*This story is based on real people, names are omitted and usernames are bleeped out
to protect the innocent.*
“Hey check this out!”
I glance up from my writing to look at the little girl who is playing on her tablet beside me.
“What’s that?”
“I’m playing this game online, it’s called Warrior, and it shows everyone’s score who plays it,
too-from all around the world! Look, I’m in second!”
I raise my eyebrows. “Wow, that’s great. I hope you stay up there.”
She beams. “Me too.”
I glance at the clock. “Oh, look at the time, I guess I’d better get ready to go to work.”
“Okay, see you tonight.”
I laugh. “You’ll be in bed by the time I get home, little lady.”
“Okay, see you in the morning?” She looks hopeful.
“I work in the morning, You’ll still be sleeping, but I’ll see you when I get home, tomorrow,
and you can show me your game, again?”
She nods eagerly. “I can’t wait!”
“You’re gonna have to wait for it,” I take a peek at her screen, “little miss ******57.
Hey, that’s a pretty cool username.”
She grins. “Thanks. See you tomorrow.”
I ruffle her hair, gently. “See you tomorrow, kiddo.”
I hurry upstairs to get ready for another day in the culinary office, and drive the couple miles
to the restaurant. When I get there, I clock in and is instantly greeted by one of my best friends.
He grins as he flips a burger on the grill.
“Hey there, are you ready to rock, tonight?”
I laugh as I wash my hands.. “If by rock, you mean another busy Sunday night, then yes;
I am ready to rock.” I rip off a paper towel to dry my hands. Throwing it away, I head back
to check the list.
“Say, did you know that I play Warrior? It’s an online fighting game. You should try it
so we can combat each other.” He grins. “I’ll have to warn you, I’ve been pretty invincible.
First in the whole world.”
I nod thoughtfully.. “That’s great, but I’m not really into online gaming.”
“Oh, well if you decide to check it out, my username is *******97.” - I laugh softly as I mix
my batter - “There’s this gamer who’s in second, they seem like they might be competition.”
I keep whisking the cake batter as I listen. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah, I think their username is ******57.”
I stop short and glance up at him. “Are you afraid?”
He snorts. “Heck no. In fact, tomorrow morning, I’m going to challenge them to a duel-off.
I have to stay on top. I can’t let my reputation go down the drain. I worked hard to get
where I’m at.”
“Oh no, we wouldn’t want that.” I mumble sarcastically.
He shoots me a glare. “Ha, ha, hilarious. You’ll see. I’ll tell you all about it when
I come in tomorrow.”
“I have no doubts.” I say calmly as I slide the cake in the oven and set the time for forty minutes.
A server pops their head through the kitchen door, putting the gaming conversation on hold.
“Hey, we’re starting to get a late lunch rush.”
I wipe my hands as the slips chuck themselves out of the machine.
“I’m a-coming.”
The rush keeps us busy all night. By the time I get home, the clock flashes 10:23.
I groan and slide into bed, drifting off to a warrior’s world.
Beep, beep, beep.
Five-thirty am. Time for another day. I yawn and stretch tall, before sliding out of bed
to get ready for work. Fifteen minutes later, I head out the front door, drive a short distance,
and walk through the kitchen’s back door.
“Morning.” I wave to my co-workers.
They wave back. “Good morning.”
I’m on line duty this morning. As I crack eggs, I think of the duel-off that was premiering today.
I slide toast down and ponder the results. I flick on the server’s light, and get started on
the next slip. What time is the battle? I should have asked him last night. Four hours later,
I prepare the lunch specials for the day, but in every dish, I see the two warriors;
my two warriors. What will the outcome be? How will it affect me?
Two o’clock rolls around, and my friend walks through the door in a hurry. I wave,
but his half-smile worries me. He comes up to the line to take over, but I’m not ready
to give it up, yet.
“So, how’d the duel-off go?”
He hangs his head. “I got whooped.”
“Oh. sorry, bro.”
He shrugs. “No big, it was probably a thirty-year-old pro-gamer. I’ll accept second place; for now.”
I remain silent, wiping my area down, and grabbing my lunch break. An hour later,
I head out the door to go back home.
She meets me at the door. I can’t turn away from her smiling face.
“Guess what? Guess what?”
I pretend to look curious. “What is it?”
She falls for my act. “I had a duel-off against the player in first place; and I won!”
I smile and swing her around in my arms. “That’s great, I’m so proud of you!
I always knew you could do anything if you tried.”
She grins. “I’m first in the entire world!”
I laugh. “Let’s celebrate with ice cream, how’s that sound?”
Her eyes grow wide. “Oh, yes please!”
I close the front door, behind us, shutting out the outside world-for now.
“I need help.”
I look up from my notebook and turn once again to the girl and her tablet.
“What do you need help with?”
“The gamer I beat for first place, their username is *******97, and they have been
private messaging me really mean words. Look.” She tilts her screen towards me so
I can read the harmful messages. My face falls.
“Wow, that’s some sore loser.”
Her own face grew sad. “I won, didn’t I? Why do they make me feel awful?”
I study the words, again. “Bullying is never right, those awful words are bound
to make anyone feel awful, themselves.”
Her worried eyes look trustfully up to mine. “What do I do?”
“Let me see what I can do, I think I can fix this.”
“Will you create an account?”
“If I have to.” I reply, promptly.
The next time that I work with my friend, I don’t just walk into work-I storm in-I am
definitely as mad as a hornet.
“Listen here, buddy!” I thrust my pointer into his surprised face. “I let you think
what you want, and didn’t say a word because we were friends, but not anymore!
That player who beat your top score, whom you claimed was a ‘thirty-year-old gamer expert’;
she was only twelve!”
He jumps away from me. “Whoa-wait-she?”
“Yes, she. I wasn’t going to say anything, but I’m sorry, if you mess with my family,
prepare to burn! You’d better darn-tootin’ apologize and never, ever, do a wicked,
wicked thing like this, again! Got it, bub?”
He nods, his eyes widen in fear. “Yes, yes, I’m so sorry.”
I cross my arms. “Don’t apologize to me.”
He nods, again. “I’ll do it. I promise.”
The next day, the little girl and I, again, sit on the couch. This time, I speak up first.
“Did you get any more messages from *******97?”
She nods. “They apologized. I don’t believe it. How did you do it? Did you have to
create an account? What’s your username?”
I smile. “You can call me, ********505.”
Cyber-bullying is never cool. Put an end to it, today. Pass it on.
.
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