Robert and Emily had been the closest of friends since their days at nursery school. They lived next door to one another, so naturally their parents thought it best to send them to the same primary school and have them placed in the same class. They even asked the teacher if their children could share a desk. With so many pupils about, especially the boisterous boys, Robert could look out for Emily should any trouble arise. The children were delighted to start school together, and their lessons seemed to come easily to both of them.
When they moved up to Year Three, however, Emilys mother began to notice that her daughter wasnt quite herself anymore. Emily grew afraid, always anxious, and lost any desire to go to school. One afternoon, she even pleaded with her mother to let her transfer to a different school altogether. This was most unlike Emily, so her mother phoned Roberts mother for a chat. She, too, was worriedRobert had also been whispering about wanting to leave and start anew somewhere else.
That day, after lessons had ended, Roberts mother noticed ugly bruises on her sons arms. The two mothers decided to pay the school a visit together and put a stop to whatever was happening.
The teacher hurried to assure them that all was well at school, suggesting perhaps some disagreement had taken place outside the gates instead. At that moment, a noisy group of children burst into the room, shouting. Scanning the chaos, the mothers saw several boys tugging at Roberts jumper and, on the other side of the room, others doing the same to Emily.
Alarmed, the mothers rushed to shield their children from further harm, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. The teacher tried to quieten the ruckus but was overpowered. One quick-thinking girl dashed off to fetch the headmistress, and only then did the pandemonium subside.
Both mothers were adamant that they would not allow the matter to rest. They demanded the parents of the bullies be summoned to the school, promising to go straight to the police if nothing was done for their children. The headmistress did her best to pacify them, promising to invite the offending parents the next day and that she herself would be in attendance.
As she walked the women to the door, the headmistress confided that these children belonged to some very wealthy families. They showed no respect for anyone, interrupted lessons, and tormented their classmates. Their parents had been called in several times yet to no availmanners were in as short supply at home as among the children.
The following morning, Roberts and Emilys mothers arrived at the school at the appointed hour, where the parents of the bullies were already waiting. The teachers warning had not been exaggerated. These parents were loud and defensive, shouting over every attempt to speak and treating the teacher with outright rudeness. For a short while, only the headmistress managed to regain order.
No resolution was reached, as the arrogant parents eventually stormed out, telling the staff not to trouble them over such trifles. Breathing into her cupped hands for warmth, the headmistress lamented: What is one to do? Those parents paid for the schools new roof, so it isnt possible to ask them to remove their childrens files.
At home, Robert and Emily confided that the bullying boys made everyone in the class miserable. Any child caught alone in the hallway was fair game for their fists. Robert and Emily, who always walked together, became special targets simply because the bullies disapproved.
Unable to bear it any longer, the mothers withdrew their children and enrolled them at another school. Not long after, the headmistress herself resigned, finding it impossible to continue in a place ruled by unruly children and indifferent parents. And so, the memory remainsa time when friendship was tested by cruelty, and adults struggled to protect their young against the carelessness of those meant to guide them.
