We had a smelly kid at school
that we used to (of course) rib mercilessly.

After a particularly savage session of taunting, he wigged out and gave someone a thumping. Things led to other things, and in the end it was patiently explained to us that his Mum had died when he was 3, a single mother of 5 children, and he and his 4 siblings were cared for by their widowed 70 year old Grandmother, who sometimes might not have been able to wash their clothes as often as she would have liked.

Furthermore, said Grandma had been fighting tooth and nail for the best part of 10 years with social services, who were watching like a hawk for the opportunity to take all the kids into care.

So, having had this explained to us, we did what any other bunch of 13 year olds would have done. Carried on abusing him.
(username failed moderation, Mon 7 Nov 2011, 12:24, Reply)