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A little story. ok, maybe not <:(
12 years ago
General
A story that I had sent to me from a friend I know that's studying in America:
It was my first day at school, I didn't know what to expect. I walked through the front gates with my heavy school bag eager to get to class early. Upon entering the class, the bell rang, signalling the start of first period.
It was an introductory session, where the teacher would do rollcall and ask each student to stand at the front of the class and talk about themselves. Naturally, one by one, our names we're called. I was nervous when it came to my turn, but I think I managed to pull through without embarassing myself too much. I then took my seat. Next, the teacher announced "and finally, we have henry. Come to the front...".
That was the first time I saw Henry. He was a student who was, I would then discover, the focal point of everyone's insults and ridicule.
Why?, you may ask. Henry was 14, 5'9 and weighed 310 pounds.
He made his way to the front, hearing snickering and stood valiantly in front of the sea of judgemental eyes.
He simply said: "My name is Henry and one day, I'd like to be an astronaut for NASA."
The entire class burst out in laughter (excluding myself). I felt so sorry for the guy. I couldn't imagine the pain of what he was going through. Everyone eventually settled down, and the teacher continued with the lesson and Henry sat back down.
After what seemed to be a lifetime, it was finally reccess. I met up with a friend from a different class, (someone who I knew before starting at the school) and we started talking about the day so far. I mentioned the incident in class with Henry to her, to which she replied "Poor guy... I kinda feel bad for him".
She then went on to explain that his abusive father walked out on him and his mother when he was around 3. His mother died from a drug overdose 11 years later. He never went to fostercare, so he had to fend for himself for the past 2 years.
After hearing that, I headed off to the playground. There he was, sitting on a bench in the corner, secluded, staring at the ground. I decided to approach him to cheer the guy up. "hey there" I said. He slowly tilted his head upwards, and gave me the biggest smile (probably the only one he's pulled in a while). The look in his eyes was that of relief, the sort of "thank you for freeing me from this pain of lonliness" look.
I sat down next to him and we started talking. He led the entire conversation with his fascination of rocket ships and outer space. For the entire duration of reccess, I noticed that he didn't have a lunch box and hadn't eaten. His jaw was almost trembling when I offered him a lemon hard candy my mom packed for me that day. At first, he humbly declined, claiming that he wasn't hungry, so I placed it in his hand and told him to save it for when he is hungry (God knows how long he hadn't had anything to eat).
As reccess was about to end, a group of kids from our class confronted him, and underlying voices uttered "what makes you think a fat f&$k like you would even fit in space?", "I don't think they make space suits that big", "They might mistake you for being a planet". What was henry's response to such cruel statements?.. he smiled. Whatever comments would destroy the average persons self esteem, he would respond with a smile. Everytime. I could only stand there, because I was too cowardly to do or say anything.
As school dragged on over the months, we spoke every reccess and sometimes in class. he'd never mention the cruelty of the other kids. He'd tell me space facts and I'd share any extra food I could spare with him. The bullying never seemed to stop, nor did the teachers make any effort to do anything about it after I informed them time after time.
Eventually, Henry stopped coming to class because he couldn't afford the fees. I wanted to check and see if he was okay, but he didn't have a phone I could contact him on nor a computer. I invited him over for dinner a few times before he left, but I never had a chance to see where he lived because his pride would never allow it. So I searched, when I could, for him.
2 weeks later. It was during a weekend. I was watching tv with my sister, when the headlines
"2 murdered in driveby" plastered the screen. My heart sank when I saw the face of the victims photos that they broadcasted.
On saturday morning, at 3:52 a.m. Henry was murdered in an alleyway during a driveby in the local town. Being gunned down whilst sleeping in a cardboard box, he died on the scene.
A fourteen year old boy just died. My special space buddy had just passed away.
Yes, there was the drama. Tears were shed, investigations conducted, but they didn't make a difference. Henry wasn't coming back. All that was left of his memory was the box he lived in, along with a book titled "a guide to outer space" and some pictures of space shuttles and rockets he liked to draw.
The state was kind enough to fund the funeral. The funeral that noone attended except me and two other officials. I stood there, in absolute emotional pain. This guy had suffered so much agony in his life. No one showed him a single ounce of kindness, even from birth. Every waking second seemed to get darker for him, yet he marched on. Never once troubling anyone, yet people still rejected him. That life was just too sad.
I tried to move on, but I could never forget him.
It's four months later, and i'd received a package after attending the reading of the last will and testament with my parents.
I've arrived home to open it.
inside: A lemon hard candy and a paper with the words "reach for the stars" written.
:'(
Kinda lengthy, but just thought it was something I'd like to share.
Working on the rest of the requests.
