(Thanks to GP Cox of Pacific Paratrooper for giving the opening sentence, and apologies in advance for turning out a horrid story.)
“Well there ya go, it happened again.”
It was the saddest thing; Ollie Hope was teased at school. It was closer to persecution. Others viewed him with distain. He was a bit thick, a bit slow, a couple of nuts short of a fruit cake. All that the other students would ever say to Ollie was “Look what the cat brought in.” To which Ollie always replied, “Well there ya go, it happened again.”
It was like pressing a button.
“Look what the cat brought in.”
“Well there ya go, it happened again.”
“Look what the cat brought in.”
“Well there ya go, it happened again.”
The truth was, Ollie wasn’t stupid, but he didn’t know how he was meant to respond to such a silly statement, especially since it happened all the time and was clearly meant as a torment. His reply had simply started out as a sensible response to “Look what the cat brought in” several times in a row. “Well there ya go, it happened again.”
Poor Ollie didn’t make too many friends. He was a bit of a loner, but not from choice. When he hanged himself in his parent’s garage it was the third school suicide within as many months.
As one teacher observed: “Well there ya go, it happened again.”
And everybody laughed.
Nice post!
Thanks!
Well, there you do, you did it again.
Well, there I go, doing a typo again.
Its awlrite to go typos
Good one Bruce!
Thank you!
A rich, if sad, tale on bullying in schools. As for the suicide, well, there ya go!
As a teacher for many years, one had to always say (in the nicest way possible) that the person was wrong. Otherwise there would be a flood… (No one will like me saying that I suspect).
Geez, Bruce.
Oh wow!
Thanks!
Powerfully poignant Bruce.
Thanks, Andrea.
Boy, this is grim! Maybe you could write a sequel that talks about the inner psychology of Ollie before the act. He was harassed with surreal dreams of amputated cats talking in monotone perhaps. It initially started with a friendly obsession with anthropomorphic imaginary cat friends and slowly transformed into something harrowing until he found no peace in dreams or reality.
Thanks for the response Nitin. Monochrome cats in monotones. The problem with a sequel would be that I’d be out of my depth! (I’ve been waiting to hear from you because I lost your email – I can’t comment on your website because I don’t belong to any of those discussion groups. I tried to join Disqis and it put html on nearly every page on my computer – I spend ages deleting it. I can’t read your last posting because the writing stretches way past the screen on both sides. Thought I’d better tell you this in case you think my lack of response means you’re unloved!! Also – I’m not getting any emails saying you’ve done a posting.)
Do you have another email address by any chance?I could add that. I dunno why you aren’t getting my mails. I posted only once since the White Castle post though. You don’t need to comment Bruce. Just having you as a reader is precious. I’ve been going through a hard time. My father suddenly fell ill and we’re all struggling. I detailed it in my last post. Mailchimp is the site that sends the mails. Please do check your spam. Maybe it ended up there.
It might’ve gone into the spam which I delete relatively nonchalantly every day – even if I’m in desperate need on Viagra. I shall be a little more careful in future and then let you know. Sorry to hear about your Dad.
I waited till the comments came in before commenting myself and just as I thought, you created a terrific story – so “There you go, it happened again!!”
LOL! Thanks for the comment – and thanks for the excellent starter!
My pleasure.
Good one, but horribly sad and a true comment on the times!
Thanks Noelle.