A bullying attempt that I never let go of.
I was bullied growing up and often teased. Fortunately, this one prank worked out in my favor.
In case it's helpful, below are the main points covered in this post:
My Poor Backpack
I experienced various forms of bullying growing up, but my backpack served as most of my bully’s target. My locker was never easily accessible, so I had to carry my backpack to carry all my textbooks and other school supply necessities.
Bullies often raid my backpack when I could not keep an eye on it. If I had a pass to use the restroom, I was not permitted to take my backpack. If I had to move to another desk temporarily to complete group work, I was not permitted to take my backpack. If I had to give a mandatory class presentation, I was not permitted to take my backpack.
Every time my backpack was unattended, a bully would go through and steal something of mine. Every time I brought it up with a teacher, counselor, vice principal, or other staff member, I was told to do a better job of protecting my belongings.
The Prank
I always had panic attacks (not diagnosed), and my classmates knew it. One day, a bully decided to prank me and trigger an attack. She dropped an object into my backpack and patiently waited for me to find it.
At some point during class, I finally looked into my backpack and saw it. A large fake black and brown spider. I stared at it in awe for a while before pulling it out. As I held it in my hand, I could not help but smile.
My classmates leaned over and asked if I was scared. I said, "No." I overheard them talk about how the prank did not work as they expected. My bully asked for the spider back, but I refused to let go of it and thanked them for the gift. My bully wanted to argue, but a few classmates told her to let it go since it was the first time they ever saw me smile.
What my bully did not know was that my Dad told me stories about his colleagues failed attempts at pranking him with dead poisonous insects. Dad faces pranks and dangerous situations calmly. I aspired to be brave like my Dad.
My parents were separated while my Dad was active duty, so I only saw Dad once a year when he was able to take leave. Her failed prank resulted in a gift that reminded me of my Dad and the stories he shared when he visited me.
Through the Decades
I left the spider in my backpack. A few weeks after I acquired it, another bully rummaged through my backpack while I was speaking with the teacher in front of the class. He screamed once he noticed the spider. He rushed to the front to complain about the spider in my backpack.
Fortunately, this teacher called out my bully for going through someone else's property and assigned him to detention. My bully was upset, and probably embarrassed because our classmates were still laughing at the high-pitched scream he let out while going through my backpack.
Since then, I keep "Sweetheart" in a backpack or purse. She kept bullies and my nibblings when they were young out of my bags.
Because I am used to having my fake spider in a bag, I never think to remove her before going through a security checkpoint. Fortunately, most security guards who searched my bags laughed, but there were a few (less than a handful) that were visibly upset to find Sweetheart.
If I am lucky, Sweetheart will always live in a bag that I carry with me when I am away from home.
What's Next?
Now that I have Sweetheart on my mind, I may devote some time to making a spider-themed craft like the needle felt spider I made last year. Fun times!
Comment below to a prank gone wrong!
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Thanks, and have a great day!
~Simply Jelly Jam