CALLOUS REAL LIFE
Mia Moos, 31, from Feltham, achieved justice after 10 years...
Hoisting my school bag over my shoulder, it was covered in pins of my favourite bands.
In January 2008, Iwas 15 and finding my style.
Quite alternative, Iwas academically gifted and bullied as aresult. And with no real friends at school, Idragged my heels in the morning.
And that day, Iwas running alittle late.
My mum left long before I did to get to work and Ihad to get the train to Mortlake to get to school.
I really didn’t want to go. As someone who didn’t fit the mould, being different had diminished my self-confidence.
Walking onto my platform, I passed an older boy who was also alternative.
Wearing all black with Khol eyeliner, we had asimilar style.
Glancing at him, I didn’t pay much attention –but it wasn’t often Isaw someone like me. ‘Nice badges,’ Iheard avoice. It was the guy I’d noticed. ‘That’s my favourite band,’ he said, pointing to the HIM badge on my bag.
Showing me his HIM tattoo, Iwas impressed.
‘I’m Kurt,’ he told me.
Older, Kurt said he was 20. But I didn’t mind –it was nice talking to someone who had the same interests as me. Waiting for the train, we talked about music.
‘Why are you going to school so late?’ Kurt asked.
‘I’m bullied because of my looks,’ I replied.
‘Yeah, that happens alot,’ Kurt agreed. ‘Why don’t you just bunk off?’
‘I don’t want to get into trouble,’ I said.
Iwas abit of a goody two shoes – despite being alternative in the way I dressed, I actually liked following the school rules.
‘Why don’t I call the school and pretend to be your dad?’ Kurt suggested. ‘That way you wouldn’t get into trouble.’
‘Oh, that would be pretty cool,’ I said. I’d been dreading going in after all.
Kurt offered to help me get out of school
Only, I didn’t know the number of the school. And in 2008, I couldn’t just Google it.
So, we got the train to school so Kurt could dial the number on the sign.
‘She’s not well,’ he told them down the phone.
Iwas so relieved I didn’t have to go to school, I didn’t think it was strange Kurt helping me like this.
Getting the train back to Feltham, Kurt suggested picking up some alcohol.
I’d never been drunk before and had no interest in drinking.
But he’d been so nice to me that Iwanted to humour him.
Heading into ASDA, Kurt bought alcopops in plastic tubes.
‘Why don’t we go back to yours?’ Kurt suggested. ‘So people don’t see you drinking in your school uniform.’ Knowing my mum would be at work for the rest of the day, I agreed.
Going into the kitchen, Kurt got out the alcohol for me to try – but after one sip of the artificial fru
