Wordy Woodpecker #5

Her eyes were swollen and his hands were trembling, as Felix’s heart was filled with revulsion toward both himself and Alexia, the school’s social queen, as all the kids on the recess playground turned to stare at him and the scene he had created.

The ensuing brief moment of silence was all the time Felix needed to fully recognize the scorn directed by all toward him. He was being judged for this moment is isolation of all others. He still felt the sting on his fist and the sting from Alexia’s revelations. But this was of no matter to him at this moment. He was a disgusting monster who physically attacked a girl’s on the provocation of words. Just words. To himself, he was now a disgusting thug.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.

Felix soon found himself sitting in front of the middle aged principal. A slender man who always took pains to dress as well as possible, the principal, Mr. Dawson, could nonetheless make students tremble with his scowl. Mr. Dawson was normally a kind hearted fellow, which made is scowls every so much more guilt inducing. And Felix faced that scowl as he tried to explain his actions. But it was for naught, for as soon as Felix uttered the words “she said”, he was cut off. That was enough information for Mr. Dawson to condemn him.

“What she said is irrelevant. How…dare…. you assault someone. Can’t you remember that…

Felix didn’t have to listen to what Mr. Dawson said after that. He already knew what was coming.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.

As Felix lied in his bed, he could not help remembering the irrelevant words of Alexia. She had gone to those Felix considered friends, and threatened complete social isolation if they did not stop associating with me. And given her status in the school, these threats were credible. Felix could not forget that wicked smile as Alexia revealed what she had done, promising that he would soon have no friends. He could not get that smug grin out of his mind. But he was the worse person. He was the brute that threw the punch.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.

The next morning, Felix really didn’t want to go to school, but he had to. He soon learned what was the story that every other student had heard. Supposedly, he had asked Alexia to be his girlfriend and punched her when she refused. He didn’t bother trying to expose the lie; he knew he had no credibility left. True to Alexia’s promise, he had lost his friends, and his chances at making more.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can more than hurt me.
They destroy.