Post #5 - Kids Being Kids (Pre-mission)

Posted on Fri May 22nd, 2020 @ 1:42am by Captain Jackson Porter

Mission: The Restroffs (Space Spiders)
Location: Starbase
Timeline: April 29, 2380

ON:

Tuesday's schedule had Jackson's class going from lunch straight to the playground for some afternoon fun. The teacher led the third-grade students out the hallway door and let them go do whatever they wanted. Some went to the jungle gym, some went over to the field and just ran around. Jackson liked to play on the swings, and ran towards them.

Just before he got there, three bigger boys stepped in front of him and blocked his path. "Where do you think you're going?" the chubby kid in the center asked.

"I want to go on the swings," Jackson replied.

"I don't think so. These swings are for the cool kids, and that means you're out." A shorter kid held out his arm and pushed Jackson's shoulder.

Jackson looked down at where he was pushed, then back up at the kid that pushed him. "C'mon, I just want to use one of the swings." As Jackson tried to push past them, the middle kid shoved Jackson back, sending him falling to the ground. Jackson tried to get up, but the two other kids held him down. "Let me up!"

The chubby kid laughed. "Aww, is the poor baby scared? You should be!" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a big spider. "My new friend wants to meet you, why don't you say hi?" he mocked.

Of all the things the older kids could've done to Jackson, teasing him with a spider was probably the worst. As the arachnid was lowered closer to his body, Jackson reacted quickly and kicked the kid holding it square in his groin. Before he could drop the spider and fall on him, Jackson pulled himself from the grip of one of the others. Using his free hand, he smacked the head of the freed kid and right back at the last one, sending both falling back.

The commotion got the attention of a couple teachers, who ran over to break things up. Jackson and the boys were split up and sent to the principal's office separately.

==========

Jackson sat outside the principal's office. The three bullies were inside talking with the principal and the teachers that separated them. As he sat there trying to hear inside the office, with no avail, he suddenly heard a familiar voice.

"I'm here to meet my son."

Jackson looked up to see his dad standing at the secretary's desk, still wearing his white pilot uniform with shiny major's insignia. He turned and looked at Jackson, then started walking over. Jackson turned back facing forward and lowered his head, awaiting what his father would say.

Henry sat down next to his son. "So what happened, JP?"

Jackson sighed. "The big kids weren't letting me go on the swing, then they shoved me on the ground and threatened to put a spider on me."

Henry sighed. "And that's why you got into a fight?"

"I..." Jackson started, then paused. "I didn't want to hurt them, just to get them to stop holding me down. And you know I hate spiders and-"

"Yes, yes, I get it all." Henry held up a hand to slow down Jackson a bit. "I'm not upset that you got into a fight. In fact, I think defending yourself is a brave thing to do."

Jackson, wiping away some tears, looked up at his dad. "Really?"

Henry smiled and nodded. "Yes. I know you didn't start the situation, but you protected yourself, and that's what matters." The two hugged and the door to the principal's office slid open. The three kids walked out past them. As they did, the chubby kid stopped and turned to face Jackson, causing the other two kids to stop as well.

"I'm sorry we were mean to you," he said quietly.

Jackson didn't say anything, but just nodded his head and turned to walk into the principal's office with his dad behind him.

The meeting with the principal went well. Jackson explained his side, and the principal said that the bullies told the same story. He also said that the main bully apologized as they walked by. When it was all said and done, the principal decided that the kids wouldn't be punished as both sides seemed to be fine after the whole thing.

As Jackson and his dad walked out of the office and back into the school hallway, he looked up at his dad and said "I still hate spiders."

OFF