I’ve found a place to hide. A safe place
 |
| Image: All Rights Reserved |
| Pymble, N.S.W. : Angus & Robertson |
| 2000 |
Panic. The sun streams through my window. Samantha’s singing in the shower. Mom is making breakfast. Rob has already gone to work. Monday morning. My karate magazine slides off the bed. I can’t go to school. My head hurts, hurts, hurts.
Mom is not interested in my headache. “Nonnegotiable,”she says. “School’s on.”
It starts on the school bus. “Butt Head. Butt Head. Butt Head,” echoes along the aisle as boys walk past. There are a few thumps on the way. George Hamel isn’t even on the bus. Anna isn’t either. She’s probably helping in the Napoli’s Super Delicioso Fruitologist Market. Samantha’s frightened and I force her to sit in the back. She doesn’t want to. I make a mental note that I’ll get up early tomorrow and walk to school. How do I get off the bus when it stops? I can’t stand up now because I’ll get sandwiched between the guys in the aisle. That’s dangerous. Maybe I’ll finger jab one of them in the kidneys. Ohhh, my head really hurts. The bus jerks to a stop. I make a dash for the door, shoving as hard as I can. Suddenly, there’s a big surge forward. I lose balance. I stumble down the bus steps trying to grab onto the sides. I half make it and land on my knees ripping a hole in my pants. It stings, but I’m out and I run.
There is no way I’m going through the school gates today. Then I see her. The librarian walking to the side gate. I race towards her and offer to carry her books. “That’s nice of you, Jack.” She chats about good books to read, while my heart’s throbbing like an enormous blind pimple. The library is open every recess, every lunchtime. “There’s always someone here to help you find a book. A librarian and an assistant.” I stand close to her as she unlocks the library door. It’s like a revelation. Sunlight floods the big room with its shelves of books alphabetically ordered. Tables and chairs are neatly placed in the center of the room. There’s an alcove with computers and another alcove with the photocopier and audiovisual tapes. Paper ducks flap from the ceiling and posters hang between shelves. A safe house. The throbbing subsides. I’ve found a place to hide. A safe place.
Extract from the book I am Jack
by Susanne Gervay
All Rights Reserved.
Pymble, N.S.W. : Angus & Robertson, 2000.
Call Number: J English GER
Extract contributed by Chen Luojia
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Where is your safe place? What will you do if you are targeted by a bully?
December 8th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
My safest place is home n if I’m targeted by bully, I’ll tell my family so that if anything happens to me, they know what action to take!
PS: thanks for mobilizing this blog! NOw I can read n comment on my phone!
January 25th, 2011 at 6:02 pm
My safe place is MY HOUSE. There are no strangers in my house and it is a comfortable place. I am comfortable with my house as there is where I eat, sleep, return to after school etc.
I will inform either my teachers in school or my parents. The teachers can help as they have AUTHORITY over the bully. My parents will also help me as the bully is in the wrong, not me, so they will stand by me in times of help.
I feel that we should be thankful for our parents and teachers. They help us in almost everything! We must THANK GOD for giving us parents- NICE parents. Well, I certainly do not want to be bullied, in any case!
February 20th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
My safe place is home.No one will hurt you if you’re at home.i am so happy god gave a safe place to sleep,talk to your family and etc.
April 15th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
I have never been targeted by a bully, so I cannot empathize with those who have. But I do know where my safe place is.
My safe place is wherever those who love me are. My safe place is where the love of my friends and family can weave a comforting embrace around me. My safe place is wherever I am loved.
If I was targeted by a bully, I would stand up to him/her. I believe that deep down, bullies are cowards, and only victimize others because they want to hide their cowardice. Getting a big reaction out of someone can make bullies feel like they have the power they want. By standing up to the bullies, it is denying them this reaction, hence effectively dealing with their behaviour! Of course, if it still does not stop, I would report it to a teacher and/or my parents.
May 30th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
My safe place is in my brain. Whenever I get targeted by a bully I will hide myself inside my brain and try to forget what has happened. I mentally curl myself up in a corner of my mind and tell myself it’s okay even when it’s not.
July 13th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
The safe place where i will hide is in my bedroom. This will prevent me from being bullied and being disturb by my younger brother cause he’s annoying. If i’m being bullied, it is useless for me to report to the school teachers because they have no time to scold and discipline. I rather tells my parents about the incident and this make me feel more safe and secure. My Parents will go after them. Its not a good thing if i keep the secrets to myself and ended up being bullied everytime. My parents are here to help when i need help….