I reach the stairs and go down two by two. On the last step, I pass Mom.

"Where are you going?"

"I have to help Paul." I walk to the umbrella stand by the door.

Mom adjusts her robe. "Why? What happened?"

I grab the front door handle. "Lucas's father went crazy."

I open the door forcefully, slip out one of those long umbrellas, Mom babbles something, but I can't hear her. I don't care now, I have to hurry!

I go outside, I am in the street and there is a dead silence.

I walk fast and I feel every step I'm taking: my heel hits the ground, my knee stretches, my arms swing.

I think it rained at dinner. The road is wet and the steps mark time on the wet asphalt. I pass between two puddles.

But am I sure I want to walk toward them? I have never done such a thing. I sigh and proceed briskly.

I fasten the umbrella strap to keep it compact. I had never noticed that by fastening it so tightly, it could become a weapon.
I feel safer, but I don't feel as adept at using it.

I am close: Lucas's father has not seen me. I am behind his back. Lucas is on the ground and his father kicks him in the gut.

"Ouch!"

Paul runs toward him and gasps. "Stop, you bastard." With the sole of his shoe, he kicks his knee.

The big man gasps and slumps to the ground. "You again?"

Paul wasted no time and launched a kick that landed in his chest, but that animal grabbed his leg and held it tightly.

"Let go." He struggles to slip out of that grip.

I am so close, gripping the umbrella tightly with two hands. I load it over my shoulder. I tremble, not knowing where to hit him.

"How should I tell you to mind your own business, huh?" He squeezes Paul's leg even tighter. "This is my family and I do as I please."

I am Walkgirl. I am Walkgirl. I am Walkgirl.

The umbrella travels a very fast trajectory. All the strength I have is in this shot. Bam!

The animal dangles in place and lets go of his leg. Paul loses his balance and falls to the ground.

I caught him. I catch him on his right shoulder. I give him another one. I reload the blow and this time I give it to his head.

He wobbles, shakes his head, but doesn't faint.
He turns and looks at me as if he has seen a ghost. He grunts and gets up. I deliver another blow, but he intercepts it with two hands. I want to get my umbrella back, but it's impossible. It seems glued.
He is too strong for me.

I don't have a chance to slip it out of his hand. I am screwed.

He yanks the umbrella and snatches it out of my hand. We are all screwed.
He looks at me and is very irritated. On his face is the wrath of a violent, unscrupulous person.
He clutches the two ends of my only weapon and snaps it as if it were a dry twig.

A smug grimace from him chills my blood. That face exudes madness. He is a criminal.

Here I am, facing this violent, angry bear. The only weapon I had, he broke it. There is nothing I can do. Maybe I should run away.

He approaches and, on his face, he has a silly mocking grin. I back away.

Where is the courage I had until a few seconds ago?

Where is the courage that Walkgirl should show on these occasions?

I have lost all my super powers.

I stumble and fall to the ground. I can't even put one foot behind the other. I am a klutz.

Lucas, with the last of his strength, grabs the flap of his father's pants. "D-dad, stop."

The enraged bear breaks free with a slight leg movement. Lucas is exhausted.

I am with my butt on the ground and back on my hands, not losing sight of that despicable man.

I am afraid, very afraid.

Mom screams like a desperate woman. "I called the police."

I turn around: she has the phone in her hand and, from here, she seems to be shaking.

"The police can't do anything to me!"

A droplet of saliva goes into my eye.

Mom approaches: phone in hand, robe and slippers. "Your wife and son have the marks of your violence!"

"My wife is an addict: she had a fight with another addict; and my son got hurt at school." He smiles. "You know how kids are... One day they're playing basketball, quiet, and the next day, because of a foul on the court, they're involved in a fight. A punch here, a slap there, and ... Poof! They have bruises here and there" He spits on the ground.

"Mom, stay away!"

"You are a wild beast, you know that?"

He continues with a giggle. "Call me whatever you want. The important thing is that you don't stick your nose into my family."

"How can you call it 'family'? You've only built a climate of terror."

The smile turns into an evil look and the light from the street lamps hides the eyes in the shadows.

Now I'm afraid for Mom, too. This kills us.

The big mushy arm rises into the air and the index finger points at Mom. "Don't ever let you judge my family again." Another droplet of saliva hits my face. "I love my family... It's just that sometimes they make me lose my mind."

"This is no way to behave."

Mom has courage to spare.

"And how should I behave, huh?" He rubs his finger under his nose. "My wife steals my money to get high, and my son does nothing but play basketball and go to school ... instead of thinking about serious things and bringing some money home."

"This is certainly not the way to react! Your son is just a boy and your wife needs health care."

"It's easy for you to talk. Under your nice roof... Without any problems and without even a husband to break your balls anymore."

What did he say?

I have the strength to stand up again, it's a step from me. I grit my teeth and kick him hard between the legs. I feel the impact. The beast bends in two and falls to the ground in pain.

Police sirens whistle in the distance. You bastard, now you are caught.

I run to mom and we hug each other tightly.

"Baby, how are you?"

"Fine, Mom." I sink my face into her chest.

A policeman gets out of the car, gun in hand. "Freeze." He looks at us. "Is that him?"

Mom bursts into tears. "Yes, it's him."

"Officer, I didn't do anything."

In the distance, a ringing voice intrudes. "I called you too." A black-haired woman in a robe and slippers walks toward us. "I filmed the whole thing. The man is violent."

She is Lucas's neighbor.

The policeman smiles. "Thank you, ma'am. She will be called to the station for video capture."

Unbelievable. Perhaps, today, this beast will pay for everything he has done. Who knows how long Lucas and his mother have been subjected to his violence.

Today, I can say that it is a great day... The day when Justice will have its victory.

Today, humanity has won against bullying. All abuse and crime will be stopped by this great victory.

I look forward to seeing you in
prison, you ugly beast.