Nisha lived in an isolated, run-down house on the outskirts of the reservation. If it hadn't been for Robert Bear, it probably would've fallen into disrepair years before. He was the Tribal Chief and had done his best to help out the single mother and her daughter over the years. Unfortunately, Rosemary had continued to make some wrong decisions. It was downright sad that Nisha felt the impact of her mother's indiscretions.
Nisha flinched and could almost feel the burning of her own scalp when she saw Albert grab the new kid by his hair. She was surprised when anger started to spark deep within her and she'd decided that no, she wouldn't pass the gauntlet to a new victim. She would do what she'd always done. She would fight back. With a new resolve, she clenched her fists and started moving toward the boys when she stopped dead in her tracks and caught sight of something that caused her eyes to widen. She tried to hide the small smile that was growing broader. Anthony had managed to land a punch to Albert's stomach. As the boy fell to his knees and gasped for breath, Anthony pushed him down into the dirt, grabbing Albert by his hair and grinding the boy’s face hard into the rich, gritty earth.
She wondered if things would've turned out differently for her if she'd known how to defend herself properly. She always fought back, but Albert still got the best of her, making sure to always unleash his cruelty away from the eyes of an adult who could've prevented it or intervened. It no longer mattered. Albert had finally gotten what he had coming. She wished she could've been the one to put him in his place. Maybe now he would know what it felt like and leave her alone.
It had been wishful thinking. After having been humiliated by the new kid, Albert had gone back to tormenting Nisha and a week later he took the opportunity to let loose more of his viciousness when their teacher stepped out of the room.
"Continue working on your handouts," she announced from behind her desk. "Today's room monitor is..." The teacher hesitated as she scanned the room. "Nisha. It won't take me long to run off some copies, and when I get back, I'll collect your handouts."
Nisha looked around nervously. She saw Anthony working on his handout. Her eyes slowly landed on each child in the room. They were all doing what the teacher had requested. A prickle of fear combined with irritation ran up her spine when her gaze landed on Albert, who sat two rows over from her. He was staring at her with hatred more intense than she'd ever witnessed before. He was obviously fuming about the beating he'd taken a week ago, and she knew he was going to take it out on her. Again. She gulped as Albert got up from his desk and strode toward her. The other kids, noticing movement, looked up from their worksheets.
Nisha quickly stood up, bracing herself, and wondered if she should stop trying to defend herself. Albert seemed to enjoy it when she fought back. Maybe if she didn't put up any resistance, he would get bored and leave her alone. Her mind was racing as she tried to figure out the best course of action, when she caught sight of Anthony. He'd looked up and was watching her with a curious expression on his face.
Anthony frowned when he realized Albert was approaching Nisha, the girl with the long dark hair and big brown eyes that were filled with fear and determination. He'd watched Albert bully her a few times in the past week. He couldn't be certain, but he thought she'd started to come to his defense the first day Albert had tried to intimidate him. He'd considered more than once about intervening on her behalf, but being the new kid, he didn't want to bring unwanted attention to his family. Even though he was positive he would never fit in at his uncle's home, he was grateful to have been taken in.
Anthony had to admit, he admired Nisha. He'd watched all week as she stood her ground against the school bully. She was on the losing end every time because she didn't know how to defend herself properly. He would make sure that changed today.
Before Nisha knew it, Albert was in front of her. He was making nasty comments about her clothes, but she barely heard him. From the corner of her eye, she saw Anthony stand up. When Anthony knew she'd seen him, he pointed to his right knee and lifted it high. He then pointed at his crotch and nodded at her.
Nisha looked back at Albert when she felt the hard pinch to her arm. Stifling a cry, she lifted her knee like she'd seen Anthony demonstrate and connected with Albert's groin. He bent over in pain, and once again she glanced Anthony's way. He nodded and motioned for her to grab Albert's head and bring her knee up again. Without hesitation she mimicked Anthony's movements, and when she looked back at him, she could see the admiration on the new student's face. She knew deep in her heart that they would become friends. Inseparable, lifelong friends.
She didn't care that when the teacher returned she was reprimanded and had to clean up the classroom floor that was splattered with blood from Albert's face. She didn't care that she had to write a letter of apology to Albert for almost breaking his nose. She didn't even care that some of the girls tried to be her friend after that day. She no longer craved or wanted their friendship. She may have only been eight years old, but she learned two important life lessons. The first was that she was finished being a victim, especially now that she knew how to defend herself. The second lesson was that sometimes life requires that you fight dirty to survive.
"Your answer shouldn't take this long, nephew," Robert chided, as he slowly walked toward his dead brother's only son. Laying a hand on Anthony's shoulder, he gazed down into the boy's eyes and said, "Telling the truth, even if it's painful, is always the best way. You don't have to ponder or think about the truth. It's always there so it slides off the tongue more easily. Yes, people say that lies are easy too, but they carry a burden with them. Lies weigh you down. Never hesitate to tell the truth, Anthony."
"I stole it. I stole the part, Uncle Robert," Anthony blurted out. The air left his lungs, his entire body deflating as he shrunk in defeat. He felt his uncle’s hand squeeze his shoulder. He looked up and saw a smile on his face.