Bullying

Emma's heart raced with excitement as he walked into the preschool classroom. The walls were covered with colorful drawings and there were toys everywhere. His teacher, a kind-faced woman with a welcoming smile, greeted him and helped him hang up his backpack. Emma felt a flutter of nerves but tried to stay brave.

"H-Hi…" The teacher smiles.

"Take a seat wherever you want, Emma" Emma fiddles with his fingers and walks over to a small group building with blocks, joining them to play. Everything seemed so new and interesting. He was having fun until a boy with curly hair and a mischievous grin leaned in.

"Why do you have a girl's name?" Emma's smile faltered. 

"It's not a girl's name," he mumbled, trying to focus on the blocks. The boy just shrugged and walked away. Emma felt a sting in his chest but tried to push it aside.

At snack time, Emma sat at a small table with other kids. He reached for a juice box, but a girl next to him snickered 

"Why does your name sound so silly? It doesn't even match your clothes." Emma's cheeks flushed. He looked down at his snack, feeling a lump in his throat. He didn't understand why they were teasing him. The juice box suddenly seemed less appealing. He wanted to tell the teacher, but he was scared and didn't want to seem like he couldn't handle it.

As the day went on, the teasing grew more frequent. 

During Storytime, Emma tried to join in a group activity, but another kid whispered loudly,

"Emma must be dumb if he can't even play right." Emma's eyes stung with tears as he tried to blink away. He felt a mix of confusion and hurt but kept quiet, hoping it would stop.

The day seemed to drag on. Emma's enthusiasm for the new experiences was overshadowed by the growing discomfort. 

When it was time for outdoor play, he hesitated to join the others, feeling a knot in his stomach. He sat alone on a swing, pushing himself back and forth slowly, trying to make sense of the hurtful comments.

As the afternoon approached, Emma's heart sank with the thought of going home. He missed Alex and wanted to tell him about the fun things he'd done, but he was afraid of what he'd say about the teasing. Emma's small shoulders dropped as he waited for the day to end.

Finally, the time came to leave. Emma saw Alex waiting by the door, his warm smile a beacon of comfort. He ran to him, but the excitement of being picked up was mixed with the unease he felt throughout the day.

"Did you have a good day, Emma?" Alex asked, his eyes full of hope.

Emma hesitated, his little hands clutching the strap of his backpack. 

"It was okay," he said softly, avoiding Alex's gaze. Alex knelt down to Emma's level, a hint of concern in his eyes. 

"Just, okay?" Emma nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. 

"I'm tired. Can we go home now?" Alex gently patted Emma's back.

"If that's what you want, buddy" Alex led him to the car. As they drove home, Emma's mind replayed the day's events. The teasing had hurt, but he didn't want to worry Alex. He kept his head down, watching the passing scenery through the window.

When they arrived home, Alex helped Emma out of the car, noticing the way he clung to his side. 

"We can talk about your day later if you want," Alex said, trying to sound casual but with a note of concern. Emma nodded, forcing a small smile. 

"Okay, Dada." As they settled into their evening routine, Emma's heart was heavy. The teasing had left a mark, and he wasn't ready to talk about it yet. But as he snuggled into his bed, he clung to the hope that tomorrow might be better.