(Based on a true story…)
They called her Little Icky Vicky(and she
cried a lot in pain)today
because of her distorted facial features
many people stared then quickly looked away
I called her Victoria & amiably sat next to her in grade school(&
always with her was very very kind)
There’s a lot of cold(cruel kids who name-call
with dark dead hearts)and blind
[Side Note: We saw the movie The Peanut Butter Falcon over the weekend. It is highly recommended. It contains scenes involving both bullying and compassion.]
Not Mere Facial Beauty but Beauty Deep Within … Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2019
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
The Vicky in our school was a pair of twin boys who were far beyond plump, or roly-poly. We had names for them, but one day, they showed up and taught us a lesson: they had renamed themselves Tweedle Dee and Tweedel Dum, and they laughed every time they said it. Our teacher saw the opportunity, and took it, teaching us about the story behind the names, and making them the star characters in our spring play — a take off on Through the Looking Glass. It worked: the boys were the stars of the play, and we stopped with the name calling, already.
It was good that the teacher intervened. Not enough teachers (especially in grade school, in the formative years) place emphasis on things like integrity and compassion… and so they really fail in their jobs of being temporary/substitute parents.
Beautiful! It hurts to see others hurt because they are different from the rest of us.
Yes, Jaya, it does! Too many want to be the same and “fit in,” but that “fitting in” is usually superficial and at a gross level.
Love how you put that!
🙂
I am glad you were kind, that would have been so tough for her. I called a girl in our class a name, or teased her, then stopped because I saw the effect and maybe my being called names gave me some compassion.
It was good, Jane, that you realized the consequences. Now, in the U.S., we have so-called leaders of government that habitually bully others with name-calling, and it is so very immature and unevolved. And the public is accepting it!
It’s so sad how kids can be so cruel. What’s even more sad are the grown-up bullies who spew out some of the foulest insults to the innocent and vulnerable. I’m sure your kindness, in spite of her uniqueness, kept her from going to and staying in a dark place! 🙂 I’m sure she remembers that too!
Like what was mentioned to Jane above, top level politicians in the U.S. are habitually bullying now. The U.S. is turning into a big joke, globally. People all over the world are watching.
Unfortunately, that little girl always looked chronically depressed. I treated her kindly, but as a mere kid in grade school, i was no psychiatrist. I was always looking to see a smile on her face, even a little smile. I think, throughout the year, i saw one or two smiles or half-smiles. I sure hope that she is doing well now.
I love this quote by one of my all time favorite poets, 🙂 “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou
🙂
Beautiful
Thank you, Carol! 🙂 Life is tough enough even for those who look fantastic. We need to leave the bullying to the bulls.
Absolutely! And you’re most welcome. I enjoy your posts, always a pleasure.
Beautiful
You were kind – the rest of the kid … no words. The haunting words of Janice Ian – “Seventeen” – I thought of that song right away when reading what you wrote. I’m sure you’ve heard it before: https://youtu.be/VMUz2TNMvL0
P.S. – Beautiful butterfly (Black Swallowtail?) and Coneflower.