Now into story 8 in this series, I never expected it to find any fans, but I'm so glad it did. Thanks to Crazy, Indigo and Name What Name for the reviews. Thanks also to a couple Guest/Anon PMs as well. And in response to one of those Guest PMs – yes, I do plan to do some stories that take place later in their lives such as when Tanner actually does become a teacher (and maybe beyond that). For now, I'm sort of just writing what comes to me. I have ideas though for the twenty-something version of Tanner eventually. The stories I have currently almost or partially done, range from him at nine to all over his teen years. So, definitely more to come! Thanks to all you guys!
Here's the next story in the series!
Chapter Title: Bully
Series Title: Unlikely Brothers
Author: Obi the Kid
POV: Dashen (Tanner is 9, Dash is 15)
Chapter Summary: Tanner's first week in his new school is troubling.
Series Summary: A series of non-chronological stories taking place in the world of my OC's Dashen and Tannerlin.
Rating: PG
Characters: Dashen Lesedi, Tannerlin Vai (Jedi)
"Damn it, what now?"
The forth com call in a row I almost didn't answer this one, but I decided last second to grab it.
"HELLO!?"
The voice on the other end seemed surprised at my bellowed tone.
"Dashen Lesedi?"
"Yes?"
"This is the Dean Ma'Lani at Kaolin School 3. You are the brother and guardian of Tannerlin Vai Lesedi, correct?"
My tone shifted immediately; as did my stomach. It was Tanner's school calling. "That's correct." Lesedi wasn't Tanner's true last name; Vai was. But it was simpler and safer all around for him to just add my Sur name to the end of his. On my home planet of Terra, it was beyond easy to bogus up a few papers. Rules weren't too strict for certain things, at least when it came to guardianship – don't ask me why that was the case, but it was fortunate for us. So I had the kid assume my last name. But why the hell was the school calling? He'd only been attending for six days now and he wasn't the type to get into trouble – at least not that I'd noticed in our four months together as fake siblings. "Is something wrong? Is he okay?" I spit the questions out quickly and overlapping, I think she'd understood though. The angry tone present when I'd first answered the call, long gone.
Dean Ma'Lani worked to ease my worries. "He's fine and is here with me now. Do you have time to stop in? I need to speak with you directly."
I stumbled a bit at the unexpected request. "Ah uh…yes. I can do that. I'll be there shortly."
I chimed the door of the Dean's office after amazing myself that I hadn't gotten lost finding it. This school was like a damn maze and my internal nav unit didn't always function well when I was flustered. Tanner was there, sitting in the chair with his back facing the door. Dean Ma'Lani – an older, blue skinned, scaly type woman with short gray hair stood to greet me.
"Mr. Lesedi, please come in."
I put a hand on Tanner's shoulder as I stood near and felt him look up at me. Outwardly, he appeared okay, but seemed nervous. Then after he spoke, he didn't seem nervous…he just flat out was nervous. His words trembled. "I'm sorry, Dashen. I didn't do anything wrong. I didn't. Honest."
I tightened my grip on his shoulder and returned his worried look. "It's okay, Mouse. I know you didn't. You don't have to apologize."
"Mr. Lesedi, if I might speak with you alone."
"Yeah. Tanner, how about you wait for me just outside in the office lobby? Work on one of your home assignments and I'll be out soon."
Having seen the kid at his worst four months ago, this seemed tamer, but odd. If I could use a word for the first time in my life, he appeared forlorn. I watched him slowly wander out the door, shoulders down. Unlike him. Forlorn indeed. And he was a little stiff in his stride too. Also odd, especially since injuries had healed long ago. Once the door closed behind him, I sat and was about to ask what the hell was going on, when the Dean started first.
"Evidently, your brother has been the victim of bullying during his first days. Unfortunately, the staff and myself were not aware of it until today."
Bullying? Here? We – well, Colton – was paying out the wazoo to put Tanner in this school. It had one of the best reputations and strongest learning programs on the planet. So…bullying?
She continued. "From what Tannerlin has told us, there has been verbal ridiculing for most of the week from five other boys. Teasing about his looks, the short hair, the clothes, the braid. Accusing him of a being, and I quote, a "Jedi wannabe who should be slaughtered like those he strives to imitate." That was from one particular boy who will be dealt with personally by my office, rest assured. And there were other things as well. They taunted him about the death of his parents; that they purposely died so they could get away from him; that even his brother cannot wait for the day to be free of the burden. A few also derided him for being a particular favorite of the teacher and for believing himself above everyone else."
