This is the story about a bully. Like many other bullies, he kept to himself when he wasn't beating anybody up or other bully-ish things. Perhaps you know someone like this bully. Maybe he picked on you. Maybe he was you.
We've always heard the side of the prey. Now its time to gear the predator's side. Our tale begins in a high school just like anyone elses. Two unsuspecting freshmen are making their way down the hall. They are talking about something. Something All freshmen talk about.
(80's Wannabe Guy and Levelheaded Black Man are walking down the hall, trying to act cool. It's not working)
80's Wannabe Guy: Hey my man. So what you think about it?
Levelheaded Black Man: I'm thinking what you're thinking dude.
80's Wannabe Guy: Fo' Shilz!
Levelheaded Black Man: No man! Its Shizzle! S. H. … Izzle. We're in high school. You've got to get the lingo right!
(Bruiser barges up, clapping a beefy hand on a shoulder of each freshman.)
Bruiser: Well well! Fresh meat.
80's Wannabe Guy: Hey man! Get off me! So not radical dude!
Levelheaded Black Man: Oh hell. Here we go again.
(Bruiser lifts both freshmen high into the air)
Bruiser: To half-wits in the hall who don't even know the current slang. Time to get you two an education.
(Bruiser twists both freshmen together into a human pretzel ball)
Bruiser: (running with the ball) He shoots! (tossing the ball into a dumpster being wheeled down the hall) He scores! (The two freshmen land neatly into the dumpster.)
(The principal enters. He was captain of the football team during his time)
Principal: Mr. Cancage!
(Bruiser ignores the principal, still smirking at his handiwork being wheeled away)
Principal: Mr. Cancage!
(Bruiser turns around)
Bruiser: Yeah?
Principal: What exactly was the meaning of your behavior? That was most innpropriate! I demand you return those two freshmen to their spot of standing!
(Bruiser rolls his eyes)
Principal: Now, Mr. Cancage!
Bruiser: Ok. Whatever.
(Bruiser stops the dumpster from being moved. He then grasps the upper edge, and flips the dumpster onto its side, depositing the freshmen and their surrounding filth onto the recently cleaned hallway floors.)
Principal: That’s it! Go to the office young man!
Bruiser: (shaking his head) why should I? You're right here in front of me. Why waste time going to your office?
Principal: (spluttering) You're… You're just trying to build up a reputation! (Pointedly, and with conviction) You think you're so big and tough! Well… I can see you for who you really are! You're scared. You can't cope with authority. I can't say I blame you (fixes his glasses). My god. Your parents were just the same. Weak, spineless bookworms! Always trying to change this or something rights that! NO school spirit. No respect at all.
Bruiser: (with a look of cold steel) What did you say? (glares at Principal)
Principal: You heard me! You're a spineless coward.
Bruiser: (swelling with anger) Don't you EVER say that again! You don't know ANYTHING about me, or my parents! You can't even see past the end of your own nose!
Principal: and exactly what would be worth seeing? You? I think not. You've got muscles. That’s the only plus. You waste them for nothing. Nothing! Join a sport. Then you'd be useful! Bring some pride to our school! Good Day!
(The Principal turns and walks away. The scene cuts to black, and when the lights come back on, bruiser is in a classroom, second seat from the front on the far right. Its Pre-Calculus and they've finally finished taking a quiz. Bruiser is staring at the chalkboard. The teacher looks up from her papers)
Teacher: Ike Cancage? Cold you please come up here?
Bruiser: wha? Huh? Oh, sure.
(Bruiser walks up, taking special precaution to stay quiet)
Teacher: Ike. I've just finished grading your quiz.
Bruiser: Ok.
Teacher: Do you know what you got, Ike?
Bruiser: No idea.
Teacher. Ike, you got a perfect. You showed all work, your logic was impeccable, and you even got all parts of the bonus question. You obviously know the material. And yet your failing. Why is that?
Bruiser: 'Cause I don't do the homework.
Teacher: Exactly. Why is that? It kills me to fail you every six weeks. You have the top scores on tests and quizzes, but you insist on not turning in your blessed homework! Why don't you?
Bruiser: I think it's stupid. I know the material. Why do busy work?
Teacher: you have me there. Anyway, there was another point I wanted to discuss. I've seen you in the halls, and you are a vulgar fellow. Why aren't you when you are in my class?
Bruiser: (looking down) to be quite honest, it comes naturally to me. The simplicity of the basic logic is easy to grasp, and once the concept is realized, its all a matter of deducing when to apply a formula. Why do you ask?
Teacher: (smiling) No reason special. You just helped me make a decision. (the bell rings) Good day, Mr. Cancage.
(Bruiser leaves through the door stage right. Soon sounds of his bullying can be heard as he stuffs the same two freshmen from earlier into a locker.)
Bruiser: Form an ionic bond you two. Maybe it'll boost your brains! (laughter)
(It’s the next day, and the teacher is standing in front of the room with a new student…)
Teacher: Class, I'd like you all to meet Miss Katheryne Alice. She's a new student, and I want all of you to make sure she feels welcome. (Catcalls from the peanut gallery) Now now. Behave. I have taken the liberty of looking at Miss Alice's schedule, and picked out a tutor to help settle her into the curriculum. Ike Cancage, (Bruiser, who had been playing with a paper clip, abruptly drops the clip and looks up, caught off guard by the new student…) will you please help Miss Alice get aquainted with our present chapter?
(Katheryne Alice sits in the seat right behind Bruiser and gets her books out. In the process, her calculator drops out, clattering to the floor.)
Katheryne: Oh dear. (Bends over to pick it up)
Bruiser: No no! I've got it. Don't worry. (retrieves the calculator and sets it back onto Katheryne's desk)
Katheryne: (smiles) Thanks.
Bruiser: No problem. (hesitates) It’s the only time you'll see me do something nice.
Katheryne: (shaking head from side to side) Ok. I won't expect it anymore then. (smile) What was your name again?
Bruiser: Icarus Cancage. I go by Ike. And you're Katheryn Alice.
Katheryne: I go by Kat. Kat Alice.
Bruiser: Ike Cancage
Katheryne: So where is your class at?
Bruiser: Let me show you.
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