I sat behind you every day
Our classroom was a stifling place in summer
Winters freezing, no heating in those days.
So we looked to you for entertainment.
And you delivered every day,
Over the years you became expert
In deception, lies, ridicule.
You broke the monotony of the humdrum
Tired teachers, overworked syllabi
No one ever believing algebra was useful.
Bits of paper in the air, a snide comment
A useless question to complement a useless lesson.
You never tired; you were a constant in my day.
We called you Heckle, you were good at that
Even though you copped your fair share of the cane
Delivered by frustrated teachers in a frustrating system.
It took me years to discover
You were the Wayne plastered across the news
The criminal, public enemy number one
Feared by one and all.
But I knew you, remembered you clearly
The day I found you crying
Stuck in the toilets, distraught
On learning from a teacher your mother had died.
Written for: http://magpietales.blogspot.co.uk/Sunday June 6
Morpethroad 
This is excellent! Great portrait. I love it.
Thank my friend, you are quick off the mark. Hope your weekend is going well. Here the school break is in it’s second week and the school across the road has turned off it’s period bells. All is good.
dang. ugh. behind every bad seed there is a heart…maybe it was broke sometime…and hope forgotten…perhaps his moms death ruined everything else for him…
Thanks Brian yes I think every bad seed has a softness within them they just don’t want too many seeing it. Thanks for reading.
For some it takes a little turn in life to make them give up all hope and brings out the devil inside. Really well done, a good character sketch Michael
Thank you so much Jackie your comment is well received.
A tough guy will succumb when thinking how he’ll miss his Mom! It is ironical but true that however tough, a guy a Mom is tougher! Great write Michael!
Hank
Thanks so much Hank appreciate your comment.
You have to feel sorry for Heckle. Such a sad thing to have happen. You never know what lies deep inside a person.
So true Lyn. Thanks so much for your comment.
thsi is such a sad tale!! beautifully written!!
Thank you so much I appreciate your comment.
Excellent – so layered and meaningful.
Thank you Suzanne glad you could connected.
Great write!
Thank you so much Belva I appreciate you reading.
Clever write…I like the way you wrap it with a surprise at the end…
Thanks Tess glad you enjoyed this one. Great prompts on this blog.
Oh – how sad.
Messed up how he continued on the wrong path & stayed on it after this mom’s passing.
I knew a person who went through something like this in real life.
He was a nice kid – deep down – he was…
Exactly I think most so called ‘tough’ guys have a soft side. Thanks RoSy that’s a lovely comment.
Even jerks like him have a heart somewhere . . . lol
Loved your write ~ Eddie
Clouds and Silvery Linings
Thanks Eddie I appreciate your comment.
You really feel his pain. Even Heckles’ have a heart that uses tears!
Yes they do Lena, thanks for reading and your comment.
The true genesis of a Batman Villain, or perhaps he launched his own V for Vendetta ….
Perhaps he would have liked too. Thanks so much for your comment.
Behind every story, is another one. Very well crafted, Michael.
Thanks Freya, have a good weekend.