Simple Sammy

Exposition

Sammy Frederickson lived in a small, quiet town. He was a small, quiet boy who kept himself to himself. As his family had next to nothing, his friends were animals in the forest surrounding his shack of a home. With no modern gadgets, his entertainment was communing with nature, no matter the weather.

Having previously fallen through the cracks, Sammy was forced by the state to start school when he was eight. Until then, he didn't know that he was different. Until then, he didn't know that the world could be a cruel place.

He didn't lack intellect, but he hadn't learned to read, write, or do math.

Classmates called him, "Simple Sammy" and pushed him around. He was never invited to join with others during recess. It all stung, but he spent recess looking for creatures amongst the trees surrounding the playground. Sometimes, he found bugs or lizards and let them climb on him. Sometimes, a girl named Kimberly would join him. She was also small and quiet.

Conflict

One day, Sammy found an injured bird. He reasoned that it had stunned itself by flying into a window. He talked soothingly to it and held it with the utmost care.

Mack Jacobs came to see why he was talking. He hollered, "Hey guys, Simple Sammy finally made a friend." He grabbed the bird and hastened away.

Sammy called out, "Leave her alone!"

Mack sneered. "I'm gonna let your girlfriend fly away." He threw her on the ground. She didn't move. He exclaimed, "She can't even fly."

Sammy tried to get to her, but Mack's friends grabbed him and held him back. Mack picked up the biggest rock he could find, declaring, "This bird is as good as dead."

Sammy squirmed and yelled at the top of his lungs, "NO!"

The teacher on duty came over just in time to witness the carnage.

Sammy broke free and ran to the furthest tree on the playground, climbing as high as he could.

Mack was sent to the office. The principal, Ms. Atkins asked, "Why would you kill a living being?"

Mack claimed, "I was only putting the bird out of its misery. It was hurt." He was sent back to class with a firm warning.

It took most of the rest of the day for anyone to realize that Sammy was missing. He was content in the tree. Ms. Atkins eventually talked him down, promising to hear him out another day when she had time.

As Sammy passed him on the way to the bus, Mack whispered, "You got me in trouble. You're gonna pay for that."

Climax

The next week, on the day Sammy was scheduled to meet with the principal, Mack's friends dragged him around to the side of the school building, out of sight. Mack pounded his fist into his palm. "Now, you're gonna get what's coming to you." Mack beat him, striking repeatedly with both fists. The three of them left him bleeding and gasping for breath.

Kimberly saw the boys coming around the corner and told the duty teacher.

Sammy was taken to the hospital. His arm was broken from trying to defend himself. He had some internal injuries and bruises, which were expected to heal with time.

Resolution

Mack and his friends were expelled. Students clambered to sign Sammy's cast. They considered him a hero for getting the bullies kicked out of school. He wasn't excluded during recess much after that.

Sammy was tutored and began to excel. It took him a couple of years to catch up, but once he got the hang of school, he passed everyone's expectations.

Eventually, he got a full ride scholarship and became a veterinarian. He built a new house on his family's property. He and Kimberly remained close friends, marrying and having three children ...and lots of pets.