“Scoot over,” Mom said to Alex as she sat down beside him. “Listen, none of this is your fault, Alex. I don’t blame you. I blame the girl who couldn’t keep her hands to herself. Julia’s right, maybe this girl is going through more things in her life than we know or maybe she just enjoys beating up kids, but no one should have to go to school in fear. Not my Julia or any other child. Well, now with that being said, your dad is in the living room. He’d like to talk to you both.”
“Okay. Tell Dad we’ll be there in a second, okay?”
“Sure thing, honey, I’ll let him know. Don’t be too long,” Mom said as she walked out of my room.
Even though I was still hurting physically, I was feeling much better emotionally. I knew as long as Alex and I were still friends, I’d be okay. I was also a little relieved that everything was out in the open and that I didn’t have to lie to Alex or my parents anymore. I didn’t want to focus on what happened anymore for today. I wanted to enjoy what time I had left before Alex’s mom came and picked him up. We we’re now on Christmas vacation and I couldn’t wait to spend it with Alex.
“So, now that we’ve made up, I wanted to clear the air about what really happened when we were at Central park…”
“Oh, the kiss,” Alex said as he laughed. I know it was just because you were excited. I had forgotten all about it.”
“Actually, I wasn’t talking about that. What I was going to say was, that day while I was in the bathroom I was attacked by Bridget. She didn’t hurt me as badly as she did today, but she did threaten me and slapped me across the face, and if it wasn’t for you calling out my name I think she would have beaten me in there, but she stopped when she heard your voice.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Julia. None of this would have happened to you if you and I weren’t friends. Come to think of it, I thought I saw her and two other girls that day, but I wasn’t sure.”
“I’m not telling you this so you’ll blame yourself. I’m telling you this because I want to be honest with you about everything and hope that we can start new,” I said with a slight smile.
“Of course, Julia, I wouldn’t have it any other way. You’re stuck with me. I want you to know that I’d do anything for you. You do know this, right?”
“Yes, I do,” I said, reaching for his hand, but then quickly letting go.
I could hear Mom calling us. “Crap, Dad’s waiting for us.” So we both jumped up and headed into the living room.
Chapter Seventeen
That night Dad informed Alex and me that Principal Joseph had spoken with Bridget’s mom. Apparently, Bridget’s future at the school would be determined when Christmas vacation was over. I still wasn’t sure how I felt about everything. I mean, I didn’t want her to get thrown out of school, but I did think she needed to recognize what she did to me and I’m pretty sure to others in the past.
Both my parents had given me the option to press charges on Bridget for assault, but I didn’t want to go that far. I thought that there had to be a better way to make my voice be heard, and I shared with my parents why I had strong oppositions about taking legal actions.
“Mom, Dad, I understand your anger, but I’ll never be able to let it go if you don’t. I do realize you worry about me and I appreciate it so much, but shouldn’t I have a say too? I mean, I am the one who took the beating.”
Neither one of them said anything for a few minutes. I wanted patiently for one of them to say something. I was really hoping they would let me choose. It wasn’t like I was still a child. I felt like there was a better solution and a better way to speak out for myself and for all the others who had suffered just as I have.
“Okay, what do you propose, Julia? Let her get away with it?” Dad asked.
“Well, no, but I don’t think throwing her in jail will solve anything. Besides Bridget being obsessed with Alex, I think there’s more to her and why she’s so angry. I know personally that it’s hard being a teenager. The pressure of making our parents proud, wondering if we’ll fit in at school, peer pressure. The list goes on Dad.”
“What I’m trying to say is that instead of making things worse, I want to make things better. Making an example of her as a bully isn’t going to change anything. Do you think I’m the only kid in the world that has been bullied? I’m only one out of hundreds; maybe even thousands of kids each year.”
I waited for my dad to argue his point, but he didn’t. Instead he listened as I continued. I was hoping that somehow as I pleaded my case I’d win. I still wasn’t sure what I could do to make a difference for other kids like me, but I was determined to come up with a plan to make my parents proud and be a voice for others. When I had no more left to say both of my parents rose from the couch and said they’d be back in a few minutes to decide what the verdict would be. Alex and I sat on the couch waiting patiently.
“I think you’re right, Julia, but that doesn’t mean they will. I think you made a great point, but what is your plan exactly?” Alex asked with curiosity.
“I’m not sure, but I know I need one before they both come back. Help me think of something,” I asked.
Alex and I went round and round with ideas. We both agreed that kids our age were probably just misunderstood or were lacking strong family values in the home. “I believe that there’s always a reason why people do bad things. I truly believe that God made us all good. It falls on us to choose whether to remain good. In the case of Bridget, I think maybe she just needs someone to care, someone to show her a better life and a better way to deal with her anger.”
“What do you think, Alex?”
“I think you’re right. Not everyone is fortunate to have the life you and I have, Julia. Maybe we need more programs to help kids see the good in themselves, and to show them that they don’t have to bully others to make themselves feel better.”
