van door.  Bubba hit the gas and screeched the tires half way down street.  The van ride on the way to school was intimidating to say the least.  Bubba belted out “Better forget what dad said, we ain’t takin care of your punk ass Robbie, If you don’t wanna get picked on quit being such a skinny little bitch!”  His brothers chimed in too “Yeah you fuckin’ square, quit reading all the time and get in the weight room.”  Said Cletus.  Robbie sat quietly with his head down and tried to drown out what his brothers were saying about him.  As they pulled into the parking lot the brothers poured out of the van.

High school was a whole different world to Robbie everyone was a lot bigger, He felt a sinking feeling the first time he walked down the seemling endless hall to his first class.  The first day of school was a breeze; he was in fourth period almost halfway through the day and no one had picked on him.  He just kept his head down and kept his mouth closed.  When the bell rang signaling the end of fourth period he grabbed his book bag and made his way to lunch, walking, mopingly brushing his hand against the lockers that lined each side of the hallway.  He heard somebody slam a locker and looked to his left, not paying attention to what was in front of him while he was still pacing and as he turned his head back to what lay in front of him he saw a looming manchild in front of him, Robbie accidentally brushed the mans shoulder.  He kept walking forward and as he had passed the roadblock, he suddenly felt his feet come out from under himself, and he knew his ass would not land softly on the tile flooring that was inevitably waiting patiently to receive him.  Robbie hit the ground and winced in pain, He looked up, the man belted out in a low angry tone “You better learn how to walk right, fucking freshman!”  The beast stomped off, and Robbie collected himself and stood up.  His brothers not far down the hall witnessed the whole event shook their heads in shame,  Bubba belted across the hall “That’s Carl dumbass, he’s the captain of the football team.”  Robbie didn’t eat much for lunch, he didn’t have much of an appetite, he felt queasy and overwhelmed by his new setting.

After lunch Robbie made his way to his next class, which was english.  He was the first one in class, the Teacher was sitting at his desk with his nose in a book.  He put his book down as soon as he heard Robbies footsteps.  He was a portly man, he had long white hair, he was balding on the top.  His face was wrinkled,  and he had sunken eyes that were beady and seemingly black in color.  He stared at Robbie for a moment and smiled from ear to ear.  He said come over here Robbie, which he thought was strange since he had not yet introduced himself.  Robbie walked cautiously over to his desk, and said “hello…” The man opened his desk drawer which was cluttered with various notebooks, and papers filled top to bottom with words.  The old teacher stared curiously into his desk as if he was looking for something in particular, then he raised his eyebrows and pulled something out with great joy in his face.  He smiled and chuckled as he plopped what he had found down on his desk.  The old teacher looked at it for a minute and asked “Do you know what this is?”  Robbie looked at it, and he could plainly see it was a tattered old notebook, a silver pen, and an eraser.  Confused by why the old teacher asked him he hesitated and said “Um…well it looks like an old worn out notebook, sir.”  The old teacher chuckled again and said “Well that is what it appears to be doesn’t it!  But it’s not just an old worn out notebook, this notebook has certain magical qualities.”  Robbie became intrigued but he was still hesitant. “What does it do?” He replied.  “Well damn near anything you want it to do Robbie!”  The old teacher said in a gleeful manner.  “Open it up and write something in the notebook.”  So Robbie did as the old teacher said, he wrote down the word dog, and a scraggly looking dog materialized out of nowhere.  The old teacher took the eraser and erased to word dog and the dog disappeared.  “Well there you go Robbie use it wisely, I have a feeling you will.”  Said the old man.  Class began and Robbie smiled for the first time since he could remember.

