Outsider point of view -- Anne Phoenix
Title: Outsider point of view
Author: annephoenix
Rating: PG
Word Count: 900
Summary: ... There's something seriously wrong with Alex Rider.
Warning(s): None
Author's Notes: Written for the flash-rider community’s eight challenge prompt, "Outsider point of view". In true drabble fashion this was written in one sitting. Beta reading, what beta reading?
Disclaimer: All Alex Rider characters herein are the property of Anthony Horowitz and the Penguin Group. No copyright infringement is intended.
Outsider point of view
There's something seriously wrong with Alex Rider. He's definitely not stupid. As in, he's not what we now call lower intelligence. When he listens- that is, when he's a, actually attending classes and b, not looking out of the window lost in his thoughts, it's obvious that he understands what's being said. He has no trouble following his lessons, despite missing so many of them, and performs adequately on tests. But there's always a sense that his mind is elsewhere. More than once, I've seen his mate Tom have to call his name several times before getting a response. It's like Rider is permanently tired; exhausted, even.
What's interesting is that he can obviously look after himself. Better, perhaps, than I would have expected for a lad of his age. Even when he was younger the school bullies knew to avoid him, but then again everyone knew he had a black belt in something or other. Now that he's older, the bullies hardly even dare look his way and it's not just because of the black belt. There's a dangerous glint in his eye, like he's waiting- hoping for someone to pick on him. But they rarely do. Predators don't want prey that fights back.
I'll never forget the day I was on hall duty and heard the start of a fight in the boy's toilets. Unexpectedly, I found Rider in the middle of the trouble. By the sound of it, he'd confronted three older boys, known to everyone for their violent trouble-making, in order to defend a younger child. The three boys, all several years older than Rider, rounded in on him with clenched fists and I was sure Rider was about to get thrashed for his insolence. In fact, I was ready to step in and break it up when Rider suddenly transformed from a small fair-haired schoolboy into a fighting machine. He didn't hesitate, kicking and punching, spinning like something out of a movie and landing blow after blow until the three bullies ran off. Their victim looked no less fearful when Rider casually turned to him and hissed: "Don't ever tell anyone about this. Ever. Got that?"
And as far as I know, he never did. That type of rumour would reach even the teacher's room. Other rumours have reached the staff room of course. Rumours that Rider was a drug addict, highly unlikely given his obvious good health and athleticism - of course, his vacant demeanour and erratic behaviour don't do much to help dissipate that type of rumour. Sometimes it's like the lights are on but no one is home. Much more feasible would be the rumour that he is a drug dealer, but I doubt anyone actually believes that. Rumours aside, his medical card wants us to believe he has a weak immune system, but if that's true then I'll eat my hat. His immune system, I have no doubt, is exactly right for his age and probably better than most.
No. To me it's clear what's going on and I know others have come to the same conclusion. What's interesting in Rider's case is that he has clearly developed his own coping strategies and they seem to serve him well. Where some would cause trouble to attract attention, Rider is always in the background. Even when he is in attendance, it's sometimes easy to forget he's there. He goes unnoticed and has clearly learnt the hard way how to fly under the radar.
Where some might withdraw completely, Rider has taught himself how to relate to his mates. I wonder what, if anything, they suspect. He is personable, smiling, laughing ... and yet when they're not looking, when he thinks no one is looking, that facade falls away and leaves a very hollow-looking child in its stead. He frequently loses himself in his thoughts and it doesn't take a shrink to tell that they are not happy thoughts. Perhaps dark thoughts are what make him jump at sudden noises. He's always on edge, and increasingly so.
Before his uncle died, he wasn't like this. Before his uncle died there were no bruises, no injuries. Fourteen-year-old children are not that accident prone, they don't walk into walls or fall down stairs - not every week, anyway! More importantly, they don't flinch for nothing and their eyes don't look so ... old. Where some would take out their pain and fear on weaker pupils, Rider instead protects them. He identifies as a victim, not as an aggressor.
So the solution should be simple. There are policies, procedures...
But I've come to learn that nothing is simple where Alex Rider is concerned. Whoever is hurting him is evidently a person of power. My first report disappeared without mention and when I wrote a second I was told in no uncertain terms that if I valued my job I would let it slide. The child is in no danger, I was assured, don't stick your nose into things you don't understand.
So I watch. We all watch as he goes through life like a ghost. After every absence his injuries are worse, his expression is more drawn. Next time, I fear he won't come back.
