"Ring" The bell rang. Students flocked to the school cafeteria for lunch. Lester saw his wheelchair-bound classmate Libby drop her lunch tray because another student bumped into her. Instead of helping, he pulled out his mobile phone, laughed and started filming.
"Look, everyone, here is the clumsy, disabled loser of the year 2025," he shouted. Despite Libby's pleas to stop filming, Lester was relentless, and even said, "If you're disabled, you should have just stayed at home." Libby froze, hurt and embarrassed. She held back tears, looking around for help. Not long after, some kind students went to her aid. Lester uploaded the video and walked away, laughing, proud of himself.
That evening, Lester checked the video, expecting to get some likes, but instead, there were many angry comments, berating him for his actions. When his mother Fran returned home, she was very angry and wanted to have a serious conversation with him.
"What do you have to say about this?" Fran threw the question as she brandished her mobile phone containing the video he had uploaded earlier.
"Come on, Mum," Lester rolled his eyes and replied. "It's just a joke. Everyone does it."
"Not my son," Fran said sternly. "Tomorrow, you're apologizing."
"There's no way I'll do that," Lester replied defiantly. "I'll be a joke at school."
"Then give me your phone and find somewhere else to live," Fran countered him. Lester knew his mother was serious and quietly complied.
The next morning, Lester stood trembling in front of his classmates, holding a note Fran had him write. Laughter erupted throughout the classroom as he read out the contents of the note. Lester was embarrassed and wished the earth would open up and swallow him. Just then, Fran stepped forward and faced the class.
"This is not funny," she addressed the students. "Anyone else wants to humiliate others, you'll be next in line."
"You all heard Mrs Szeto," the class teacher Miss Tam said. "If such incidents happen, I'll see to the punishment." Silence now filled the classroom as Miss Tam's authority was made known. After that, no one dared to humiliate others again.
"Look, everyone, here is the clumsy, disabled loser of the year 2025," he shouted. Despite Libby's pleas to stop filming, Lester was relentless, and even said, "If you're disabled, you should have just stayed at home." Libby froze, hurt and embarrassed. She held back tears, looking around for help. Not long after, some kind students went to her aid. Lester uploaded the video and walked away, laughing, proud of himself.
That evening, Lester checked the video, expecting to get some likes, but instead, there were many angry comments, berating him for his actions. When his mother Fran returned home, she was very angry and wanted to have a serious conversation with him.
"What do you have to say about this?" Fran threw the question as she brandished her mobile phone containing the video he had uploaded earlier.
"Come on, Mum," Lester rolled his eyes and replied. "It's just a joke. Everyone does it."
"Not my son," Fran said sternly. "Tomorrow, you're apologizing."
"There's no way I'll do that," Lester replied defiantly. "I'll be a joke at school."
"Then give me your phone and find somewhere else to live," Fran countered him. Lester knew his mother was serious and quietly complied.
The next morning, Lester stood trembling in front of his classmates, holding a note Fran had him write. Laughter erupted throughout the classroom as he read out the contents of the note. Lester was embarrassed and wished the earth would open up and swallow him. Just then, Fran stepped forward and faced the class.
"This is not funny," she addressed the students. "Anyone else wants to humiliate others, you'll be next in line."
"You all heard Mrs Szeto," the class teacher Miss Tam said. "If such incidents happen, I'll see to the punishment." Silence now filled the classroom as Miss Tam's authority was made known. After that, no one dared to humiliate others again.
Support Yong Choi Chin
