"Hi," Andre began gently, a faint, reassuring smile curving his lips. "My name is Doctor Andre Maxwell. I'm a psychologist. And you are…?"
The boy sat silently for a while, eyes fixed on the space between his shoes. The pause stretched long enough that Andre almost thought he wouldn't answer.
Then, in a small reluctant voice, the boy murmured, "My name is… Beanie."
Miss Vivian bent toward him, her voice soft but urging. "Honey, tell the doctor your real name."
"Oh… okay," he whispered, glancing briefly at her before lowering his gaze again. "My name is Benjamin."
Andre nodded thoughtfully. "Benjamin," he repeated, as though testing the name on his tongue. "That's a strong name. Do your friends call you Beanie?"
Beanie shrugged a little. "Lady Colin calls me that," he said after a moment, his voice barely above a whisper. "But… since you want to call me that too… okay."
Andre smiled gently. "Alright then, Beanie." He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees in a more relaxed posture. "Can you tell me what happened at school the other day? Only if you feel comfortable, of course."
The boy said nothing. His small fingers twisted the hem of his shirt, his lips pressed tightly together. The silence filled the room like fog.
Miss Vivian reached out and brushed a hand over his hair. "It's okay, sweetheart," she said softly. "He only wants to help you."
"Well… what happened was…" Beanie's small voice trailed off, his eyes distant.
Beanie's Remembrance
"Alright, kids, we're done for now. Go have your snacks, and we'll continue later," said Mrs. Rebecca Colin (Lady Colin), her cheerful voice echoing through the classroom.
As the other children rushed out, Beanie stood up slowly, moving toward the small, old chair that Elijah, one of his usual tormentors had "assigned" to him. It was the same every day: sit there, stay quiet, endure the insults until it was time to go home.
But today was different.
As Elijah and his friends passed by, the teasing turned harsher. They didn't just mock him ,they shoved him, slapped him across the head, poked at his face. Their laughter was sharp and cruel.
When Penny, another bully, tried to hit him again, Beanie flinched and shifted aside. She stumbled and fell, bursting into tears.
The sound of her crying filled the hallway. Teachers came rushing in. They gathered around her, helping her up, asking questions.
"What happened?" one of them asked.
Between sniffles, Penny pointed at Beanie. "He pushed me," she said.
The teachers turned to him, scolding him without hesitation.
"Look at him," one of the teachers muttered under her breath to another. "Not even a hint of guilt. Just staring with those… those eerie green eyes. Such a shame, a child that adorable being so… despicable."
The other teacher laughed quietly. "What did you expect? His mother's a chronic smoker. In and out of rehab for alcohol. It's only natural."
They both giggled as they left the classroom, their voices fading down the hall.
Beanie heard every word.
After school, Lady Colin approached him gently. "Benjamin, what happened today?" she asked.
But he said nothing. Not a single word.
When the bell rang and the others had gone home, Beanie waited alone near the school gate for his mother to arrive. The afternoon sun had begun to dim when he heard footsteps behind him.
Elijah, Penny, and the rest of the group stood there grinning.
"So you dodged my hit, huh?" Elijah sneered, stepping closer.
Beanie said nothing. His face was blank, his emerald eyes calm ,too calm.
Elijah slapped him. Once. Twice. Then pushed him hard to the ground. The others laughed as Elijah climbed over him and began to punch him again and again.
Something inside Beanie snapped.
He pushed Elijah off him with surprising strength, then lunged—his small fists flying in a blur. He pinned Elijah down and started to punch him, again and again.
But this time… he was smiling.
Laughing.
with tears droping from his eyes
The other children froze, terrified. Penny screamed. The janitor, hearing the commotion, ran outside.
He stopped cold at the sight before him seeing Beanie ontop of Elijah, his fists stained with blood, a wide smile carved across his face as if he didn't even know he was laughing.
By the time the janitor pulled him away, Elijah's body lay motionless. He had already passed out.