Sally's fear

Tears were streaming down her clear black eyes. Sally was afraid of everything.

“No Mom, I cannot do this.” She said crying softly, sucking her breath at brief intervals.

“Beta, enough now. You have to go.” Mom said firmly, holding Sally’s small body in her arms.

    Sally’s start of pre-school was rough. Dressed in a checked maroon tunic, handkerchief pinned to the chest, she cried every morning, getting no sympathy from mother. Tucking Sally firmly in the auto rickshaw overflowing with children and their colorful bags and bottles, she stood at the doorstep to wave at her. By the time they reached school, Sally’s tears had dried on her cheeks.

                                       *** 

    Sally’s school had a small building with a slanting brown tiled roof. The playground in front had all sorts of old but functioning swings and seesaws. Children flocked to these brimming with joy and laughter but Sally sat quietly in a corner, feeling she would drown in this sea of children if she ventured forth.

 “Hey you! What are you doing here?” A voice called her.

Sally looked around. She saw a boy of her age, but taller along with two others standing right behind her.

“I…I am Sally.” She was able to reply with a meek smile.

“Come after me.” He said haughtily.

Sally couldn’t refuse. They came to a swing, the biggest that Sally had ever seen. It was filled with children and some others were pushing it back and forth.

“Get off, now. It’s my turn.” The boy yelled.

They dispersed slowly. The haughty boy and his friends hopped on it.

“Hey you! Make it swing” he said pointing towards her.

 She tried to push the swing but her nimble body couldn’t do much.

“Push harder, you fool.” One of his friends shouted. “Aditya will hit you.”

 “I cannot push it, it’s too heavy.” She said, nervously.

Aditya jumped off and stood before Sally, towering her.

“If you don’t do what I say, I’ll shoot you with a gun and throw you into the drain.” He said aggressively.

Sally couldn’t breathe, her chest filled with fear. The familiar tears welled up in her eyes. She turned around and ran as fast as she could.

                                          ***

Mom was listening attentively as she chopped vegetables for dinner, a smile on her face. Sally was narrating the day’s events with graphic details, horror showing plain in her eyes.

“I will not go to school tomorrow.” Sally said sadly.

“You can’t run from him forever, right? You have to face him. Just go up to him, hold his collar and dare him to do that again.” Mom said encouragingly.

Sally was dumbstruck. He would beat her to death. Yet, she cannot live in this fear forever.

“Will you come with me?” She asked hopefully.

“No, you will do this yourself.” Mom said, stressing every word. “I will not be with you everywhere you go, Sally. You can do this. "She said, looking at her with shining eyes.

The next day Sally saw Aditya and his friends walking up to her and her heart started pounding. The classroom was empty as all other children were out in the playground. For a brief moment, she wanted to turn back and run-off, but Mom’s words echoed in her ears and she held her ground. 

"Hey you! Today you will clean my shoes with your hands." Aditya bellowed, his owl like eyes peering keenly at Sally. 

Sally drew a deep breath. "Now is the time." She assured herself, pulled him by the collar and said,

 “The next time you try to scare me; you’ll see the consequences.” 

There was silence. Aditya’s friends stood horrified. Sally’s stern expression did not betray her trepidation.

Looking right into his eyes, Sally saw the contempt on his face change from utter confusion to stark horror. For a moment, she could not believe what she had done. Sally immediately felt lighter. Aditya ran off without a word and his friends dispersed quickly. 

As soon as she stepped out from the rickshaw, Sally ran to her Mom, beaming ear to ear. 

"I did it Mom, I did it!" Sally chirped with twinkling eyes.

"Didn't I tell you, you can do anything." Mom said and Sally buried herself in her mother’s smothering hug. This was her first victory but not going to be the last; Sally was not afraid of anything.