Helping Gideon

First Year.

Year 1 Class C.

Inayah and Bertha laughed as they watched a funny video. They were sitting on the same desk in the classroom.

''Oh my god, this is so hilarious...'' Inayah commented, casually placing her arm on Bertha's shoulder.

''I know, right? I should put this video on my moments. It's sure going to make my brother crack up in laugher.''

''Send it to me. I am going to watch it when I'm bored.'' Inayah said.

At the same time, Gideon walked into the classroom with two boys behind him. He stopped at Bertha's desk with a smug expression.

''What are you watching?'' He asked and snatched the phone from Bertha.

''What are you doing, Gideon?'' Inayah stood up.

''Give me back my phone!'' Bertha tried to take the phone back and he raised up his hand.

''Come on, I want to see what's making you laugh so hard'' Gideon said.

''That is my phone.'' Bertha frowned and glared at Gideon.

''That is my phone...'' Gideon said, mimicking her. It made the other students laugh.

''Gideon, this is not funny. Why are you disturbing us? If you want to watch a funny video, you have a phone. Don't think you can bully others because you're a guy.'' Inayah stood up and said defensively.

Gideon looked at Inayah and scoffed. ''Look who is talking? The new girl. Since when have you been here? One month? Berth found a friend who can stand up for her now?''

Gideon's words made the students around laugh.

''Enough! Stop it Gideon!'' Bertha shouted at him.

''For your information, Berth and I have been friends for a long time; we didn't know each other from this school. Also, stop being an ass and hand the phone over.'' Inayah remarked. She stretched out her hand to take the phone and Gideon shook his head.

''Not too fast! I will give the phone to you on one condition." He stated.

''What is that?'' Bertha asked.

''Call yourself fatty fat!'' Gideon mocked.

''What? Hey!!'' Bertha screamed.

''Is true, you're fat.'' Gideon teased and the other students laughed.

''How dare you call a girl fat? It is basic manners not to call girls fat? Bertha is not even fat. She just has a little more weight than others.'' Inayah glared at him.

''You can have the phone if you so much desire it, but know this; I will never forgive you.'' Bertha said and ran out of the classroom.

''Berth, wait. You, I will deal with you later. Don't let me find you near Berth again.'' Inayah warned him and ran after Bertha.

.....

A few days later.

Bertha came out of the nearest store in their old neighbourhood and walked towards the alley leading to her home. She wore a green hoodie and had pulled it to cover half of her face.

Munching the bar of chocolate that she had bought, she was about to take another step when she heard voices opposite her.

She decided to check and that was when she saw three boys beating up another boy.

''Hey! Aren't you ashamed to be ganging up on someone alone?'' She said and showed her phone to them, ''it's this the police?''

''Sit, let's go!'' One of the boys who seemed to be their leader said and the other two fell back. They ran away leaving the boy alone.

''Are you alright?'' Bertha went closer and immediately recognised the boy on the ground. ''Gideon?''

Gideon coughed out blood and held her hand saying softly, ''help me!''

''I will go and get help. You need to go to the hospital.''

''No, not the hospital. Just send me anywhere. I don't want my parents to know about this.'' Gideon pleaded with her.

''But, I don't know what to do. I've never encountered a situation like this before.''

''Do you live around here?''

''No, but my brother does. I came to spend the weekend with him. I will send you to him, he is a doctor. He might know what to do.''

''Thank you, Berth.''

Bertha looked at him and asked, ''you… you recognised me?''

''Of course. I would recognise even your ashes.'' Gideon joked.

''Looks like you are fine, since you still know how to joke. Let me help you. Why are you so heavy?''

''I am a man, of course I will be heavy.'' Gideon placed his hand on her shoulder and she helped him up.

''It's that way!'' Bertha said as her face turned red. She could feel his breath on her as they walked slowly towards her brother's apartment.

When they got to the apartment, Ben was sitting outside. He stood up and hurried over when he saw them.

''Berth, what is this?''

''Brother, he is hurt. I found some boys beating him.''

''You should call the ambulance, not bring him here?''

''I did, I was going to but he is stubborn. He said he didn't want to go to the hospital.''

Ben took over and helped Gideon into the hall. he made him lay on the couch.

''Please, I don't want to go to the hospital.'' Gideon said to Ben.

''Wait, is he not the same boy who took your phone away?'' Ben asked.

''He is!''

'Then, let's call the police. I am not going to treat him.''

''Please, I already promised to get Bert an iPhone, right, Bert?'' Gideon looked at her with a pleading gaze.

''Right, he did. Aye, he is in pain, just help him out.'' Bertha said to her brother.

''Go to my room and get my first aid box. You will help me clean his wounds and bandage him up.'' Ben used a pair of scissors to cut through Gideon's shirt. He had bruises on his chest.

Bertha hurried into the room and returned with the box. It was a big one and had a lot of things in it.

''Bert, bring the IV pole at the corner and set it up."

''Roger copy!'' Bertha said and Gideon smiled as he looked at her.

She brought the pole and picked an IV and connected it before going to look at the wounds that her brother was dressing.

''Why did you get into a fight when you are not strong?'' Ben asked.

''Those boys were going after something that belonged to me.'' Gideon replied meaningfully as his gaze shifted to Bertha.

''Something that is yours?'' Ben shook his head and said to Bertha, ''hold his hand in one position. I want to administer an injection."

''Huh?'' Bertha blushed.

''Hold him, hurry!'' Ben said and Bertha nodded. She went closer and held Gideon's hand.

When Ben was about to administer the injection, Gideon held Bertha's hand tightly. He feared injections the most.

''You will fall asleep soon. We don't have an extra room, so you have to make do with the couch.''

''Thank you.'' Gideon said and watched Bertha as she gathered the things back into the box. She stood up and his gaze followed her until Ben stepped in the way and raised his brow at him meaningfully.

Gideon flushed when he realised he had been caught. He turned away.

''Brother, I'm done.'' Bertha returned from the room.

''It's late. Go and rest, I will take care of him.''

Ben said as he continued to look at Gideon with a suspicious gaze.

''Oh...'' Bertha nodded her head and went into her room.

In the middle of the night, she came back and kept checking on him until it was day break.

…...

Bertha came back to her senses and looked at Gideon, ''what did you just call me?'' She asked as tears dropped from her eyes.

''I was just joking with you. Did you have to cry?'' Gideon begun to feel uncomfortable.

''Joking? You have no idea how those words made me feel two years ago and now you're joking? I hate you so much, Gideon.'' Bertha turned and saw Inayah and Clara walking towards them.

''What did you do to her?'' Inayah asked first as she held Bertha's hand.

''Did you call her fatty fat again?'' Clara asked and nodded, ''of course he did.''

''I was just joking with her… I didn't…'' Gideon tried to explain.

''That wasn't a fucking joke. You just insulted me.'' Bertha screamed.

''Gideon, this is why I can't forgive you. You just keep hurting the people I care about. Let's go, Berth.'' Inayah pulled Bertha away.

''You're just one spoilt brat. Get off your high horse. The next time you call a soul sister fat, I will cut off your balls. Am ma cut off your balls; I'm gonna cut off your balls!'' Clara rapped as she made a scissors shape with her fingers.

Gideon sighed and cussed.