Tanner? Seriously? Not this kid. Not in this lifetime. I didn't see it. I couldn't see it.
"From what I understand," she went on, "from witnesses who have just now come forward, Tannerlin sat quietly as the verbal harassments took place over this course of days. He refused to react to their assaults. Today however, from what I've been told, several of the boys actually turned their abuse to physical beatings. And this time it was witnessed by others. When he didn't react to the verbal abuse, they began to physically assault his body. He was curled into a fetal ball until help came, then he was brought here where he has been for the last hour. I have had our school healer examine at him. Some minor bruising to his ribs and back. He will be well in a few days."
My turn. I was angry. No. Scratch that. I was royally ticked off. But knowing our situation, our secret – that Tanner was not pretending to be a Jedi – that kept me from boiling over. I was cool in my response.
"Dean Ma'Lani, excuse me for asking, but why wasn't anything noticed before and how is this even permitted in what is supposedly such a prestigious school?"
Good, Dash, good. Keep your cool. It was good, because in reality, I wanted to punch her in the face and ask why she didn't know this crap was going on under her blue, scaly nose. But I didn't. That would have probably been a bad idea. Instead, I listened.
"Some first year students often have issues. Despite the high price tag and reputation of our school, first year is difficult. Many of these students come from…unusual backgrounds," (she meant they came from criminal families – families that had no trouble footing the bill for this place to get their kid educated enough to someday take over the family business) "and some lack the appropriate social skills when mixed in with so many others of similar age. Our best efforts however cannot afford us to be everywhere at all times and the most creative of first year students," – again she meant the criminally-attached children – "have ways to deceive us. Assuming they graduate first year, the problem children are often corrected children by the time second year comes. We have no difficulties in our second year classes, and that is the other item I wish to discuss with you."
Well, I wanted to talk more about why my brother – technically not my brother, but that was need to know only – was being verbally and physically abused just for being a good kid. I wanted to know if those who did this were being punished. And frankly I wanted to wring their scrawny little necks. But…I managed to contain myself and allowed her to continue.
"I have spoken to his teacher and we both believe it would be best for Tannerlin to be placed into second year classes. It would require more studying and it is more difficult. He also would have to catch up with where the curriculum is now. However, everything I hear about Tannerlin is positive. He is attentive to the teacher. Respectful. And most unlike many of our first years, he comes after class to ask questions, as if he's actually interested in how the class and studies are prepared."
I smiled. "He is interested. More than interested, if that's possible. He wants to be a teacher when he grows up. His…our father was a teacher. Tanner is very serious about following in those same footsteps."
"I see. That is good to know. I believe that being in second year class will be for the benefit. I wish you to speak with him over these next two end of week days. If he agrees, have him report to building 2 for classes next week and see Master-Professor Sanya Ellaan. She will be expecting him."
This had to be a good thing, right? More work sure, but Tanner loved learning. The kid was like a damn sponge sometimes and they were moving him forward, not back. Still, a lot of pressure on a nine year old who was four months removed from his life being turned inside out and upside down. The school didn't know his exact background. Our story was that technically we were half-brothers. That his mother had died long ago – he didn't know her – and that his father (our father) had died four months ago. (Technically he had, that being Tanner's Jedi master.) My own father died about four years ago, but the school didn't need to know that either. Our story worked…so far.
"Mr. Lesedi?" The Dean's voice brought me back to the present moment. "Tannerlin is a fine student. You have done well raising him since your father passed." Four months and a successful parent already! Yay for me! "And he will do well here once we get him correctly placed. Thank you for coming down so quickly."
My exit cue. I still wanted to ask my other questions, but they could wait. I'd see how things went next week and play it from there. After all, I could wring scrawny little necks next week just as well as I could this one.
Tanner was waiting for me outside. We walked in silence out of the building and down several blocks. I bought him his favorite dinner, Bantha steak pizza. Now that he had a full-fledged appetite back, I never refused stuffing a nice fattening meal into him. Skinny as he was, he didn't put weight on very quickly. The kid's metabolism was insane. People would give up their firstborns to have that type of bodily function working for them.
We got home, he was still quiet. Colton was out of the house on business so we staked a claim to his extra large kitchen. If only we had a party of thirty, we'd fill it out nicely. But this evening, it was just me and the kid. A very quiet and very withdrawn kid, mind you, but at least he was safe with me at home now. I set a pizza filled plate in front of him along with a glass of berry juice.
