Saved from the Bullies

"Just what do you think you're doing?” Rick said to Ben. Ben started to run toward his grandma's house. Rick ran after him and caught him from behind. Rick threw him to the ground.

"Leave me alone." Ben cried.

"I don't think so." Rick said. Rick, Charlie, and Scott enjoyed picking on
Ben. For the last three weeks they had bullied him. Nothing really mean or anything, just throwing him to the ground a few times, tearing his clothes a bit, pushing him around.

Rick at 25 years of age was 6'3 and weighed 210 pounds. His friends were about the same age and size. Compared to Ben, he and his friends were really big. Ben was maybe 5'8 and maybe went 140 to 150 pounds. Ben was a year or so younger and small for his age.

Rick looked at Ben lying on the ground. Ben did not try to get up.

"Come on coward." Rick said, "Get up."

"Let him go, you bully,” I said as I walked over there. I was Ben's neighbor and I had seen him getting bullied from my window. My name is Jerry. I am 25 years old and I go to same college as Rick and Ben. I am about the same size as Rick and his friends. I can't handle three of them together, but today it was just Rick and I figured I could help Ben.

"You stick to your business, loser,” Rick said with a little uncertainty. I reached them and helped Ben get up, keeping an eye on Rick to make sure he stayed away. Like most bullies, he was afraid of picking on someone his own size.

"You will pay for this,” he said as he walked away. I walked Ben over to his Grandma's house. He thanked me for the help and said "It is only a matter of three days and Lauren will be here. Once she is here, they will leave me alone."

I told him that we could walk back together from college if it would help and he agreed. Next day passed without any event, but the day after as we were walking back, I saw Rick, Charlie, and Scott standing in our way. I told Ben to run and go to his house and I would handle them. Nevertheless, Ben did not want to leave me alone.

Rick walked up to me and said, "So you are going to stop us, huh?".

"Leave us alone,” I told him. In reply Rick punched me hard in the stomach. However, I was ready for it and punch did not do much damage. I tried to punch him in the face, but Charlie grabbed my hands. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw Scott punching Ben. I tried to shack hands loose from Charlie, but Rick punched me in the face. My lip started bleeding. I kicked Rick hard in his shins and he went down holding his leg. However, Ben was on the ground curled up in the ball and seeing me kick Rick, Scott came over and started punching me as well. Charlie let go of my hand and all three started punching and kicking me. I went down as well. After a little while all three boys left leaving me and Ben on the sidewalk bruised and bloodied. We slowly walked back home and all Ben would say was that he was sorry I got hurt because of him. I told him that it wasn't his fault.

The next day was a Saturday. I stayed in till late as my body was hurting a lot. In the afternoon I decided to go see how Ben was doing. I went to his Grandma's house and knocked the door. A beautiful girl dressed in light brown top and blue faded jeans opened the door. Her brown hair went just past her shoulder. She was tall for a girl, about same height as Ben and probably around same weight. I must have been staring at her as she poked me in the chest and asked "What do you want ?”

"I just wanted to see how Ben is doing,” I asked, feeling awkward in presence of this beautiful girl. Suddenly, she bent, put her shoulder in my stomach, and stood up lifting me over her shoulder with ease. "What...,” I stammered completely shocked as this. She turned around and closed the door with the heel of her foot. "So you are the one who has been picking on my cousin,” she quipped angrily as she carried me through the hallway. I was stunned at how easily she was carrying my 210lbs.

"Look, you are mistaken,” I said.

SLAP, her hand smacked my butt really hard. My butt stung. I desperately tried to buck, but she held me firmly. For my efforts, I got another smack in the butt. "Stay still or you will be sorry,” she said angrily. "But..", I tried to say something and got another stinging slap on the butt. "Shut up,” she said.

By now she had walked through the hall way and kitchen. She opened the patio door and walked out to the backyard. I saw Ben sitting in a lawn chair his face still showing bruises from yesterday. "Who is it, Lauren?" Ben asked as she walked toward him.

"It’s me, Ben,” I said. "Oh it’s you Jerry, I thought Rick and company came down for more pain,” said Ben casually. Lauren seemed a little confused. At least she didn't slap me. I was still amazed that she was still standing holding me like I weighed nothing. "Can you please let me go?", I pleaded to Lauren.

"Yeah, Lauren, he actually tried to save me from the bullies,” said Ben. "Oh" said Lauren as she carefully lowered me back to ground. "I am so sorry, I thought you were one of the bullies...oh my god..Did I hurt you really bad? I am so sorry.” She really did look sad moving her arms nervously. I put my hand on her shoulder and said, "Its ok..It was a simple misunderstanding, don't worry about it." She felt a little better. "By the way, I am Jeremy.” "Lauren,” she said extending her hand.

As we both walked over and joined Ben on the chairs, Rick and his gang appeared from the bushes. They walked over to us and Rick kicked Ben and said "Go grab me some water pipsqueak." Ben cried out as Rick's foot connected to his already sore ribs.

Before I could do anything Lauren was up and had reach Rick. "Why don't you pick one someone your own size?" She said as she forcefully pushed him back. I saw that Scott and Charlie were just hanging back laughing. Clearly, they thought that Rick didn't need help handling a mere girl. I stood up intending to step in, but Lauren gave me a look that made me stay in place. Instead I walked over to Ben and helped him up.