Sam Cahill - Heros

 I thought of another H word - Hero, so I wrote about it!

Sam Cahill

August 2 2025

Photo by: Sin (@sinkdraws) | Unsplash Photo Community

“Hey you! New guy!”

Sam Cahill bristled at this as he looked over his shoulder. Sam had absolutely no doubt the voice was calling him. Having attended 10 schools in his 8 year school career he seemed to be perpetually known as the new guy. He was even thinking about having that very thing monogrammed onto everything he owned. “I’m the new guy,” would always be the warning announcement to everyone. Sam turned warily to face the voice.

“Oh hey. I’m glad you stopped,” was said as the voice took on a body and face that seemed to be out of breath. The voice whipped out an inhaler and took a puff. An amused Sam waited.

“Better?” inquired Sam.

The voice nodded and held up a hand. Slowly his breathing relaxed into a regular rhythm. “Alex,” he said, huffing a bit. “Alex Samuels.”

“Sam Cahill,” Sam replied, taking a hold of the proffered hand and shaking it. Sam raised an eyebrow. This seemed to be a step up from the usual harassment. At least this time he got offered a hand.

“I wanted to connect in history class but doing anything in that class is as good as embarrassing yourself ” Alex waited for Sam to respond but then he carried on. “I liked your answer as to why the War of 1812 was a war of independence for Canada. Setting up boundaries is always useful.”

Sam warmed a bit at this observation. As they were chatting he could see a rather large guy approaching with a look of glee on his face. The big guy hit Alex with a body check to send him sprawling. Anticipating this Sam stuck out his foot causing the giant to take a tumble worthy of a bad gymnast.

Laughter ensued from the onlookers who quickly stopped as the big guy looked around in defiance.

As Sam stepped towards Alex offering him a hand up the big guy quickly rose in height and growled a growl worthy of a grizzly bear. 

Both boys looked up quickly. Alex stepped back, away from the big guy. Sam stood his ground.

“What’s the big idea?” yelled the big guy in a threatening manner.

“Do you always yell?” inquired Sam with a firm voice.

The big guy stopped and stepped back. “You tripped me!” he spat out.

“And you gave a bad body check,” replied Sam. “I just evened up the odds.” Sam wasn't giving an inch.

“Something happening here boys?” asked a firm voice.

Both boys looked over at the teacher who had arrived. 

The big guy took a few steps back, unsure how to play this. “Nothing Mrs. Nesbitt,” he replied. She looked carefully from one to the other. She could see what was going on.

“Then you had better head off to class,” she intoned in a voice that was both respectful and had meaning. 

Sam turned to talk to Alex only to discover he had vanished. 

Sam shrugged his shoulders as he walked away. Having Alex walk away wasn’t good. The questions Sam had would have to wait.

“Way to go, new guy!” was something that Sam heard many times that afternoon. 

“You took on Fuzzy McAllister and lived!” was also a comment that had been made. 

“Fuzzy McAllister? What kind of name is that,” wondered Sam. Sam wasn’t sure why it seemed like an air of desperation on the part of his new schoolmates. Someone had finally stood up to the bully.

As he stood at his locker Sam heard a voice speak from his left. “That was brave,” said the voice.

Sam moved his locker door to come face to face with Stephanie Brown. “Oh. Hi Stephanie. Brave? Why?” 

Stephanie gave Sam a good look. “Why?” she asked. “You took on the biggest and meanest guy in the school. You tripped him and then stood up to him. I’ve never seen him back away like he did with you.”

“That wasn’t brave. It was doing what needed to be done. I stand up for myself. And besides Alex was the first person who actually treated me nicely. You’re the second.”

“You knew my name?” said Stephanie suddenly filled with wonder. 

“Of course. I know a few names from class. Not that many know mine yet but being the new guy that might change.”

“Well new guy,” said Stephanie with growing confidence as she placed her arm on his, ”we need to head off to class.”

Sam smiled at this development.

After class Sam and Stephanie started to walk outside when a voice called out,

“Hey Sam! Wait up!”

Sam and Stephanie turned to see Alex chasing them down the hallway.

“What’s up?” Asked Sam as they started across the lawn. 

Alex’s eyes grew wide. Sam furrowed his brow and turned to find Fuzzy quickly approaching him. 

“Hey Fuzzy, what’s up,” he said when Fuzzy was within calling distance. 

“Dont call me Fuzzy,” said an infuriated Fuzzy as he rushed at Sam who stepped aside and stuck out his foot sending Fuzzy sprawling on the ground. He started to rise when a backpack smashed into his face breaking his nose, sending him back onto the ground.

Sam looked at Alex who pulled his backpack back and wiped it off. “Been wanting to do that for a while,” he said.

A slightly woozy Fuzzy stood up. “You are dead meat,” he said menacingly if not a bit wobbly.”

As the crowds of bystanders rushed to see what was going on they stood behind Alex and Sam.  

“Fuzzy,” started Sam.

“I told you to not call me Fuzzy.”

“Then what is your real name?”

“It’s Evelyn,”

Sam looked at Fuzzy. “You want me to call you Evelyn?” When Evelyn gave no response Sam started. “Evelyn, just look around. What you see are people who are no longer afraid of you. We will help each other and support each other. All you have to do is be respectful instead of a bully.” He paused. “What do you say?”

“I have changed my mind. Call me Fuzzy. Evelyn is just….” and he let it drop. “I will give some thought to what you said as I need to get my nose fixed.” he turned to Alex. “What is in that bag?” 

Alex pulled out his math books and a dictionary.

“Flattened by oxymorons,” he said as he walked away.

Stephanie walked over to Alex and hugged him, which embarrassed him to no end. 

“What made you do it?” asked Sam. 

Alex smiled. “I have a friend. He needed support so I did what I could to support him.”

“Friends?” said Sam. “I like that,” he said as they walked off reenacting the moment Alex got a friend.