THE CURSE

THE CURSE Despite the best efforts, of the combined forces of anti-bullying projects, as well as "No Child Left Behind", and "Race to the Top", the simple fact was that schools just did not WANT to address the topic, of student-on-student violence. Not even when violence was directed against students, whose only desire was to reach graduation. What the schools most violent students just could not accept was that some students wanted nothing more than an education. That, and to be left in Peace. (Something that the bullies just could NOT allow). In more recent years, schools had been increasing efforts, NOT to restrain bullies, but to try to draw attention AWAY from bullies actions. Several school districts had, successfully, drawnn attention away from student suicides, by calling two, of three, suicides, per year "isolated incidents". The REAL problem began the year, when a gang, of no less that ten bullies began openly terrorizing peaceful students, to the point where atleast six students committed suicide, within a single school year. When the parents, of peaceful students, begann filing applications, for transfer, school districts openly rejected the "Reason for Transfer: BULLYING." School districts told parents that this reason was rejected, since it would place negative attention, on schools. One, school district even went to court, to forbid parents from using bullying as a "Reason for Transfer". As for the problem, itself, schools found it much easier to cover the fact that two, or three, students, per year, committed suicide. The prooblem, which one school had, was when a gang, of bullies, drove no less than SIX students, to take own lives, in just one semester. Two, or three, per YEAR, the school could cover up, but SIX, in one semester? While the school district, and law enforcement, REFUSED to prosecute the bullies, rumor held that, after the final victim, of the semester, was buriied, that the bullies toasted their success. This, with beer, and snacks. Cause of the celebration: The only students, remaining in school, were those students who were willing to KILL, for what they wanted. Only the "Conan the Barbarian" types would remain in the school. Since the courts REFUSED to prosecute the bullies, and police would NOT secure arrest warrants, the bullies felt that their goal had been achieved, and that their future had been secured. Once the bullies left high school, and entered into employment, they took their terrorist skills, and used these, to secure promotions. If two people were up, for a promotion, and one was a school bully, the bully would take high school skills, and, simply BEAT their opponent, half to death, or until the more educated person withdrew from the promotions list. Of course, the bullies did not restrict violence to. The bullies, also, extended their bloody rampages into their personal lives. When bullies found potential mates, with gentlemen, the bullies, simply beat the gentlemen half to death, then the women, GLADLY, went with the bullies. This, because many women truly DO want "Conan the Barbarian". Not, "Love, Honor, and Cherish". When the bullies started their own families, the main thing, that these brutes taught their young was "If you want it, TAKE it!" They tauught their children how to beat other children half to death, over possession of toys, lunch money, and so on. The more violent the young became, the prouder that parents were. What the bullies never counted upon was how their actions would affect lives, in general. In fact, the very first victim, of the "curse" was a bully, who wanted a promotion, within a company. The problem was that a peace-loving worker was better educated, and more qualified. While co-workers did not place much stock into the words, when the bully said "I WILL handle him", no one was prepared for what was to come. As far as the police, and the media, could discover, the bully had dragged their victim into a secret area, then beat them half to death, all while saying "That promotion is MINE!" When the bloody victim would not give in, the bully took a length, of heavy chain, wrapped it around the victims neck, then rammed the victim out of a fourth floor office window. Watching until the body ceased all convulsions, the bully then left the scene, and went to a bar. The body, dangling in mid-air, would be found, the following morning, by the earliest workers. The reason why the bully became the prime suspect was because the man did not report in, for work. For nearly a month, police sought the bully, without success. Then something, beyond odd, happened. A month, after the bully murdered his victim, the bully was found, not just dead, but dead, and the body found in the administrative offices, of the high school, where the bully had terrorized other students. The reason why an investigative reporter got involved, in the case, was because the