Aleysia's+Play

A Different Kid Ms. Chung 304 ELA 8

__SETTING:__ Florida, 2007

__CHARACTERS:__ Nick - Main Character Ms. Minaj and Mr. Minaj - Parents Safari - Friend Michael - Bully Jerold - Bully Todd - Bully Mr. Craig - Guidance Councilor Ms.Smith - Prinicpal Mr. Thomas - Head Of School Committee

( //The sun is beaming down in Tampa, Florida. Nick is on his way to school. He takes out his CD player excited to put his new NSYNC CD in. Nick daydreams at the palm trees as he walks past them. Without Nick knowing a group of boys creep behind him and start to cause trouble// .)

MICHAEL: Hey, you.

JEROLD: ( //Questioning)// Aren’t you that “gay” kid from school?

NICK: (Nervous) Ummm… Why do you care?

TODD: ( //Angry)// Who you talking to like that?

MICHAEL: ( //Pushes him back)// Look at him all scared.

NICK: ( //Pushes Michael back)// Leave me alone dude.

JEROLD: ( //Moving closer toward Nick)// Watch who you're talking to “fag”.

NICK: ( //Begging)// Can I just walk to school in peace?

( //Nick tried running but Michael stopped him)//

MICHAEL: ( //Punches him in the face)// Get back here.

JEROLD //:// ( //Punches him in the arm)// You think you’re tough, you haven’t seen anything yet //.//

//(Nick’s on the floor his hands are over his face)//

NICK //:// (his voice was shaky) Can you just please just leave me alone…. Please?

TODD: ( //Slaps him in the face)// Do you know how to shut up?

JEROLD: //(Leaving)// Let’s go guys, we’re out.

( //Nick is in 2nd period. It is almost over and Nick still didn’t tell his best friend since kindergarten, Safari what happened this morning. She’s going to freak.)//

SAFAREE: ( //Shocked, and frightened)// OMG, Nick what happened to your face?

NICK: Some dudes from school jumped me again. It’s not a big deal Nicki. I’m getting a little used to all the harassment and bullying.

SAFAREE: Are you serious? We need to do something about this before it gets worst.

NICK: ( //Sounding excited)// Alright, all right maybe we should talk to someone. How about Mr. Craig? I bet he can help us.

SAFAREE: Okay, that sounds good.

( //It’s the end of the day and Nick is on his way to his guidance counselor's office to talk about the bullying that he has been going through.)//

NICK: //(Nick walks into the office)// Hey, Mr. Craig.

MR. CRAIG: Hey, Nick what’s up? ( //Worried)// WHOA! Your face is awful, are you okay?

NICK: ( //Voice starts to get shaky)// Yeah I’m fine that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I’m not sure how to put this but. Ummm.. I’ve been continuously bullied and harassed because of my sexual orientation.

MR.CRAIG: //(Gets up to sit next to Nick)// What? How long has this been going on?

NICK: ( //Sighs)// For about six months. I haven’t told anyone because I thought the bulling would get worse. And nobody seemed like they cared about what the kids did to me.

MR.CRAIG: //(Curious)// Have you spoke to anyone else about this?

NICK: No, the only person that really knows about it is Nicki.

MR.CRAIG: ( //taking responsibility)// Well, you know I have to report this to the principal, it's my job. Do you want to be there?

NICK: Yeah sure. But would she really care? So many teachers at the school have witnessed me getting bullied but they act like they're blind. They don't do anything.

MR.CRAIG: ( //Serious)// Well, we can’t let this go on. Tomorrow morning we will both go to Ms. Smith and have a meeting with her.

NICK: ( //Thankful)// Thanks Mr. Craig, this means a lot. I’m not sure what would have happened if I didn’t tell you. I’m glad I did.

MR.CRAIG: That’s what I’m here for!

( //Tuesday morning. Nick got up really early and walked to school so that he wouldn’t risk anything happening to him. He walks into the deserted hallways of the school and heads for the main office)//

MR. CRAIG: Hey, Nick. How you doing? ( //Curious)//

NICK: I’m good, Could be better. ( //Sighs)//

MR. CRAIG: That’s good. Well Ms. Smith should be here soon. ( //A little impatient)//

( //Ms. Smith walks through the door. The heel of her shoes making a pattern)//

MS. SMITH: Good Morning Nick and Mr. Craig. Sorry to keep you waiting. Please come into my office. ( //Walking and talking at the same time)//

//(Nick and Mr. Craig walk into the office and sit comfortably in there seat)//

MS. SMITH: Well, let’s get started. Nick you know why we’re here right? ( //Shuffling papers, seeming aggregated)//

NICK: Yes. ( //Taking a deep breath)// I do.

