Middle School Jerks

    We both got sitted and I asked Mark, the driver , to start the car. He nodded and started riding us to Claire's school.

  We were silent for a while until I broke it.

  "Claire, you might not want to talk to your dad or mom but you can tell me what it is that is bothering you. If there is anyone to talk to, that should be me."

She looked up at my face and smiled, her tears were nowhere to be found now.

  "Sometimes, I feel like you are my dad. You understand me more than mom and dad do. I don't know but you are always the right person to talk to. You know me more than I know myself but I think I should not bother you with this one. I can it handle on my own"

Her speech was rambling as she said those words and I could already tell that there had been too much going on. 

 I wasn't going to let it slide. Something that made her cry should never be ignored.

  "Claire, if you don't tell me, you know I will find out myself and whoever that is behind it will be punished severely so you better tell me to cut down the punishment."

  It wasn't a threat but a known fact. You don't joke with me where Claire is.

  "Uncle, it's re.."

"Don't uncle me and tell me all I need to know! "

I screamed and she flinched. I took a deep breath and turned to her"I am sorry I shouted at you now tell me"

  "It's a guy"

She replied, fiddling with her skirts.

  "A guy?"

I asked, amused," A guy has to be the reason you were shedding tears?"

She nodded and I chuckled,I was back in a good mood and was ready to hear what she has with the guy. I was kind of excited, you know when your teenage daughter tells you about a guy.

"Tell me, what did he do?"

She remained mute to my question.

  "Claire, can you start talking"

"Alright, Uncle. Just don't be mad at me"

She said in such a small voice that I had to strain to hear it.

I nodded encouraging her to speak again.

  "He found out that I like him and he is using it against me. The whole school knows and I am made fun of everyday. I know I should not be having crush because I am just thirteen"

She said,her voice breaking at the end and despite how awful she is feeling, a blush managed to appear on her face.

I didn't know why but this situation was bringing back memories of my days in middle school.

  "So you like a guy who is probably handsome and when he finds out, he is using it against you and because of that you are crying and somehow, you don't feel like going to school because today will be another day you will be made fun of, again?"

  She nodded.

"Can I tell you something?" I asked and she nodded again.

  "When I was in school, final grade. There was this girl who liked me, I knew about it but she never said anything and that prompted me to start bullying her, thinking she will come clean to me. It was one of my terrible mistakes. She never did but got entangled with a new guy and I lost her. I was pained because I loved her too and it was like I was waiting for her to make the move which she never did and I never did too. So this guy might like you as well only that he doesn't know how to say it and to always get your attention, he decided to make fun of you. What I think you should do is confront him about it or like another person"

   At the end of my statement, she started laughing.

She laughed hard, making her head fall back as tears streamed from her eyes.

   "There is no way I am going to confront him and no way will I like another. What if the same thing happens again. I mean what if the new guy becomes a jerk like this one. I kind of noticed something: Middle school boys are jerks. I won't like another and the one I have crush on, I will let it die"

  She stated, after laughing. I felt she was just trying to cover up with the laugh. She is really sad and I thought to do something about the boy who had the audacity to bully my niece. 

  "You know what, I change my mind. He is a jerk and should be dealt with"

She gave me a questioning look.

"Come here and let me hug you"

I wrapped my arms around her as she buried her head on my chest.

"Don't you worry, I will make sure I deal with him"

I said to myself, hugging her so tightly. The jerk has no right to humiliate her like that.