Not the Hat

[Deleted]

Characters: Open
Location: Jasper, Evening
Content Warnings: Bullying
Plot Summary: Mason runs afoul to some bullies on his way home from a meal.

[Deleted]

“Ha! Look at the weirdo! Did you see this stupid hat?” “Give it back, Bradley!”

Mason Bailey really hated days like this. Couldn’t the school bullies just leave him the heck alone? It was bad enough that he had to deal with them during school days. Did they really have to torment him after? Currently three of them were playing keep away with his hat, tossing it back and forth like it was a plaything. “Ha! Come on loser! Get it!”

Mason leaped at the lead one, who yanked it back, causing Mason to fall on the ground, groaning. One of the boys snickered while another kicked his bag off to the side, knocking out some books from it. “Ha! What a loser! Come on guys! Let’s “give him” his hat.”

The eleven year old turned just in time to see the boys throwing the hat into the street before running off high fiving each other. A frown crossing his lips as he pulled himself to his feet and tried to gather his stuff. “Man, I hope they didn’t ruin my pages,” he murmured a few times as he scanned over the pages of one notebook frantically.

Once sure its contents were fine, he turned his head to the hat laying in the street. Did he really risk it? It was one of his hats. And he hated losing his hats... He looked around looking both ways, even as it was getting dark, it seemed like the streets were mostly empty. Maybe he could just make a tiny run for it. As quick as he could.

And so he stepped off the curb and rushed to grab it. Hoping he wasn’t making a mistake here.