"Bully for you!" By Ben Goode 2017 (c)

A young girl called Lexy, who was about 12, lived on a farm.

She had to walk from her home every day down a long gravel road to reach the main road where the bus stop was.

She didn't have any brothers or sisters so she was very lonely most of the time.

But she would often talk to animals and sometimes inanimate objects.

In particular, she would often talk to a scarecrow which was hung in her father's orchid.

It was quite a horrific looking thing but she knew it was designed to scare the crows. And it seemed to serve its purposes.

There was never any birds of any kind around it.

But Lexy liked the scarecrow all the same and she considered it to be her best friend.

She would often stop and talk to it and she didn't mind that it never spoke back.

She always had time to stop and talk to him before continuing her walk to the bus stop.

Lexy always dreaded getting on the school bus, because as soon as she did the trouble would start.

There were some very mean kids who would often tease her. Some called her names, and some would spit at her and throw things at her.

Sometimes they stole her bag when she wasn't looking and take things out.

Sometimes wrecking her books or spilling food and drinks in her bag.

Sometimes they'd blow spitballs, throw chewing gum or even pull her hair. And despite her screams to stop, not even the bus driver seemed to care.

Things wouldn't stop on the bus. As soon as she got to school the bullying continued.

Other girls would tease her and even slap her when she didn't expect it. Surrounding her and wanting to fight her.

She often retreated and would cry in a quiet place.

She missed classes sometimes to avoid being bullied.

One day she was going home on the bus when the kids were particularly bad. They spat on her chair this day and she sat in it.

The laughed and teased her more than ever.

And she couldn't wait to get off her at her stop. But on this day three of the bullies got off the bus as she did.

They had planned to follow her home, and she was terrified as they followed her down the gravel road.

As she walked ahead, they kept throwing stones and sticks at her. Some hit her and she cried out in pain as they did.

They were relentless and had no intention of stopping.

"Please go away!" Lexy cried "Please leave me alone!"

But the bullies continued throwing things at her.

Lexy started to run ahead as fast as she could, but the bullies pursued her and were catching up.

But as the bullies picked up their pace they heard footfalls running behind them. Confused they looked back.

And a ragged dark figure was pursuing them.

Lexy looked back and stopped as she realised. Her best friend was chasing the bullies who weren't chasing her anymore, but trying to get away themselves.

They screamed as the scarecrow caught up with them.

It raised its arms and screamed a horrible blood-curdling sound which made blood trickle from their ears

A large murder of crows had gathered in the sky above and spiralled down toward the boys.

The crows maliciously attacked the boys, pecking and clawing mercilessly, tearing at their flesh.

"Stop now stop!" Lexy said suddenly. And the crow's dispersed as quickly as they appeared.

The scarecrow remained and then dragged the badly injured and screaming boys back to the roadside, where they were later found and taken to a hospital.

Lexy walked down the gravel road the next day. And stopped to see her friend again.

"Thankyou Mr Scarecrow," Lexy said simply and then walked on to the bus stop, The bus arrived and the door opened.

Lexy climbed aboard. But today the kids on it were deathly silent.