Anton Brotherhood

Chapter 1 Bullying

That was on the first floor of the Second Middle School teaching building in J city in the 1990s.

“Hey guy, give me your money! “Two youngsters with their hair dyed forced a thin student into a corner.

“I don’t have money, “the student lowered his head and whispered.

The taller guy slapped the student in the face, “Fuck, cut the crap and just give me your money!”

The student’s corner of mouth went red as beetroot with tears in his eyes. At this time, the short and fat

guy next to the tall guy said, “Mind your fist. Don go too far. He is the top student in my class!”

The tall guy looked at the student, “Fuck, just look at him. A good grade is useless.” Then he turned to

the fat guy and said, “Jasper, went over his pocket, I don't believe that he doesn’t have money!”

Jasper then came to the student and said, “Anton Williams, loosen your hands.” The student grabbed

the trouser pocket with his hands after hearing Bruce’s words.

Seeing Anton covering the pocket and disobeying his order, Jasper kicked his belly, “Fuck, are you

deaf? “Anton bumped against the wall again. The Jasper pulled Anton’s hands away, put his hand into

Anton’s pocket, and took out a ruffled five euros.”

Jasper gave the money to Bruce and spat into the ground, “Fuck, you just don’t appreciate our

kindness.” After finishing his words, he left with the lanky guy laughing and joking, leaving Anton full of

pain.

Anton was in his third year and studied in the Second Junior High School in J city. He was smart and

studied hard and always had good grades. He could rank first in the whole school. But he was a little

introverted and had no friends. Since he looked so thin and short, he was often bullied by other

students. The secondary middle school was not a key middle school in J city, and the management in

school was not strict. So, delinquent guys often got into school. These guys were young but gave up

school for various reasons. They usually just hung out the whole day. When seeing students who were

easy to be bullied, they picked a fight with them or robbed money. Perhaps they could get a sense of

fulfillment in doing so!

Standing in the hallway for a while, Anton bent over to pick up the schoolbag on the ground and got out

of the school. On the way home, his eyes were filled with tears, and constantly asked himself, “Why?

Why do they always bully me? Why don't they bully others? Why am I?”

No one could offer him an answer, and the darkness of the evening obscured his tears. Anton wiped

away tears from his face before entering the door, because he didn't want the family to be aware that

he was being bullied at school. An incompetent person had self-esteem, which was greater than

anyone else. Anton opened the door and only his mother was home. The prepared meal was placed on

the table for him. After seeing him back, his mother said, “hurry up to have a meal, or it will cool down.”

Anton nodded and asked, “Where is dad?”

“Das is on the night shift today and he will not go back today, “his mother said as she took the meal.

Anton then sat down and was looking at the food on the table without any appetite.

Seeing his son not eating, his mother got worried and asked, “Anton, what is the problem? Are you

sick?”

“No!” In order not to provoke his mother's suspicion, Anton took up his bowl and ate without any words.

Anton was born in an ordinary family. His father was working on the railroad and drove locomotives,

often on night shifts. His mother was a laid-off worker and went out to do small business later. Although

the family was not rich, he never lacked money. Because of his excellent grades, his parents were

gratified. They never refused to give him money as long as he asked for it.

The next day, Anton got up at 5,30 as usual. After reviewing yesterday's homework, he ate some food,

then asked for ten euros and went to school. His home was just two streets away from school, which

was within a five-minutes’ walk. Anton came to his classroom, which was locked without a single

person. Then he opened the door with a key and walked in.

He sat in the first row not because he was short, but for he studied well. In J city, many schools had

such practice that students who got good grades sat in the front of the class and those getting low

grades sat behind. Class seats were determined by the scores of big exams, including midterm and

final exams. The school had its explanation for this, students who got low grades were those talking or

failing to listen carefully in class. When they sat back, other students would not be influenced, and a

better studying environment was built for promising students.

Anton was reading in his seat. After a while, his classmates got into the classroom one by one. The

quiet classroom became lively gradually. Classmates who got along well always gathered together.

Some were talking about the TV show last night; some were discussing the new song recently, and

some girls were taking out treasured stickers to exchange with each other. The classroom was as lively

as a farmers 'market.

The noise grew louder and louder. Anton frowned and put down the book in his hand. At this moment,

the fat guy who robbed him yesterday entered the classroom and put his schoolbag in his seat. Seeing

the dazed Anton, he went forward with joy. When he came near, he pushed Anton’s head and said,

“Hey! Have you taken any money today?” Anton was startled, shook his head, and said, “No money.”

“No money?” The fat guy snickered, “Let me go through your pocket.” At the same time, he put his

hands in Anton’s pocket.

Anton blocked his hand and his voice trembled, “Don't turn over, I need it for lunch.” Seeing him

refusing to take out his money, Jasper slapped his face, “Fuck, are you lying?” The pain on Anton’s

face made him almost cry.

At this moment, students in the classroom all looked at them, some with doubt, some with gloat. Seeing

the students all over the class looking at himself, Anton’s face flushed and he knew that his self-esteem

was being trampled. His desk mate, a girl with a round face, defended against the injustice and then

said to the fat guy, “Jasper Smith, don’t go too far, how could you beat others?”

