A hand waves frantically

Sandy hair, red t-shirt, glasses,

He is not a friend

He is no enemy either

He is ignored.

2 minutes pass, perhaps.

"I gotta go to the bathrrom."

"Don't talk unless I call on you."

"But I have to go bad!"

"You can wait."

Softly, 

"Nuh-uh..."

5 minutes of lecture

He begins to squirm

The hand goes up again

Teacher looks

And says nothing

"I'mma 'bout to pee myself, please?"

"Don't be melodramatic."

"I gotta go!"

"You can wait until after class."

He ceases to squirm

He has locked his legs into the final stage

His body will soon betray him.

20 minutes left in class.

There is no more time left.

Not for him

"Sir, he seriously has to go or he'll have an accident."

He is no friend of mine

My voice shocks me

Scares me

I never intervene

He is no friend of mine

"Quiet, don't encourage him."

He is shaking with effort

Eyes clenched

The twinkle of moisture-

Imagined?

-causes me to act

I grasp his hand

No friend of mine

I pull him to his feet

I do not know his name

I walk quickly to the door

"Hey!"

Get fucked

"Stop that right now!"

Go fuck yourself

"Go fucked!"

Stupid

STUPID

STUPID

The Hallway

We are free

I half drag him to the bathroom down the hall

He can't really walk for fear or wetting himself

He shuffles in

Fast as he can

Teacher opens the door

Not my friend

He is in the hallway

I want to say something

"The administrator is coming. I hope your little scene was worth it."

Don't even know his name

Administrator's office

They are talking inside

No one asks me anything

Parents yell

But do not ask

No dinner

More yelling

No tears

No questions

My fault

My fault

My Fault

ALWAYS

i did the right thing

I did the wrong thing

Little Brother's questions through the door

What I wanted to say to Teacher

"I thought it was kids who were supposed to be the bullies."