Fair and Smart

Lambert was sitting outside the office of the counselors, waiting his turn. Luckily, the student that was before him came out soon. He did a little jump in the chair at his sight: short-legged, broad-shouldered, with a hump and deformed face. He watched him until he heard a voice coming from the office.

"Go on."

Lambert hesitated before entering. In front of him was the counselor Facilier, a man with dark skin and long face.

"Good afternoon.", he said with a smile, to make him feel welcome. "Please, sit down."

Lambert obeyed, still a bit shy.

"Tell me what brings you here."
"Well... There are some guys who are mean with me..."

Facilier clasped his hands, rested his chin on them and raised an eyebrow.

"Who?"
"..."
"Relax, if you're worried about being bullied for telling me then I will not say anything. It will be our secret."
"...The Flock brothers."

The counselor opened his eyes wide. He remained a few seconds like that until a sound began to leave their lips. One that he was trying to control.

"Wait... Sorry , but I do not think I got this... The Flock brothers?"
"Yes..."

He could not take it anymore: He started to laugh.

Lambert did not understand what was happening, and soon went from confusion to anger.

"Excuse me, but I don't think this is funny at all!"

Facilier needed a while to calm down.

"Forgive me, but... It's just... You're saying that you... YOU, a guy of six feet, are being bashed by those dwarfs? I can't believe what I'm hearing!"
"You don't expect me to hit them, right?"
"Oh, I see, you're one of these good guys... That's a problem."
" Why?"
" I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but inconvenient when you have to deal with people like that... They know you aren't returning a single prank that they do to you because you have a huge heart."
"I know..."

Suddenly, Falicier rose quickly from his seat, grabbed Lambert's collar with one hand and a bronze statuette with the other.

Lambert closed his eyes terrified, HE WAS GOING TO HIT HIM!

A few seconds passed... And nothing happened. He opened his eyes again and there was Facilier, leaving the statue in place and smiling.

"Did I hit you?"
"...N -no ..."
"But you're scared , right?"
"Yes..."
"Would you dare to mess with me after what I've done now?"
"Never..."

The counselor gently released him and sat down again.

"There you go."
"...You mean I don't need to hit them?" also sat "Only... Make them think I will?"
"Exactly. Even if you actually will not, but you have to make it clear that you CAN beat him. And it wouldn't be difficult for you, given your physic."
"But ... What if someone sees us?"
"Has anyone reported the abuses they've done to you? Why would they do it if it happened the other way around? In this life you don't always have to be the most fair, sometimes what matters is to be the smartest . But that depends on you ."
"I think that I understood..."
"I knew there couldn't be only physic, you have a brain in your head!"

Both looked with a smile.

"I am sorry to make you go out, but there are more people waiting to enter."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, son. Leave the door open when you leave."

Lambert didn't find anyone when leaving, but he heard voices on the other side of the aisle. He went there to see what was happening and didn't like what he found: Some kids were bullying the boy who had been in office before him.

That made ​​him reconsider for a moment until, at last, moved toward the scene with decision, rolling up his sleeves. "Hey, you!"

The kids turned their gaze to Lambert and lost the smile on their faces.

"What if we have fun together?" he creaked his knuckles.
They dind't even hesitate and ran out, leaving Lambert and the boy alone.
"Are you okay? "
"Y-yes... Thank you... Thank you..."
"You're welcome. My name's Lambert, and you?
"Quasimodo..."
"How much do they bully you?"
"... Every day."
"Well, that is going to end: From now on , you and I are going together during recess and class transition."
"... Wouldn't it be a nuisance?"
"It would bother me more If I see you like that again."
"...Thank you..."
"You're welcome"

Lambert smiled, very happy. Facilier was right, sometimes you had to be smarter than fair. But that was something that depended on himself, so he'd try to be both.