In the summer of 2006 under the blazing Houston sun I experienced the worst case of bullying.

While my parents were away at work I often stayed home alone to play computer games beside my bedroom window.

Video games were the only friends I had, they never decided to leave me or judge me. It was the only time I ever felt not anxious socially.

But Max, the neighborhood bully and his group of friends would always come knocking on my window.

Max was a big tall, overweight teenager who was 3 times the size of me. Everywhere he went he always wore a hat backwards to cover his mop-top red hair and carried a skateboard everywhere with him.

The blinds are closed as much as they can be.

Did I double lock all the doors?

What about the windows in the living room? Did I forget those?

If they weren't smashing the window with rocks to get my attention... it would be the front door, or the back door, or the garage. I was afraid what my parents would think when they saw all the damage.

I finally had enough and opened the front door telling them to stop.

I tried to sound as brave as I could but all the came out was a shrill "Stop!".

Max jeered," We'll stop if you come outside and play with us."

"Come on, don't be such a pussy. Man up. No wonder you're so lonely all the time. Why would anyone want to hang out with a freak like you?"