The bell rings
The young boys eagerly run out onto the chilly, frosty grass field, away from elderly scrutiny
A natural hierarchy quickly transpires

The tall boy with facial hair claims “i’m captain,”
Blank faces answer no objection
After given orders by the tall boy, the 5th graders take positions

A silence looms, as the tall boy plots who to throw to.
Suddenly, unmerciful excitement boils within the tall boys’ veins,
and he notices an opening for a confidence boost.
“Hike” the tall boy yells, and throws the football to the short, awkward, skinny boy
In the right corner of the field
The ball bounces out of the short boys’ hands onto the frozen grass
As expected
“Stop playing like a girl” the tall boy exclaims, followed by a roar of laughter
“You catch the ball like this” another boy says
“Why is he playing with us” the son of the old school football star says
The savages’ words eat the weak one alive.
Satisfied and self assured, with a common prey sacrificed between them,
the boys happily continue to play, howling like wolves

The weak one, head down and vacant, walks away from the game,
eyes shyly flicker to him on his way out, but not a word is said
Faint yells of careless laughter echo from the field as the weak one walks further,
and further away
The teacher watches emptily with his arms crossed