coroner had to use dental records to identify the body. The bullies body was found, so severely beaten, that most types, of identification, were impossible. It was not until the reporter dug into the bullies past, that a motive, for the beating/murder was found. During his high school years, the bully had imposed the same kinds, of beatings, on anyone whom the bully felt did not "measure up". Rumor has it that, when the other bullies learned of the death, they TOASTED the bully, calling him a success. It would not be until six months later, and afterr the media lost interest, in the deaths, that another incident would revive the topic. According to media sources, it woulld seem that, after a peaceful childs parents bought them a new bicycle, that the child, of a bully, having been taught to FIGHT, and even to KILL, for what they wanted, had seen the child, with the bicycle, and beaten the child half to death, before taking their prize. While the young bully BOASTED, to friends, about having taken the bike, from the "whimp", local police would inform the victims parents "There is nothing to do, about this. We cannot arrest children, for "playing rough"." Even after the peaceful child died, of the beating, inside the hospital, both the school board, and the police, did their best to cover the situation. No one wanted the publicity, of arresting an "ambitious chiild". It was not until two weeks after the childs death, and the bullies sudden disappearance, that the bullies parents demanded that the dead childs parents demanded that their childs victims parents be investigated, either for kiidnapping, or, possibly, murder. While the police investigated the family, the reporter went after background, on the child, who had stolen the victims property. While police, and the school board, would have preferred that the media assign the reporter to another story, the reporter used various sources, and created a sound, fact-filled, reason, for the theft, death, and disappearance. Once the young persons violent ways were linked to their parents violent ways, the reporter suggested "I wonder if this bullies body will be found, like the last one?" Even as the media was publishing this article, the police received a report, of domestic abuse. From what the police could find out, it seems that, when a wife was just "not in the mood", her "Conan the Barbarian" husband decided that he was going to TAKE what he wanted. It would seem that neighbors called in the police, when thew "man" was viewed, punching his wife about. According to the police report, it seemms that her "husband" gave her a black eye, broken nose, split lip, sprained arm, and leg, and some fractured ribs. It seems that the wife gave the "man" what he wanted, just to stop the pain. What "Conan" had not counted upon was the new, abuse, laws, which had been passed in the 80's, and 90's. Laws which no-longer asked victims if they wanted jail time, for abusers. If medics diagnosed severe injuries, the abuser was going to jail, period. Two days, and a $100 fine, later, the "man" left the police station, telling his friends "I am going to make that (woman) pay!". His friends would tell both the police, and the media, that the last time they saw the "man", he was headed in the general direction, of his home. It was when the young bullies body was found, covered with the same types, of marks, which the bullies had inflicted, on their victims, that the police began suspecting a vigilante. Problem was, all past, and present, victims had solid alibi's. None, even knew of the deaths, until reading the newspaper. Two days later, the abusive husbands body would be found, again on school property. This is when the reporter did the "in-depth" digging, which the school board did NOT want done. With a copy, of the "Freedom of Information Act", in hand, the reporter scoured the records, going back to when the abusive childrens parents were in school. While the reporter found the names, of the gang members, the problem became that of "WHO" was killing the bullies? When the reporter checked the names, of the students, who had been terrorized, by the bullies, the problem was that almost all had LEFT the city, if not the state, trying to leave the abuse behind. The only six, who remained in town were those whom the church verified were in the local cemetary. The funeral home had done its best, with each corpse, and church record showed that each body was buried. Even the reporter had to agree that the graves were not disturbed. In fact, were it not for the head-stones, the reporter would not have known that a grave was present. When the reporter looked to more recent incidents, for a perpetrator, the reporter came up, empty, as well. Everyone had an alibi. Both the surviving victims, and those, who were within the hospital. This left the community with a question, which no one wanted to consider. If