Having been born premature, I was always small compared to the other kids my age. I had to have multiple surgeries before I was 5. As I was parents only child my mom was always over protective I wasn't allowed to play any sports so I was always scrawny. This made me an easy target for bullies, especially into high school.
My dad was killed when I was 12 when a semi truck ran a red light. It was devastating for both my mom and I but we grew closer. With his life insurance and the law suits, mom didn't have to work anymore. She put a good portion of the cash into a trust for me to pay for college and so I would have a good start as an adult.
Even though Mom didn't have to work, she did some home renovation consulting. She loved going in and helping people make there homes more their own. When she wasn't doing that she was either gardening, working around our on home, or at the gym. At 35 she was in great shape. She wasn't model thin but the curves were all in the right places.
When it came to school, I hated it. Mom did what she could, but she was limited. The bullies that picked on me daily were all members of the state champion basket ball team so the principle protected them over me. You know that kid that everyone picked on in school? He was the one that could get away with picking on me.
The worst of the bullies was Marcus. He was everything I wasn't. He was the captain of the team, tall , muscular, popular, and always smooth with the girls. If he wasn't such an ass, I would have respected and envied him.
The only benefit to not having friends or any resemblance of a social life was that I had lots of time to work on a computer game I had been making. By the time senior year rolled around it was almost done. I just had a few animations left. When I turned 18 a few months ago, I had sent in all the forms to start my own company including copyrighting the name and logo. Now I was just waiting to finish the game to copy right that before I could start selling it.
It was the second week of senior year when Marcus went too far. He had been following me down the fall and making the usual comments about my size, being weak, and all that. When he got up to me, he body checked me to the side. He expected me to slam into the lockers, but one was open. When I hit head first, it split my head open. Blood was all over. I was taken to the nurse who wanted to send me to the hospital for stitches. The principle said no and just band aid it.
They were still forced to call my mom who raised hell. When the principal tried to sell it as an accident my mom demanded to see the hall camera footage. She kept glaring at Marcus as he slouched in the chair. The principle knew he would be in deep trouble, both legally and professionally if my mom saw the footage. He threatened to call Marcus's father.
Immediately, Marcus sat up and started to beg the principle not to. Both my mom and I noticed the fear in his eyes and talking. I could have sworn I saw the principle wink at Marcus but wasn't sure. He went on about the bullying and suspension and him not being allowed to play ball.
When the principal said that, I knew something was up. There was no way he would not allow his start player to sit out. Although I didn't play sports, my mom was well aware how important the high school team was to the town. She offered another solution. she said Marcus would have to learn the consequences for his action through hard work, community service or volunteer work.
The principal then suggest that Marcus should start at our house by doing all the manual labor that needed doing. Mom didn't notice the look the principal gave me as he said that, but I did and so did Marcus.
I should have objected. I didn't want Marcus anywhere near my place, but all I could think of was all the free time I would have to work on the game. And even better, Marcus would have to do all my chores!
Mom agreed and told Marcus to be at the house at 9 am on Saturday. She said not to be late. She also made Marcus promise not to talk, bully, or harm me in anyway ever again. And he was to stop his friends from doing the same.
Marcus agreed reluctantly. He knew this was the best outcome. There wouldn't be any notice on his transcripts that would jeopardize any possible scholarships and he still got to play ball.
That Saturday, Marcus showed up on time. Mom had him start off cutting the grass. I peaked out the window and saw him fighting to get our old lawn mower started. I put on my headphones and listened to some music as I worked on the game.
The basement of the house was basically my area. Mom only came down to the laundry. I went up stairs after an hour or two to see Marcus on his hands and knees pulling weeds out of the garden as mom stood there making sure he got weeds and not plants. She was wearing her normal Saturday wear of jeans and a t-shirt as she watched with her arms crossed.
I went back downstairs for a while till lunch. When I came back up, Marcus was gone. Mom said she had sent him home after he finished gardening. She smiled at me when she said next week he would be cleaning out the garage. I smiled too. Although not a complete mess, I knew it would take him a while.
We spent the rest of the day doing our traditional routine. We went out and did some grocery shopping. We went to our favorite restaurant for dinner and then watched a movie when we got home. It ended up being a great day.
On Monday, I was nervous about going to school. I was afraid Marcus and the rest of the guys would take it out on me for him having to work. Thankfully nothing happened. No body checks, no rude comments, not comments at all. It was the first time in forever. I was shocked that by Friday I hadn't heard anything.
Saturday morning came around and Marcus was right on time. Mom had him cut the grass again before moving the SUV out of the garage so he could clean and organize. Half way through the morning, I went up to spy on him. I moved to the side of the house and peaked in the window. He was moving old boxes and tires around.
I guess he was warm as he had taken his shirt off. Even I had to admit he had a good body for a guy. Six pack abs, muscle definition, everything. Mom was sitting in a lawn chair watching him work. It must have been one of the old chairs cause she kept fidgeting and moving around in it.
I couldn't help but smile again watching him have to actually work. Mom and I did the tradition again. I noticed during the movie that mom wasn't paying attention. I asked if she was okay. She said she was a little tired but fine and thanked me for checking up on her.
That week at school nothing was said again. A few times at lunch, Marcus and his friends would be having hushed conversations. They would glance over at me from time to time. I was expecting the worst but nothing happened.
Marcus was there again and mom had him cutting the grass and gardening. Mom was wearing one of her front button sun dresses. It hugged her frame nicely and showed off some of her curves. Again she supervised his work.
Just before lunch I came up to see Marcus slaving away. I was already smiling when I peaked into the back yard, except I didn't see them. I thought maybe there was some work in the garage, so I went there but didn't see them. Just as I was about to go outside, I saw them come out of the shed. It was really a second garage but we used it to through junk into it so we called it the shed. Mom was brushing off her dress and looked a little upset.
When mom came in I asked if she was okay. She said she was fine. I asked why they were in the shed. Mom seemed to blush but said that she was showing him what he would be doing next week. I couldn't help but laugh. That place had been our dumping ground for years. Mom hated spiders so she wouldn't go in.
When I woke up on Saturday, I was kind of excited to see Marcus stuck in the shed. Then I thought it would be even better to scare the shit out of him. Payback for all the years of torment. I quickly got dress and went out to the shed. I maneuvered my way around till I was a little ways in. I had the perfect hiding spot, behind some boxes with a blanket over top. There was no way he would see me.
I waited a few minutes before I could hear the muffled voices of my mom and Marcus. A smiled crossed my lips as I waited soon enough, I saw Marcus walk in followed by mom. She was warning the same dress as before which struck me as odd as it was usually too cold for her to wear it.
