16 Years ago, the city of Vladivostok, a coastal town of Russia:
"Please mum, I don't want to go. They will tease me, call me fatty." A tearful boy of 10 refused to leave. Every morning, he hated and wished there would be no more school. His dark hair spiked forward, trying, and failing to hide his round face. The oversized black jumper hung like a tent, another futile attempt to conceal what the other children mocked.
"My dear Danya, they are jealous of you. Their own mothers would not love them the way I love you. Cherish yourself, let their words bounce off you." Valeriya, Danya's mother, smiled at her young son. Knowing her sweet, wonderful child; was like her, far too kind, in a cruel cold world.
"Mom? What's the holdup is Danya crying again?" Danya's older sister Katya ran up the stairs. A taller girl of 15 and blonde like her mother.
"No! I don't want to go to school, again."
Katya sat beside her younger brother. Rubbing his shoulders to calm him. "Little brother. Stand up to them. Are you going to allow yourself to be walked on for your whole life?"
"...N-no."
"...Will you stand up to them?"
"Maybe?" Shy and nervous on the outside; within that mountain of fat was cowardice. He wished for confidence like his sister and mother had. Strength to rival their ability to scare off all boys. Katya gave one last squeeze to the cheeks before departing for school.
"This is your choice to make. Fear or courage."
Rubbing the blushing pain away, Danya clutched at his school bag, swinging it over his shoulder and over the thick winter jacket. Heading out with a final farewell to his mother. Before heading down the windy and snowed in path, 30-minute walk.
---
*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*
Students filled out in mass. Slapping on winter gear like gloves, hats, and jackets. The brown brick exterior quickly filled with chatter. To Danya, a daunting experience. Keeping quiet, slowly sitting in a corner, away from the other students.
His lunchbox brimming with food; sandwiches of all varieties, chicken wings and his favourite. Chocolate. His mother was without a doubt the best cook in the school. Regularly providing food to school events and her children's class.
And didn't the kids know it.
"Oi zhirtres." (Fatass) Three boys approached.
"Zhirtres share your food. You don't need all that." The lead boy; Boris, demanded the food. Short hair slicked back.
"Fatty has a buffet today." Mocking tones from the second boy. Oleg, same slick back hair cut as Boris. The third boy Anton, just stood at the back, eyes flickering over the contents.
"...N-No..."
"N-N-n-no." Boris mocked. Pulling at Danya's lunch box. Danya wouldn't allow his mother's hard-work to be stolen away. Gently yanking back in retaliation. This aggression shocked the three boys.
"Zhirtres thinks he is tough. What a weak and snivelling pig." Boris pulled hard. Jerking the lunch box out of Danya's hand. Flying across the wind, box top popping off and revealing its treasure sprawled all over the cold yard.
With gusto the three boys made a bee line to the lunch, clawing it out in glee.
"No! Stop. T-this is my food." Danya fell into the snow, only to watch his food vanish into impudent
"Relax zhirtres, we are doing you a favour. Go sit in your corner, cry if you must." All three continued like vultures over a kill.
'Are you going to allow yourself to be walked on for your whole life?' Katya's words, those few words rang in Danya's ears. Fury and rage welled up in his soul. Pushing to his feet, hands hard in a tight fist, rage swelling inside. Racing as fast as his rotund frame allowed. Ramming himself into Boris, pushing him far past his lunch.
*Slam*
"I said stop!" His tone caught the trio off guard; never had he shown such defiance.
*Slap*
Oleg was struck next. Food stuffed mouth spat out chunks. A power within rose. Fire crackling within his heart, burning through his body.
"придурок!" ("Idiot!") Anton charged from behind. Clashing hands as the pair struggled in the snow.
There it happened, Danya's frame his downfall; losing balance and falling backwards.
*Crunch*
"ARGGGHHH!" Bones cracking under fat, Danya felt a snap beneath. Boris rolled over, hands clutching around his fractured arm. Shock and then terror overtook Anton and Oleg.
"Go get the teacher!" Anton ordered. Oleg did so; racing away like a whipped dog.
Danya looked down at the screaming Boris, clutching his broken limb. Then his ruined lunch, tears welling up in his eyes, his mother's love wasted.
---
An isolated classroom kept Danya.
News of what happened to Boris spread like wildfire. First physical altercation Danya had ever gotten into, resulted in a broken arm. Classmates flocked to the commotion and Anton who spread word with embellishment.
'A thug. Fatty lost his cool.'
'Did you see his rage. Barbaric.'
'Let's go before he cracks someone else's arm.'
In this empty room, Danya tried to prepare a speech, an explanation to why and how he did it.
*Click*
"Get up." Principal Ivan, with his snow-white hair and long beard.
"Come with me, my office." There was no anger, no expression. Walking to his office down a wooden hall of windows overlooking snow and gardens.
Папа and мама, awaited inside.
"Thank you, principal Ivan. What did fatty do?" His farther; a man of broad stature. Deep set dark eyes, a glare that always scared him. Even now he wanted to hide away and hopefully take his mind off this entire ordeal.
"He has attacked three other students. Broken a boy's arm. Thankfully the nurse says it is only a minor fracture."
"Danya! Explain!" Papa's voice boomed.
"...They came up to me. Demanding that I give them Mama's food. I said no and they threw her hard work on the ground. They would not listen." Tears fell like a gushing river, it all just happened too fast. Mama placed her hand on the teary-eyed boy.
"So, you break a boy's arm over food?" Papa stood up; hands pounding on the wooden desk, paper and pencil flung off the edge.
"You are better than that!"
"P-Papa It was-"
"I've heard enough." Ivan interrupted.
"Your son's behaviour is unacceptable. You are lucky that I convinced the family to not press charges." Valeriya sighed a slight sign of relief.
"One-month suspension as a punishment. Hopefully he can reflect on this better. Unless you want a lawsuit on your hands." Ivan continued. Even Danya knew a lawsuit would be a costly affair.
Despite a sizeable pay check from both parents, lawsuits could cripple many.
---
Later that afternoon, after returning home:
"You. Piggy. To your room, no dinner for you. No dinner until you reflect properly on your actions!"
"I-It-was an-accident." Danya pleaded through tears. Fear crushed any earned courage.
"W-Why won't a-anyone believe m-me?" Looking for his mother's support, only to see she wouldn't intervene. It hurt so much.
*Smack*
Danya felt the force, rattling his brain. Spinning from the blow. Hands grasping at the swelling mark on his cheek. Falling on his fat; he only saw papa's face. Angry and disappointed.
"Your lies are a disgrace. You. Fat. Pig. Disgusting." Tears flooded as Danya ran upstairs to his room. Closing himself away in shame. Burying his head beneath a pillow to stop the flow of tears.
Crying himself to sleep; thoughts plagued of loneliness and guilt. 'It was an accident.'
Awakening later that, the dark sky provided no comfort. Eyes still stinging red. However, a small plate of food lay beside his bed. Despite papa's words, mama had not forsaken her precious son. Leaving a note by his bedside.
'Your mother knows you didn't mean it Danya. Papa will forgive you one day. Things like this just take time. Stay strong. Have courage.