After school Robbie decided to test out his new notebook and pen.  He saw Carl the captain of the football, Robbie could still feel the throbbing pain in his tailbone.  He decided this would be the perfect time to test out his new notebook and pen.  Robbie used his wits and schemed up something in an instant.  Robbie opened up his tattered old notebook and wrote down "Make me more athletic than anyone in this school."  Then he slammed his notebook shut.  Robbie didn't know what to expect..."Huh , I don't feel or look any different."  But he kept his faith quickly remembering the dog that appeared out of thin air.  Robbie confidently walked walked up to Carl who was on his way to football practice and tapped him on the shoulder from behind.  The beast shifted his weight to his left foot and pivoted around.  Carl looked down and stared inquisitively at Robbie, "Well what the fuck do you want squirt?" Robbie quickly replied "Oh nothing just saying hi!" Carl sneered "Look I know who you are, just because I respect your brothers doesn't you get any respect from me, so get the fuck out and don't ever touch me again!"  Carl turned around but Robbie opened his mouth again, "Hey I bet you I can throw that football twice as far as you can."  Carl turned around clearly tired with Robbie's presence and said "Ok if you can throw this football farther than me I'll shit my pants."  Carl tossed Robbie the football he had clutched in his grips and they walked to the field.  As they reached the field Robbie decided he wanted Carl to go first, "Naw Carl why don't you throw it first."  Carl took the ball and heaved it half way down the field.  Robbie getting nervous as to whether the notebook would deliver grabbed a football from nearby, cocked his arm back and released the ball.  The ball went sailing through the air and landed on the complete other side of the field.  Carl looked at Robbie in shock, "Where the in the hell did you learn how to throw like that?"  "I don't know, guess I've never really thrown a football before."  All of the football team had gathered to see what was going on, they all started giving Carl hell someone jeered "You let that squirt out throw you?"  Robbie turned around and pulled out his notebook and wrote down "Make Carl shit himself."  And so Carl did just that, he shit all over himself, One of his teammates who caught a whiff of what Carl had done burst out laughing and soon the whole team joined in.  After that embarrassing string of events Carl quit the football team and eventually transferred schools once word had spread to everyone about his accident.

After the afternoon on the football field Robbie realized what a powerful tool this notebook could be, he thought about using it to better himself but since his heart was good and pure he figured he would just use it in times of dire need or to help out people when they needed it.  Robbie decided that revenge was ok up to an extent so throughout high school if anyone messed with him he would just embarrass them.  So he did he used his notebook to help out people like himself, the underdogs of life.  Robbie grew up and was much more mature, his acne had faded, he had grown a few inches, gained a few pounds, and he got contacts.  It was time for Robbie to go to college, he was the last one to go off to college from his family all his brothers.  The other brothers had all gone off to the same college to play on the same football team.  Although they continued to harass Robbie thought the rest of his high school days, but Robbie never used his notebook to keep them from pushing him around.  He never complained because he loved his brothers and his whole family.  So Robbie went off to college on the opposite side of the country far away from his family.  His brothers called and talked to Robbie on occasion they had grown older and didn't harass Robbie anymore. 

Long after high school and college were over Robbie stayed on the other side of the country.  He got a job and still held on to the tattered old notebook, it was locked away in a safe that he never opened.  Robbie was single and 15 years removed from the last time he had seen anyone from his family.  His Brothers were all married and had families, and his father was getting old and frail.  The Brothers called one day to tell Robbie that they were all coming to visit, and they were bringing their father with them.  Robbie was overjoyed. He thought about his family everyday and missed them deeply. 

The day arrived for Robbie's family to come,  he waited eagerly at the airport for his brothers and his dad,  but they never came.... Robbie thought it was odd so he went home and called his father, no reply.  He never heard heard from them again  because his family was killed in a car accident on the way to the airport.  Robbie was deeply saddened; he packed a bag and went to his safe and grabbed the tattered old notebook,  took the next flight available, and went back to his home. 

Robbie and his brother's wives and children all showed up to the funeral,  all of them with their sunken tired eyes streaming tears while an eulogy was read for each of the family members.  Robbie waited until the funeral was over and walked in the rain back to his childhood home.  He clutched the notebook in his hand, opened it up, and scribbled down "Bring my family back."  But nothing happened. He scribbled down "Take me away then!"  He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. It was the teacher who had given Robbie the notebook.  Robbie said to the teacher "if this damn book can't bring my family back, then I want it to send me where the lord has taken them." 

The old man smiled. "The book could bring them back Robbie, but you have to be willing to make one more sacrifice in your life." 

"I would do anything to take the pain away from their wives and children." 

The old teacher took him by the hand and walked him back into his old home. They walked back into Robbie's old room. The old teacher told Robbie to lay in his old bed and rest and that his family would be here when he woke in the morning.  Robbie watched the old teacher walk out the door as he lay; as the old teacher walked out the door, Robbie asked, "Will I ever see you again?" 

The teacher smiled and Robbie felt a great warmth.

"Just know that with great sacrifice comes a great reward." 

Robbie fell asleep and never woke up.  His wish was fulfilled, his family was back, and Robbie's sacrifice came with the reward of another great adventure.