Jasper pointed at the girl, “Got away, none of your business!”

The girl stared and said loudly, “So what? You could not beat others.” Another student who was in a

good relationship with the girl echoed, “Forget it, Jasper, stop squabbling, the teacher will come soon.”

“Annie, come on. Don't yell either.” Annie was the desk mate of Anton. She was especially noisy and

looked like a tomboy, but she studied well.

Jasper nodded, looking at Anton who kept silent. Then he said, “OK, just wait!” Then he turned around

to his seat and sat down, breathing deeply.

Annie said loudly to Anton who was lowering his head, “What are you afraid of him? What else could

he do?” Then she took a place angrily. “Why are you so timid? He will further bully you if you fear him.

Don’t you have an elder brother? Just ask your brother to beat the guy and he will not bully you

anymore.”

Anton nodded dully and said, “Thank you.”

Annie was angry after seeing Anton act like this. Then she turned away from him.

A hard day finally passed. After school, students in the class left one by one, but Anton dared not to go.

He was afraid that Jasper would find someone to block him in the school hallway. Finally, only he and

the students on duty were in the classroom. The student on duty today was Alex, who was bullied by

Jasper before. Seeing Anton still sitting in the classroom, he asked him while sweeping the floor,

“Anton, why don’t you leave? It is almost six o'clock.” (The school is over at 5:,30).

Anton felt embarrassed and touched his head, “I still feel confused about the exercises of geometry. I

will go later.”

“Oh, you really work hard. No wonder you learn so well!” After a while, Alex cleaned up the classroom,

picked up the schoolbag, and said, “Anton, I am done. Will you go with me?”

Anton shook his head, “You can go first. Our houses are not in the same direction.”

Then Alex said goodbye to him, carrying his schoolbag and running out of the classroom. Anton waited

for a while, looking at the watch. It was more than six o'clock. He considered that Jasper would not wait

for him for such a long time. Maybe Jasper considered that he had already gone home.

Anton packed up the books, picked up his schoolbag, and got out of the classroom. After locking the

door, he left.

(The building of the second secondary school is five-story high. The first, second, and the third floor are

classrooms for each class. The fourth and the fifth floors have laboratories, computer rooms, and

language labs, etc. Anton's classroom was placed on the second floor. )

At this moment, most of the students in the school left. Most of the lights in the hallway were off, and it

seemed a little dim. Anton walked to the hallway on the first floor that he feared the most because

Jasper often ambushed there. Seeing nobody in the hallway, Anton felt relieved. However, it was just

halfway when he passed the hallway that the next classroom door opened and four or five people

swarmed out. There were Jasper and the tall guy who robbed him yesterday.

Jasper snickered and said, “Anton, you make us wait for you for such a long time!” At that moment,

they surrounded Anton.

Anton was a little bit frightened. He had never been bullied by so many people. He nearly cried,

“Jasper, sorry for this morning!”

“Shit! Don't say anything else, just give me the money first.” Jasper said more violently since there

were more people now.

“I've got my money for lunch, and I really don’t have money now.”

Jasper chuckled, “No money, then I will hit you.” Then he kicked it in Anton's lap. The others were the

type of bastards in all classes. They were not afraid. After seeing Jasper started kicking, they

surrounded Anton without any words and gave him punch and kick. Jasper said while kicking, “Don't hit

the face, if broken, it will be hard to explain.” Anton was forced against the wall with his hands clasped

over his head. He could no longer feel the pain, for it was much easier to endure than the pain in his

heart. He couldn’t hear the outside world as his ears were full of buzz.

“Come on! Stop it.” Jasper looked and stopped others. He did not mean to blow up the affairs. Then he

grabbed Anton's hair and patted him in the face with his hand, “Bring ten euros to me tomorrow. If you

don't take it, you know what will happen.”

Anton leaned against the wall, bent over, and lowered his head. His tears dripping down from his

cheeks. Seeing Anton not to speak, Jasper pulled his hair hard and said, “Shit, Do you hear me?”

Anton answered “ahh” dully. Then Jasper nodded satisfactorily and left with the others. “What will you

do later?” “Go to play games!” “It is not funny, why don't you go to play billiards!” “Shit! Do you have

money?” Jasper went out of school laughing and joking.

At this moment, Anton’s body leaning against the wall slowly slid down. He crouched on the ground

with his hands holding his head and crying. Now he felt that it was meaningless to live in the world and

it was useless to have a nice grade. Now he was bullied by others! Why? He punched himself on the

head with his fists. He hated himself to be too timid. He hated himself that why he didn't dare to fight

against them. He hated himself that why he was afraid to tell his parents that he was bullied at school.

After a while, he calmed down. Then he stood up to tidy up the ruffled clothes and walked out of

school. It was raining outside, and Anton strolled the street. He was grateful for the heavens to rain at

this time, which at least to keep others from seeing his tears. Why it was so hard to just live a peaceful

life? Why other people could attend school at ease, but he had to be alarmed. If this was God's

punishment for his timidness, then he needed to be strong later. He would not be bullied by anyone

anymore. That day was raining outside, and Anton could never forget because it was the transition

point of his life.