Regret of Omission [Saint Chuck's Challenge]

by THX 0477

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The floor has been polished to an incredible sheen by a dedicated civil servant. The lockers lining the halls seem to stretch on to infinity. The chaos of Robert Frost Middle School swirls around me as I make my way from one flavor of drudgery to the next.

Down the hall comes David, the resident goof ball, the kid forever “different”. Yes, different enough to require quotes. He’s pudgy. His glasses are thick. He’s in some special ed classes. His social skills are worse than mine, which is saying a lot. He has an odd habit of writing in the air with his finger while he walks along talking to himself. An odd kid, a harmless character.

Someone trips David sending the uncoordinated youth sprawling and his armful of random papers fluttering to resting places up and down the hall. There is much laughter.

I didn’t trip him. I didn’t laugh. I didn’t do anything.

That inaction has haunted me and shamed me ever since. I hate my younger self for it. I goad my present self to not repeat it.

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Comments

Average Reader Rating: 5.0 stars out of 5

  1. Regret of Omission [Saint Chuck's Challenge]

    Ana Cristina's Buddy Icon Ana Cristina

    Posted 6 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Awesome. I like how you begin the narrative without letting your presence be felt much. It makes that “regret of omission” that much more palpable. There’s so many moments in life that we’re not really present, not really active, and it’s only later that we realize the error in doing that.
    LoA

  2. Regret of Omission [Saint Chuck's Challenge]

    SKermitgorf's Buddy Icon SKermitgorf

    Posted 6 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    what was that quote about when people ‘do nothing’ is as bad as doing the bad thing…
    Youre a good man no youve made up for young you.
    LoA

  3. Regret of Omission [Saint Chuck's Challenge]

    emma jo_234's Buddy Icon emma jo_234

    Posted 6 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Very easy to relate to. I’ve got a friend, he’s not different enough “to require quotes,” but people tease him anyhow. I stand up for him, but it’s not enough. So I can really see where you’re coming from here. Nicely presented.

  4. Regret of Omission [Saint Chuck's Challenge]

    Russell Ruffino's Buddy Icon Russell Ruffino

    Posted 6 months ago

    The quote goes something like “all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”

    Good story, I think it’s something we can all relate to, especially from school days.

  5. Regret of Omission [Saint Chuck's Challenge]

    Saint Chuck's Buddy Icon Saint Chuck

    Posted 6 months ago

    Sometimes doing nothing is the worst thing to do. Very nicely written, as always.
    LoA

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