Your Story

The young boy sat cross-legged on the floor, his head resting in his cupped hands, his elbows slowly digging into his knees. He let out a heavy sigh, just as his little sister came skipping happily into the room. She stopped at the sound of his breath and turned back to face him. "What is it?" She asked, placing her hands on her hips.
It took her brother a few minutes before he realised anyone had spoken. Slowly he looked up and met her big hazel eyes."huh?"
"What is it?" She asked.
"I wish they'd stop!"
"Are those boys being bullies again?" Her brother nodded glumly, averting his gaze downward again. "Well, it's no good just wishing," she said wisely.
"What?"
"It's your story. Just like my story is my story, your story is your story. No one's going to change it for you." Her brother stared at her silently.
"So?"
"If you always take it on the chin and wear it, nothing will change, Robert."
"If I sit around and let them get on top, I won't change a thing," he echoed in a whisper.
A bright smile spread speedily across his sister's lips. "Just because you find life's not far, it doesn't mean you have to grin and bear it. If you did that, you might as well be saying you think that it's ok.." she started to say.
"And, that's not right," her brother finished with her.
"Nobody else is going to put it right for me, nobody but me is going to change my story." At this, his little sister's smile couldn't possibly have been bigger.

Finally, Robert got to his feet, a tiny hint at a smile tugging at his lips, desperate to emerge.
"Molly," he said, resting a hand momentarily on the little girl's shoulder, "you're pretty clever for a six year old."
Molly shrugged. "It's your story," she said simply, "you get to write it."

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Inspired by the song 'Naughty' from Matilda the Musical. For more on Matilda's Australian run, visit their website here.