Page 12 - Cyber Nightmare

been, “Sticks and stones can break my bones but names
can never hurt me.”’
Neil thought for a moment. ‘The truth of the matter is,
names can hurt much more than sticks and stones.’
‘What do you mean by that?’ 5
‘”Sticks-and-stones” stand for all those kinds of injuries
that only damage your body, but “names” mean words and
looks and stuff like that, things that get inside your head
and mess up your mind.’
Darby fixed his eyes on Neil’s. ‘If you let them. Only if 10
you let them,’ he said slowly, one word at a time.
‘How does that work?’
‘It’s simple. You just don’t react. You laugh it off. It
works every time. That way you don’t give the bully what
he’s looking for. What he feeds on and needs. It’s like 15
bully kryptonite.’
Neil let out a nervous laugh. ‘You make it sound so
easy.’ He hesitated a moment, and then said: ‘Don’t react,
you say? I – I don’t know. I don’t think I could do that.’
He put his arm on Darby’s shoulder. ‘But hey, thanks for 20
the tip anyway.’ Suddenly, he looked at his watch. ‘I’d
better get back in and get ready for the next class. I’ve got
Mrs. Hailey and you know what she’s like when you’re
not on time!’

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