Warnings: Playground bullying
A 221B (221 words, last word begins with a 'b'). This story requires knowledge of the events of "The Great Game" in order to make any sense.
A Study in Anger
He doesn't want to go to school today. He doesn't want to go to school any day, but recently the sneers and insults of the big boys have become more hurtful and frequent. It's not fair that they hate him just because he's different. Mummy has always said that being clever is a good thing and he'll be able to help others when he gets older, so why are they so horrible to him? Don't they realise he might be something brilliant, like a doctor, and save their lives one day?
There's one person he might ask for advice, but he knows that his older sibling will probably suggest that he tells a teacher, and then go back to reading those stupid politics books, the big fat idiot. He giggles momentarily at the silent insult, knowing what Mummy would say if she ever heard him say it out loud.
And then he's back at school, on his knees in the playground, his books scattered around him where they've been dumped out of his bag, and the big boys and their leader are sneering at him while the playground monitor turns a blind eye. He blinks rapidly, determined not to cry, and the fury grows inside him.
"When I'm older," he vows silently, "Carl Powers will regret he was ever a bully."