It Was Only Banter, Miss.

One minute in school, and the moment you choose what becomes normal.

Ms Keeks 💫 💥

2 min read

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Just now

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He didn’t even bother to raise his voice.

It came out easy, tossed over his shoulder in the corridor, a sexual name aimed at a girl who was already walking away. His friends made the same sound boys make when they want to look grown, loud enough to be brave, quiet enough to deny it later.

The girl kept going. No pause. No spin-round. Just that tiny tightening you only notice if you are watching, her hand shifting on her bag strap, her pace changing by half a step.

He clocked me at the same time i clocked him. His face did the quick maths. Can i smile my way out. Can i make it a joke. Can i make her the problem for reacting.

“Miss, it’s banter.”

He said it the way people say “no offence” right before the offence lands.

I didn’t do a speech. I didn’t bargain with him. I just took the word out of the air and put it on the floor where it belonged.

“Say it again and you’ll repeat it to the safeguarding lead. You don’t speak to girls like that here.”

His friends went quiet, not because they suddenly agreed, but because the room had changed. He stared at the wall display like it might rescue…