“Yes, that’s it. You’re absolutely right, Alex! I also think we need to have a program set up for kids that do bully. Instead of automatically throwing them in jail for assault or expelling them there should be a three strikes you’re out policy.”
“Okay, but you lost me with the three strikes,” Alex said with a lost look on his face.
“Alright, I’ll give you an example of what I mean by that. When a kid gets bullied in school by another kid, the bully will automatically have after school detention for two weeks where she or he will have to write an apology letter to the kid who was bullied. Plus they’ll have to spend an hour every day in the councilor’s office, so that maybe the councilor can get to the root of their problem and be able to help them. That would be the first strike.”
“Second strike would be if they decide to bully someone again, they’ll have in school suspension for two weeks, and have to do twenty hours of community service which they must complete within a thirty day period. They would also be set up with regular appointments to see a professional psychologist to further their progress of getting to the root of the aggressive behavior.”
“Last strike, they would just be expelled from the school and depending on the case, the bullied child’s parents could press charges if they thought it was necessary.”
“Wow, you sound like you know just what you’re going to say to your parents. Now, only if you can convince them. Maybe they could help us. Isn’t your mom a lawyer and your dad a state’s attorney? They must have some connections.” Alex did have a point.
“Yes, I’m sure they do have connections, but it’s not about them. It’s about me, you, and so many others. I think we should do this on our own. Take it to the people,” I said, all excited.
While Alex laughed at my enthusiasm he said, “Um, Julia, what people? Now, you’ve lost me. I thought this idea was for school.”
“Yes, it is, but it’s shouldn’t be just about our school. It should be about all schools.”
Maybe it was me, but I didn’t want to just change the policies in our school, I wanted to change it everywhere. This way it gave other kids hope. Hope for a better tomorrow, for their future in the world. While I was in my own thoughts, my parents came back in the room to let me know their verdict. I worried they would still perceive me as their little girl and incapable to making my own decisions.
“All right, Julia, your mom and I have decided to trust you. Whatever you want to do we’ll stand behind you one hundred percent, but…”
Great, anytime the word “but” came out of my parents mouth I knew I had to make a promise. I didn’t see this going my way. What could they possibly want me to promise?
“But we need you to promise that you won’t give up, and you’ll continue keep your word by helping other kids. We believe in you, Julia,” Dad said as he leaned over to hug me.
“Yes, we are proud of you, Julia and of course you too, Alex,” Mom added.
Knowing that my parents were behind me one hundred percent, Alex and I shared our ideas with them. At first they thought I should start small. They suggested I rally for change in our school system here in New York, but I saw a bigger picture. Both of my parents knew I was serious, so Dad suggested I take my cause to the streets. I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, so I asked him.
“Take it to the streets? What do you mean? You want me to go hang out in New York City yelling, 'no more bullying'?” I asked.
Apparently, I had said something funny. My parents started to laugh. “No, honey,” said Dad. “What I meant by taking it to the streets was rallying people together. Share your cause with them. Let your voice be heard.”
“Oh, now I understand. So what you’re saying is that I should make up a petition and have people sign it. Join forces to put an end to bullying. I bet if I get enough signatures, I could bring it to our local congressman, and hope it inspires him to write a bill which may possibly become a law. “Wouldn’t that be awesome, Dad,” I said, getting goose bumps just talking about it.
“Yes, Julia. That would awesome, but I just …”
Mom nudged Dad with an elbow to his side before he could finish his sentence. “Julia, dear,” Mom intervened, “what your dad was going to say is that these things don’t happen overnight. If for some reason you don’t get enough signatures and you can get it into a bill, never mind a law, don’t give up. Continue trying to change things here. It’s a huge process to get the government involved, especially when it comes to making new laws. We just don’t want you to get discouraged, that’s all.”
“I know. I’m just ready to make a difference for others who feel their voice won’t be heard.”
That night we all ate pizza and came up with ideas to start making things happen. I was thrilled that Alex was going to be a part of it. I knew in some small way he felt partly responsible for what had happened to me, but I didn’t blame him at all.
When Alex’s mom arrived at the house to pick him up later that night, she and my parents went into the kitchen to speak privately. Both Alex and I had an idea what it was about, but we stayed clear of them and went into my room.
“Well, Christmas is in two weeks. Are you excited, Julia?” Alex asked with a strange look on his face.
“Heck yeah, I wish it was Christmas every day. Why are you looking at me strangely?”
“No reason. Why, do you know something I don’t want you to know?”
“Huh? Why are you talking in riddles?” I was really confused.
“I’m not. I’m just messing around with you.”
I had a feeling Alex had bought me a Christmas gift which was causing him to act strange. I needed to remind Mom to take me shopping soon. Time was running out and I wasn’t going to accept a gift from Alex without having one to give him in return.
Alex’s mom poked her head into the bedroom doorway and asked, “Whatcha kids doing?”
“Nothing, really, we’re just sitting here chit chatting. That’s all,” I answered.
“Well, Alex, get your stuff. We need to be going.”