"You did the right thing in not reacting to what they did, Tanner. You know that."
He gave me a nod.
"It was wrong what they did. What they said. They don't know anything about you and evidently, some parents don't have a clue how to raise a child."
A shrug and a hushed, "Okay."
"Eat your pizza before it gets cold. The Dean wants to move you into another class. Building 2 with the second year kids. Long story, but she says you'll do well there. It's more work and you'll have to play catch up, but…I think it'll be good for you. What do you think?"
Another nod as he mouthed a piece of steak off the cheese.
"Tanner..."
My slightly exasperated tone finally got him talking.
"I liked that class and the teacher. I was learning. I didn't do anything to them and they wouldn't just leave me alone. One of them kept pulling at my braid and mocking that I wanted to be a Jedi when I grew up and that maybe I should die…like they did."
That damn braid. He'd insisted on keeping it. We'd done our best to hide it when his hair was really short. Now that his hair had four months growth on it and was a little longer, it didn't stick out like a sore thumb, but was still hard to miss. And because he refused to take the white band off of it, it was easy to zero in on until his hair grew to the same length. The white band, he'd told me, signified that he was a second year Jedi apprentice. I couldn't convince him to change or to cut the thing off. I gave up after a time realizing that he didn't have much left of his previous life to hold on to, but this one thing was important. Of course now it was making him a target of bullies, and I was pretty sure that was not the intended meaning of the braid.
"Idiots," I said out loud.
"What?"
"They're idiots. That's why they did it. And not the type of idiot that I usually claim - according to Colton - but full-fledged idiocracy."
Victory! A small smile. I tugged his braid. "This thing is going to get you in trouble so we need a story for it. It's not far off actually to say you wear it in memory of your father. Maybe we should go with that. Good idea, Dash. Thanks, Dash. I knew you'd appreciate it. Dash is a good thinker sometimes. Don't tell Colton."
Two for two! Another smile. We ate our pizza and Tanner decided that the plan Dean Ma'Lani had come up with was the right one. I had to leave the decision up to him. This wasn't mine to make. His life, his decision. He'd made it. This was a kid who loved to listen and loved to learn and even loved his home assignments. Sickening, I know, but he did. And although the second year students would be taller and older, at ten and eleven years, I took the Dean's word that there wouldn't be anyone pushing my…little brother around. I was getting used to calling him that. Three months ago I would have laughed in your face about it, but now, the kid seemed here to stay. And we made a good fit. I mean, I was a fifteen year old raising a nine year old, but stranger things have happened. I could do this. We could do this.
Dinner over, I found Tanner in our apartment common room working on a home assignment. It was an assignment that he wasn't required to complete with the class switch now set for next week, but it was no great shock that it didn't seem to matter to him. It was an assignment and he'd been told to complete it, so he did. Jedi training or not, I think perhaps he was just that type of kid.
"Hey," I said as a came to the couch. "You're a pretty good kid, you know that?" The most innocent and warmest of smiles crossed his face just then. So I couldn't help topping it off with, "You're a pretty good little brother too."
Ah, there it was. The reaction I'd expected. And the reaction I'd wanted? Yeah, we all need bear hugs once in a while. Tanner set his data pad down and treated me to maybe the best one ever. The most genuine are always the best.
"No more bullies, okay? You let me know if someone is picking on you. Let the teacher know. I don't want you getting hurt."
"I will," came the muffled reply against my tunic.
Hug released, I ruffled his hair. "Finish up. It's holovid night, remember?" Always the end of the week for us – holovid night. We'd punch up a vid at random – one of those close your eyes and pick type deals – and then we'd have to watch whatever we choose. Sometimes it was great. Sometimes we just laughed our butts off at what we had to suffer through. Last week, Tanner had to cover his eyes for half the vid when we ended up on a mild romance holo. This week, ironically enough, we landed on a vid about brothers. Long lost half brothers of different races that found each other long after childhood had come and gone, one (the younger) had suffered abuses during his life, the other (the older) had lived the almost perfect life, and naturally it ended with their deaths – big brother trying to protect little brother to the end - though they died together. It was one of those damn tearjerker vids – if you were a girl of course. I myself didn't shed one tear – at least not visibly. I caught them all with a tissue before they became visible. Tanner on the other hand seemed to need a good cry. With the trying week and the abuse he'd taken…and the restirring of difficult memories of the Jedi – the vid was the catalyst to allow it all to pour out. I wrapped him tight next to me, big brother protecting little brother…just like in the holovids.
The end