I salute you, Space hero
It was my first day at school, I didn't know what to expect. I walked through the front gates with my heavy school bag eager to get to class early. Upon entering the class, the bell rang, signalling the start of first period.
It was an introductory session, where the teacher would do rollcall and ask each student to stand at the front of the class and talk about themselves. Naturally, one by one, our names we're called. I was nervous when it came to my turn, but I think I managed to pull through without embarassing myself too much. I then took my seat. Next, the teacher announced "and finally, we have henry. Come to the front...".
That was the first time I saw Henry. He was a student who was, I would then discover, the focal point of everyone's insults and ridicule.
Why?, you may ask. Henry was 14, 5'9 and weighed 310 pounds.
He made his way to the front, hearing snickering and stood valiantly in front of the sea of judgemental eyes.
He simply said: "My name is Henry and one day, I'd like to be an astronaut for NASA."
The entire class burst out in laughter (excluding myself). I felt so sorry for the guy. I couldn't imagine the pain of what he was going through. Everyone eventually settled down, and the teacher continued with the lesson and Henry sat back down.
After what seemed to be a lifetime, it was finally reccess. I met up with a friend from a different class, (someone who I knew before starting at the school) and we started talking about the day so far. I mentioned the incident in class with Henry to her, to which she replied "Poor guy... I kinda feel bad for him".
She then went on to explain that his abusive father walked out on him and his mother when he was around 3. His mother died from a drug overdose 11 years later. He never went to fostercare, so he had to fend for himself for the past 2 years.
After hearing that, I headed off to the playground. There he was, sitting on a bench in the corner, secluded, staring at the ground. I decided to approach him to cheer the guy up. "hey there" I said. He slowly tilted his head upwards, and gave me the biggest smile (probably the only one he's pulled in a while). The look in his eyes was that of relief, the sort of "thank you for freeing me from this pain of lonliness" look.
I sat down next to him and we started talking. He led the entire conversation with his fascination of rocket ships and outer space. For the entire duration of reccess, I noticed that he didn't have a lunch box and hadn't eaten. His jaw was almost trembling when I offered him a lemon hard candy my mom packed for me that day. At first, he humbly declined, claiming that he wasn't hungry, so I placed it in his hand and told him to save it for when he is hungry (God knows how long he hadn't had anything to eat).
As reccess was about to end, a group of kids from our class confronted him, and underlying voices uttered "what makes you think a fat f&$k like you would even fit in space?", "I don't think they make space suits that big", "They might mistake you for being a planet". What was henry's response to such cruel statements?.. he smiled. Whatever comments would destroy the average persons self esteem, he would respond with a smile. Everytime. I could only stand there, because I was too cowardly to do or say anything.
As school dragged on over the months, we spoke every reccess and sometimes in class. he'd never mention the cruelty of the other kids. He'd tell me space facts and I'd share any extra food I could spare with him. The bullying never seemed to stop, nor did the teachers make any effort to do anything about it after I informed them time after time.
Eventually, Henry stopped coming to class because he couldn't afford the fees. I wanted to check and see if he was okay, but he didn't have a phone I could contact him on nor a computer. I invited him over for dinner a few times before he left, but I never had a chance to see where he lived because his pride would never allow it. So I searched, when I could, for him.
2 weeks later. It was during a weekend. I was watching tv with my sister, when the headlines
"2 murdered in driveby" plastered the screen. My heart sank when I saw the face of the victims photos that they broadcasted.
On saturday morning, at 3:52 a.m. Henry was murdered in an alleyway during a driveby in the local town. Being gunned down whilst sleeping in a cardboard box, he died on the scene.
A fourteen year old boy just died. My special space buddy had just passed away.
Yes, there was the drama. Tears were shed, investigations conducted, but they didn't make a difference. Henry wasn't coming back. All that was left of his memory was the box he lived in, along with a book titled "a guide to outer space" and some pictures of space shuttles and rockets he liked to draw.
The state was kind enough to fund the funeral. The funeral that noone attended except me and two other officials. I stood there, in absolute emotional pain. This guy had suffered so much agony in his life. No one showed him a single ounce of kindness, even from birth. Every waking second seemed to get darker for him, yet he marched on. Never once troubling anyone, yet people still rejected him. That life was just too sad.
I tried to move on, but I could never forget him.
It's four months later, and i'd received a package after attending the reading of the last will and testament with my parents.
I've arrived home to open it.
inside: A lemon hard candy and a paper with the words "reach for the stars" written.
:'(
Kinda lengthy, but just thought it was something I'd like to share.
Working on the rest of the requests.
I salute you, Space hero
dammit why did I post this?, I'm so sad right now :(
I never cry. EVER. but tonight, i'll make an exception.
God bless you Henry, you beautiful person! *salutes*
>:')
*rubbing his watery eyes, as next he salutes*
Rest in peace, Henry.