Extract

I always think that the worst thing about bullies is the size of their mouths. Some are like dustbin lids, easily opened to reveal rotting rubbish ready to spew out; others are entrances to vast empty buildings full of the worst swear words in the world and one or two are as huge as Wembley Stadium full of supporters yelling, ‘We woz robbed!’

Meryl had the third kind of mouth. It was contorted in red hot anger directed at me. ‘Take ye face outta my face!’ she yelled at me. If bullies only knew how ugly they look when they’re nasty! It’s as if all the foul thoughts they have inside wriggle to the surface and form suppurating sores.

‘Thicko!' She’d picked on me because she thought I was different. Then she added, ‘Who do you think your lookin’ at?’’

‘Dunno, the ticket’s fallen off!’ Yeah, you’re right, I never know when to shut up.

Meryl was working herself up into a frenzy. Her wolfish crew were gathering around her. She was jumping up and down because I didn’t go quiet like everyone else when she started on them.

A seasoned player in the art of standing up to bullies, I knew what would happen next and it did. She started to push me. Next her crew would start pushing. I didn’t push back, I hit her. A lovely right hook! There was an explosion of blood! Stars! Instant tears followed by red waterfall.

Her crew parted like the waters of the Red Sea and I made my way triumphantly home nursing bruised and aching knuckles.

Who am I? Olivia Simpson, Olli for short. I hate feeling different, looking different. I hate remembering what bullies say and going over it and over it in my mind. Why do those kids with the biggest mouths want to pick on kids like me?

Mam says it’s because they don’t engage their brain before they open their mouths. She says they just don’t know any better and I should make allowances. I think they just want to make as unhappy and miserable as they are and why should I ‘make allowances’? As you can see Mam and I don’t always agree.

Whirrr…Sprrr…Pipss…Twoo… I cursed and tapped at my left hearing aid as it whooshed back into life again.

‘Hi.’ The voice came from a smiling face covered in freckles.

‘Hi.’ I said tentatively. The face was wearing the same black uniform and tie as me.

‘You’re new aren’t ye?’ She seemed inquisitive rather than nosey.

‘Yeah.’

‘I saw ye punch Meryl the Mouth on the nose.’

‘Yeah.’

‘Ye made it bleed ‘nd everything.’

‘Wot’s it to you?’

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