USA Spring time, 2022. Two thirty four, the bus stopped in front of a convenience store. Placing one foot down on the ground was a short boy with with brown hair and freckles.
Over his back slung over his right shoulder was his back pack. He took his phone out and as he walked through down the streets. He held his phone sideways in his hand. A YouTube was streaming the latest resident evil game.
'My name is Terry. Not much is there to know about me. Just know I'm not one of those gamers that spend all their time playing games. I'm just a viewer of their content. Not because I can afford it but because I like watching their walkthroughs.'
He closed his phone as he approached the steps. Terry reached into his pants pocket and took out a single key on a keychain. He turned the knob and said he was home. By the table was a woman who on her computer.
The woman looked up from her computer screen and said hi Terry how was school?
Terry said it was fine and took off his shoes. He placed his shoes by the door and picked up his bag. He said at the table on his mother's left.
"It was alright where's dad?"
"You're fathers working late to night."
"Okay,"leaving the table.
Terry picked up his bag and headed up the stairs into his room. He placed his bag by the desk and stared at the window that was on the right side of the his bed that leaned a against the wall.
After his homework he continued to watch the walkthrough. Many of the viewers were sending in donations and while the rest were commenting on the progress of the streamer.
Later on in the evening he was called down stairs by his mom. At the same time his father came home. He was dressed in a suite and tie. He kissed his wife on the lips and held his hand out for his son to shake. Terry firmly shook his father's hand before sitting down at the table.
"How was work dear?"
"We finished the presentation I've been telling you about with flying colors. I've been telling the people all week we had nothing to worry about."
Terry looked down at his plate as his mom placed it down in front of him.
"Eat up dear,"placing her hand on top of his head.
Terry's father thanked his wife when she placed the plate down in front of him. His wife sat down and asked him to tell her more about the presentation. Terry toned out his parents at the table.
He turned off the light and crawled up the sheets. The phone screen illuminated his face.
'How can they play for so many hours?'
He closed his phone and placed it on the desk.
Terry started at the ceiling waiting for his eyes to close. The next day at school he kept his head down as he walked through the hallway. He looked away when he saw several students next to each other.
Terry let out a small breath as he reached the class room and sat down with his face hidden away. There were already several students in the classroom apound his arrival.
At the sound of the bell the other students came into the classroom. In the hallway Terry kept his head down. Everyone now and then someone would call out to him with a insult. One person stepped in front of him.
Terry tried not to make eye contact. The person standing in front of him was around the same age as him with black hair.
"What do you think you're doing?
"Nothing Tody."
"Shouldn't you be in class right now."
"That's where I'm going."
Many of the students that were around them looked away or pretended they didn't know what was happening. At the end of the conversation Tody elbow Terry in the stomach.
Terry didn't say world for the rest of the day. Once he was home he barely spoke a word to his parents. His father notice how quite he was acting and said a simple question.
"Is Tody bullying again?"
Terry turned his head singling to his father he was right.
"Why haven't you told anyone?"
"I've told teachers already but they don't do anything."
"Where does it usually happen?"
"In the hallway, everything's fair game in the hallway."
His father brought his hand to his head.
"Kids these days. Well you got to keep trying."
Terry looked his father in the eye.
"Dad he won't stop."
"Keep fighting back until he tires himself off."
Terry stood up from the table and headed up stairs towards his room. His phone was on and needed to charge.
His mother came down the stairs and sat at the table.
"What were you two talking about?"
"The kid's getting bullied still."
His wife's face dropped.
"What is to speak to the teachers?"
"Our son told me it's fate game in the hallway."
"Dear that is bullshit."
Terry's father took a step away from the stove.
"Dear don't curse you know I haven't when you curse."
"We're not paying-"
Terry place his eye plugs in his ears to block out the noise.
"For our son to go to a school with this kind of environment."
"I already told the boy what to do next time it happened."
At the table his Terry's mother told him to let them know if Tody was still bullying him. He said yes. Terry was the last one to finish his dinner. He thanked his mother and head to his room to finish his homework. Before the night was over he came out to take a bath and brush his teeth.
Everyone met in the hallway and wished each other goodnight. Terry's parents kneeled down and hugged him.
Terry left his phone on the desk and pulled the covers up to his neck. He felt a sharp buzzing in his head like a headache. Above him was a message asking, if he wants to live the experience?