MS. SMITH: ( //Sounding like she doesn't care)// Okay, so tell me what has been happening.

NICK: //(Took a deep breath and let it out)// I can’t really explain it. People have just been being really harsh to me. You know calling me names like “fag” and other things. I usually don’t let the words get to me. It’s mostly the fact that they hit me and sometimes jump me. I try to fight back but that just makes them angrier. It’s starting to get out of control.

MS. SMITH: //(Pretending she cares)// Wow, this is more serious than I thought. I’m very sorry Nick.

NICK: It’s all right. I really hope we can put this to an end as soon as possible.

MS. SMITH: We will sure try. ( //Sighing and rolling her eyes)//

( //It's the end of the day and Nick is on his way home. He has a big smile on his face with high hopes that the bullying will stop. The same group of bullies from before: Jerold, Michael, and Todd are walking Nicki's way. They heard about Nick snitching and want revenge.)//

JEROLD: ( //Angry already)// Hey, you snitch!

NICK: ( //Curious)// Snitch? How am I a snitch?

TODD: We heard you told Mrs. Smith that we bully you. Now we have to sit out for the next 5 football games. ( //Ready to blow)//

NICK: Well... ummmm.... I didn't mean for that to happen, I just didn't want anything to get out of control. ( //Sorry)//

MICHEAL: It's too late to apologize. //(Punches his in the face)//

//(The boys fight Nick once again, but this time they take their anger out a little too much. They punched him, kicked him and even spit on him. The boys left after they realized they did their job. When Nick woke up it was dark outside. He had an excruciating pain in his left thigh. His eyesight was blurry because of all the swelling. He limped all the way home.)//

//(It's morning and Nick decided not to go to school because of what happen last night. He told his parents about it and they all took a trip to the school committee for a finial ending to this bulling.)//

MR. THOMAS: Good morning Minaj family. Why don't we get this meeting started? Why are you here?

MRS. MINAJ: //(frustrated and almost in tears)// my son has been bullied continuously for the last 6 months and his school hasn't done anything. Nick shouldn't be going through this. He's a regular 16-year-old teenager who is getting picked on just because of his sexual orientation. I don't understand why the school would let this continue.

MR.THOMAS: (//Confused)// and the school hasn’t done anything about this?

MRS. MINAJ: (//Explaining)// No. It’s been six months and this is still going on. (//Angry)// Teachers have witnessed it. The principal was informed about this and no action was taking. If the school had done something about this we wouldn’t be here trying to fix it now.

MR. THOMAS: (//Trying to calm everyone down)// Okay, okay. I’m so surprised. (//Pause)// We have never had something like this take place in our schools. I’m very sorry for what your son has gone through.

MRS. MINAJ: (//Wiping away her tears)// I hope you people really mean it.

MR. THOMAS: //(Staring at Nick's swollen eye then staring back at Mrs. Minaj)// we do not tolerate any kind of bulling in the Tampa School District. We are going to take action immediately.

MRS. MINAJ: ( //Hopeful)// I need you to really do something about this. I can't put my son through anything else.

MR. THOMAS: ( //looks into Ms.Minaj's eye)// I promise you. This is going to end.

(B //y the next month a new bullying law came into act. The three boys that were harassing and bulling Nick were expelled out of Tampa School District. Teachers from Nick's school that witnessed Nick being bullied were fired. The principal of Nick's school was fired as well. Nick is now a happy teenager. He has joined a group at his school called the LGBT for kids like him. He has many new friends and even a crush. Everything is going well for him just as he wished.)//

//(Nick, Safari, and a whole other bunch of kids, just got out of the LGBT club. Safari stares at Nick noticing that he has not been this happy in a while. She pulls him over to talk.)//

SAFAREE: ( //Smiling)// It's been a while since I seen you this happy //.//

NICK: ( //Looking down)// After that new bulling law came into act everything became better. I feel more comfortable when the school made the LGBT club because I can be able to meet new people like me. It feels like a dream come true. I'm glad that Mr. Thomas was able to be on my side.

SAFAREE: ( //Questioning)// Aren't you glad that the school committee got rid of the principal, those boys, some of the teachers?

NICK: //(Explaining)// I still can't believe it now. I love how I can go to school without looking to see who's following me. It's like a new me, new school, and new friends. It's a new life.

SAFAREE: (L //aughing)// Lets go catch up with the others.

( //End)//