every person, in, and around, town, was accounted for, then WHO was taking revenge? WHO was killing the terrorist bullies? The police were hoping for a friend, or relative. Maybe even a contract killer. Someone they could place behind bars. This is why, when the reporter received a U.S. Mail message, asking "If you want to know the truth, meet me at the high school, 9 p.m. I will lead you to the truth." Since the reporter was no fool, before handling the message, or the body, of the envelope, he had it dusted, for prints, by the newspapers crime department. When he took it to his editor, and asked "What do you think? Hoax? Thrill-Seeker?" The editor would only say "If it is fake, then why not ask for payment? Why not offer information, for a cash payment? Why not say "I will expose the truth, for $100,000?" When the reporter would ask "Do you think it is a victim, whom the police dont know about?" The editor would say "Doesn't sound like a victim, to me. Want to meet you, in a public place. A place, where most of the town knows everyone. It just doesn't make sense." When the reporter would ask "How do you want to write it up? Fake, forgery, crank?" The editor would say "No. Just as a precaution. Draw $5,000 from the cashier. Just in case money is the motive. Get what you can, as cheaply as you can." After signing for the cash, the reporter would visit the high school, and was astonished by the nightmare images, which the old building brought forth, from his memories. Images, of his own, teen, years, and how he had done everything, possible, to "vanish" from the sight of the bullies. Still, the images were vivid. Images, of muscular, tall, students, slamming students, half their size, into lockers, while shouting, in the students face "You are a homo because I SAID you are! We need REAL men, in this school, not HOMO's!" The reporter, also, remembered being beaten, numerous times, when the bullies growled "Admit being a homo, right NOW!" No matter which way the student tried to escape, the mob, of bullies, punched, kicked, and slammed, the student. When his parents tried to report the violence, and school officials would not even HEAR the complaint, saying "If we dont SEE it then it did not happen." All that parents could do was allow students to leave school, at minimum age. The reporter, like so many other students, did not cease his education, upon leaving school. He earned his journalism certificate from adult education. Funny thing was, it was not the heckling, or screeching, by any girls, whom gentlemen tried to ask out, which made him laugh. It was that garbage, in the school cafeteria. The so-called school lunch program. Platters, which were smaller than Swanson, or Banquet t.v. dinners, and whose "quality" was about that of the dumpsters, behind the school. That was one of the great things, about independent study. With quality meals, from the famiily kitchen, the reporter had been able to focus on his studies, and graduate, from adult education, at the top, of the journaliism class. Now, the man stood, looking at one of the very buildings, which he hated, more than anything. Rounding the property, the reporter was amazed to find no motor vehicles, except for his own. If someone wanted to meet him, he would have thought that they would have brought a car along. It was not until the reporter saw a figure, standing by a utility shed, that the reporter approached the figure, and was about to ask when he saw his old friend. When the reporter asked "Seth, what are you doing here?" The man would say "I am not Seth. I am Steven. Seth is my nephew." When the reporter would say "Amazing." The man would say "I know. It runs in the family." When the reporter would ask "You weere the one..." Steven would say "Yes, I sent you the message." When the reporter would ask "Why here? Why not in a cafe, or restaurant?" Steven would say "Last time I checked, your restauratnts, including those fast food places, do not serve spirits." When the reporter would say "If you want a drink..." Steven would say "I dont mean "spirits, as in booze. I mean..." The reporter would say "Wait a minute. Dont go telling me that you are a ghost." Steven would rebuke this, saying "We, in the after-life, are most annoyed that the living call us "ghosts". Sounds as cheap as calling an employed woman a "whore"." When the reporter would say "Well, excuse me. I had no idea that the after-life had so many rules." Steven would say "Cut the sarcasm. I have asked you here, for a reason." When the reporter would ask "What would that be? To show me some ghost magic?" Steven sent a chill through the reporter, which felt below sub-zero, as Steven would say "If you must use a title. The title is SPIRIT! Other wise, just call me Steven." When the reporter would say "Fine, Steven. WHY are we meeting on the grounds of a local high school? WHY here?" Steven would say "We are standing just a few feet from where I am buried." When the reporter would ask "Since WHEN are bodies allowed to be buried, on shool grounds?" Steven would say "I never said it was ALLOWED. I said I am buried, here." When the reporter would ask "When, Where, etc.." Steven would say "To the best of my recall, I was one of the first victims, whom the bullies murdered, over the years." When the reporter would ask "Why did the bullies kill you?" Steven would say "Because I would not let one of their girlfriends win a spelling bee." When the reporter would ask "What happened?"" Steven would say "Eight of them jumped me, at once. Didn't stop beating on me, even after I was un-conscious." When the reporter would ask "HOW can you know what they did, AFTER you were un-conscious?" Steven would say "After my heart stopped, it was like I was standing among them, as they argued over how to dispose of my body." When the reporter would ask "WHERE is your body buried?" Steven would say "Under that utility shed. That is why the floor is concrete, not dirt. It took them most of the night, but they buried my body eight feet down." When the reporter would ask "Didn't your family report you missing?" Steven would say "The bullies had a plan, for this. They threatened to KILL a member, of the schools writers club, if the student did not copy my hand-writing, and send a note, stating that I had run away." When the reporter would ask "Even IF this story is true, WHAT do you get out of it? How much money?" Steven would ask "What good is money, to a spirit?" When the reporter would ask "What is your MOTIVATION, then?" Steven would say "Too many killings, over the years. Bullies have terrorized schools, for too long. I guess that I am hoping that, even if only ONE murder is solved, the bullies will reconsider their violent ways. They might even stop terrorizing people, out of fear of exposure." The reporter would say "THAT IS a BIG ask, especially when schools dont WANT to know, about student violence." Steven would suggest "Maybe, if we had new boards. People, who look AT, not AWAY FROM, violence." When the reporter would ask "Would you happen to know anything about the recent deaths, of some bullies?" Steven would say "I KNEW that was the way to draw media attention. Force the subject into the daylight." The reporter was about to mention "But, murder is a felony, you could go to jail...", then he remembered that he was talking to a spirit. A prison sentence is use-LESS, on a persoon who is, already, dead. Steven then told the reporter where to find information, both on the bullies, who had murdered him, so many years ago, and the bullies, since that time. After that, man, and spirit, said farewell. Over the next few days, the reporter tracked those, who had murdered Steven. Of those, who remained alive, all were vegetating, in nursing homes. There was no way to place these people on trial. No prison would take them, even IF convicted. There was no question. Stevens murderers had escaped justice, and lived full lives. Everything which they had DENIED Steven. While the next generration was well-established, in careers, the reporter would provide enough information, to each, to bring an end to their tyranny. As for their own children, once the reporter reminded the older generation, that they COULD be prosecuted IF information became known, it seems that the bullies decided to scale back activities. Instead of terrorizing their friends, the bullies, now, suggested that their children cooperate, and SHARE. When their spouses asked "WHY?" the bullies would have to say "A reporter has found enough information, to send both me, and the kids, to prison, for life." When atleast one spouse would say "The answer is simple. KILL him before he destroys us!" The bully would say "Dont even suggest such things. If that is taken as a threat, YOU can go to jail, as well." When the woman would say "And, here, I THOUGHT that I had married a REAL man. Not some whimp, who is afraid of his own shadow." In the end, atleast two spouses were arrested when a patrol car spotted them trying to light a rag, which was stuffed into the reporters gas tank. The courts would on enough charges to equal three felonies The spouses were going to prison, for life. In a final, impromptu, visit, Stevens spirit would visit the reporter, saying "It seems justice is done, at last. The curse, which my family invoked, when they suspected that I had been murdered, is, now, lifted." When the reporter would ask "What now?" Steven would say "Do not worry. There are plenty of additional bullies, even in America. The worst is not over, yet. Locally, maybe. Nationally, it continues." When the reporter would ask "Do you think that any other victims families have invoked curses?" Steven would say "Most assuredly. All we can do is wait, for the deaths to continue. For now, my friend, farewell."