The Bully

Fifteen-year-old Darrell Mercer takes a last walk with his best friend, Malik, the night before Darrell moves away. Darrell and Malik have spent their whole lives in their run-down Philadelphia neighborhood and consider it home, despite the presence of drugs and crime. Darrell reminisces about all the neighborhood characters he’ll miss. Despite being small and short for his age, Darrell started high school smoothly, thanks to friends who always had his back. Darrell dreads his new life in California because he will be starting school two months into the year and won’t have his old friends to keep him from getting picked on.

Darrell and Malik stop for a cheesesteak at their favorite spot, but Darrell is too emotional to eat. Even though he knows why they have to move, he feels like it is unfair. Overcome, Darrell sobs as he tells Malik that he loves him and calls him his brother. Malik gives Darrell a hug and comforts him. While Darrell runs home, he thinks about the time he was severely bullied by a kid at summer camp. At the time, he kept silent about the bullying because he was so ashamed. As Darrell says goodbye to the neighborhood cat, he thinks about the small house where he grew up until his father died in a car accident.