THE END
24th July 2010
Author: annephoenix
Rating: PG
Word Count: 900
Summary: ... There's something seriously wrong with Alex Rider.
Warning(s): None
Author's Notes: Written for the flash-rider community’s eight challenge prompt, "Outsider point of view". In true drabble fashion this was written in one sitting. Beta reading, what beta reading?
Disclaimer: All Alex Rider characters herein are the property of Anthony Horowitz and the Penguin Group. No copyright infringement is intended.
Outsider point of view
There's something seriously wrong with Alex Rider. He's definitely not stupid. As in, he's not what we now call lower intelligence. When he listens- that is, when he's a, actually attending classes and b, not looking out of the window lost in his thoughts, it's obvious that he understands what's being said. He has no trouble following his lessons, despite missing so many of them, and performs adequately on tests. But there's always a sense that his mind is elsewhere. More than once, I've seen his mate Tom have to call his name several times before getting a response. It's like Rider is permanently tired; exhausted, even.
What's interesting is that he can obviously look after himself. Better, perhaps, than I would have expected for a lad of his age. Even when he was younger the school bullies knew to avoid him, but then again everyone knew he had a black belt in something or other. Now that he's older, the bullies hardly even dare look his way and it's not just because of the black belt. There's a dangerous glint in his eye, like he's waiting- hoping for someone to pick on him. But they rarely do. Predators don't want prey that fights back.
I'll never forget the day I was on hall duty and heard the start of a fight in the boy's toilets. Unexpectedly, I found Rider in the middle of the trouble. By the sound of it, he'd confronted three older boys, known to everyone for their violent trouble-making, in order to defend a younger child. The three boys, all several years older than Rider, rounded in on him with clenched fists and I was sure Rider was about to get thrashed for his insolence. In fact, I was ready to step in and break it up when Rider suddenly transformed from a small fair-haired schoolboy into a fighting machine. He didn't hesitate, kicking and punching, spinning like something out of a movie and landing blow after blow until the three bullies ran off. Their victim looked no less fearful when Rider casually turned to him and hissed: "Don't ever tell anyone about this. Ever. Got that?"
And as far as I know, he never did. That type of rumour would reach even the teacher's room. Other rumours have reached the staff room of course. Rumours that Rider was a drug addict, highly unlikely given his obvious good health and athleticism - of course, his vacant demeanour and erratic behaviour don't do much to help dissipate that type of rumour. Sometimes it's like the lights are on but no one is home. Much more feasible would be the rumour that he is a drug dealer, but I doubt anyone actually believes that. Rumours aside, his medical card wants us to believe he has a weak immune system, but if that's true then I'll eat my hat. His immune system, I have no doubt, is exactly right for his age and probably better than most.
No. To me it's clear what's going on and I know others have come to the same conclusion. What's interesting in Rider's case is that he has clearly developed his own coping strategies and they seem to serve him well. Where some would cause trouble to attract attention, Rider is always in the background. Even when he is in attendance, it's sometimes easy to forget he's there. He goes unnoticed and has clearly learnt the hard way how to fly under the radar.
Where some might withdraw completely, Rider has taught himself how to relate to his mates. I wonder what, if anything, they suspect. He is personable, smiling, laughing ... and yet when they're not looking, when he thinks no one is looking, that facade falls away and leaves a very hollow-looking child in its stead. He frequently loses himself in his thoughts and it doesn't take a shrink to tell that they are not happy thoughts. Perhaps dark thoughts are what make him jump at sudden noises. He's always on edge, and increasingly so.
Before his uncle died, he wasn't like this. Before his uncle died there were no bruises, no injuries. Fourteen-year-old children are not that accident prone, they don't walk into walls or fall down stairs - not every week, anyway! More importantly, they don't flinch for nothing and their eyes don't look so ... old. Where some would take out their pain and fear on weaker pupils, Rider instead protects them. He identifies as a victim, not as an aggressor.
So the solution should be simple. There are policies, procedures...
But I've come to learn that nothing is simple where Alex Rider is concerned. Whoever is hurting him is evidently a person of power. My first report disappeared without mention and when I wrote a second I was told in no uncertain terms that if I valued my job I would let it slide. The child is in no danger, I was assured, don't stick your nose into things you don't understand.
So I watch. We all watch as he goes through life like a ghost. After every absence his injuries are worse, his expression is more drawn. Next time, I fear he won't come back.
THE END
24th July 2010