Chapter 7 – Excluded
Barry's POV
Today was a special day at Waterloo Road. It was army day a day where pupils do activities to help with team building and learning to trust people. The pupils loved this day not only did they have no lessons but they also got to wear what they wanted. All the year 13's were able to take part.
Barry walked into school laughing at his sister's as they had to go into lessons and he didn't. All the year thirteen's were already gathering around the notice board where Miss Boston was putting up the list of the teams. It took Barry a while to get to the front and he hoped he didn't end up with someone he didn't like.
He finally got to the front and scanned the list but couldn't see his name, thinking he missed it he started reading everyone slowly: Team 1...he wasn't on Team 1, Team 2...he wasn't on Team 2 either. He read through all the teams carefully right up to Team 6 and there was no mistake there was no Barry Barry on the list. Barry felt a bit upset but knew mistakes happen so went to find Miss Boston who was in charge of the day.
"Erm miss?"
Nikki rolled her eyes looking like the last thing she wanted to do right now was be talking to him.
"What it is Barry?"
"Erm...my names not on the list"
"Ahh yeah Barry I decided that it will be best if you didn't participate"
"But why?"
"These men and woman coming are my friends and I don't want anything going wrong today by any silly pranks"
"But miss!"
"DON'T ANSWER BACK! Look I know there is no lessons just go study in the library"
"But I want to join in please miss, I will behave"
"Barry I have made my mind up, now go to the library"
Barry walked to the library feeling very sad and upset, he didn't 't know why he cared so much it was just a stupid army day but he felt the sting of it as he walked into the empty library and sat down.
Lofty's POV
It was period two of the day normally when Lofty would have his year 13's but as they weren't here it was a free lesson. Lofty decided to go to the library to catch up on some photocopying he needed knowing at this time it will be free for him to use.
Lofty got to the library there was only one pupil there reading a book looking very bored, he didn't recognise him at first as he had never seen Barry in casual clothing before, but then he recognised him and wondered what he was doing there.
"Barry what you doing in here?" said Lofty as he walked over
"Just reading, sir" Barry replied
"Why aren't you outside with everyone else?"
"Miss Boston didn't want me to ruin the day so wouldn't let me" Barry said in a quieter voice than normal
Lofty sat down feeling shocked, Nikki wasn't very nice but excluding a pupil like that is just downright heartless.
"That's awful Barry"
Barry sniffed a little and let a tear fall, he wasn't one for crying but it had hurt him more than he cared to admit that he was stopped from joining in.
"Hey no crying now, don't let it get you down"
"But Miss Boston just assumed I was going to ruin everything"
"Come on Barry, let's go"
"Where sir?"
"I will talk to Miss Boston so you can join in come on"
Lofty walked out to the school fields with Barry following close behind, he had never liked Nikki but this was too far.
"Nikki!" Lofty called as him and Barry got near to her she looked annoyed
"Why did you exclude Barry?"
"I told him I don't want anything going wrong today"
"Nikki you can't just not let him join in that's bullying"
"I don't want to take chances"
"But he has been looking forward to it, at least give him a chance"
"Fine, but anything goes wrong I am holding him responsible, go join a team"
Barry smiled and walked over to one of the teams, Darren was in the team and said 'Hi mate' and Barry already felt a lot happier. Lofty was glad he was able to give Barry a chance but Nikki had gone too far this time. He knew Barry sometimes was hard to deal with but it seemed to Lofty she had a personal grudge for him.
