1991...
Kids, well, I dont have kids, so i'm going to tell you this story from when I was a kid (I guess that counts, we aint good lookin' but we're someone's child)

Its 1991 and i'm 7 years old. And i'm totally ashamed, even to this day, that I did not do anything to help this poor kid. Names have been changed blah blah blah

A product of The Thatcher Education system at the time, born in 1984- our generation has been used for all 'forward thinking Government proposals'- SAT's tests, Richmond tests, all sorts.

As the time, economically, thing wern't great. Just like today, some people were better off than others, and some people were poorer then others.

Kirk was from one of the local estates, and I still feel sorry for him whenever I hear this name.

Kirk came from a single parent family, constantly wore hand me downs from his older brothers, and was a fat little kid. Its depressing me just to try and describe him.

I always thought Kirk was alright, we werent exactly super-bestest-buddies- with secret hand shakes, but he was a decent enough footballer, and you could tell there was no malice in him-even though I didnt know what that meant back then.

However, not everyone thought Kirk was the decent chap I thought he was. Kirk was bullied terribly. He occasionally fought back when things got really bad but most of the time he took whatever 'punishment' the meatheads dealt out to him.

There was a group of about four kids who picked on him. And this, as far as I know, was the reason why he ended up in hospital

It started as a normal day, football, registration etc... and at the back of the class you could hear the sniggers, the laughing, the electricty in the air. Kirk was quieter than normal.

1st and second period ran as normal, and then we had break. The best time of the day. 25 mins of play time! Kirk had been out at break, but didnt turn up to third period.

See, it was well known that Kirk was chlostrophobic (sp?) you can probably see where this is heading, and you'd be right.

The bullies pegged it out of second period like lightening. A few of us were talking, probably about Power Rangers, when Kirk said he is going to the drinking fountain.

now in our school, there were lots of little corridors that had doors that open inwards (had to be pulled) to be opened.

The bullies had followed Kirk and asked where he was going 'To the drinking fountain, now leave me along' was probably his reply.

Two of the bullies tore away in one direction, and the other two in the other. Kirk didnt think anything of it, and carried on. Walking down one of these narrow corridors, the doors behind him slammed shut. The doors infront of him slammed shut. Kirk was trapped.

He could hear the roaring laughter of his tormentors, who had put very little physical effort into this torture. They simply shut the doors and propped push-brooms between the handle and the doorframe so that Kirk couldnt open them.

I happened to be walking by and noticed two bullies standing by those doors and didnt think anything of it, at the time i'm not even sure I noticed the brooms.

Well, the bell from break went, the bullies went to lesson and left Kirk there. Im not sure what happened but students took the long way around to class, assuming the caretakers had blocked the doors.

Lunch was two hours away.

Kirk had been left in his 'cell' to rot for what must have been an interminable amount of time. No water, no light, no way of escaping. He must have been in hell.

Then. Anarchy.

Police were everywhere. Bursting into classrooms, the great hall, everywhere to try and find Kirk. Because he hadnt registered after lunch, and there was no way of explaining where he had gone, the police were called.

Then the Ambulance.

Kirk had passed out from not being able to escape and crack his head on the floor. He was found, alive, in a pool of blood and in a not very well condition.

He made a full recovery.

And the bullies? tbh I have no idea of their fate.

I often think back as to what may have happened if i'd have registered that the bullies were standing akwardly. Were laughing. If i'd have noticed the broom. I might have been able to save him. And as i'm writing this, I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes.

Even though the names have been changed, If you're reading this, went to school in south london, and recognise the story as being yours, I hope life has treated you alot better then back in 1991, mate.
(drain_bamaged, Fri 18 Apr 2008, 15:14, 2 replies)

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Don't blame yourself at all, you absolutely do not deserve to feel guilty in any way. There was no way that you'd have known that those bullies were up to something. What happened to Kirk was horrible, but seriously, it was not your fault at all.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Fri 18 Apr 2008, 15:23, closed)

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I understand its not my fault, but I still wonder what could have happened if i'd being paying more attention. Its kind of like witnessing a crime, but not being able to tell the police anything about the villains, you know? Whereever he is, I hope he's enjoying lie alot more.
(drain_bamaged, Fri 18 Apr 2008, 15:25, closed)