Maw

When good people fail to stand up for what they believe to be right, bad behaviour is provided with a golden opportunity to triumph! Into such environments, bullying is born and permitted to flourish.

The silent observer who declines to challenge the bully's behaviour – the reluctant witness who refuses to testify – anyone who fails to stand alongside the victim, becomes the bully's accomplice! Bullies are cowardly people and they need silent accomplices to observe their dominance over their victim. They never walk alone.

Bullies feed upon the fear of their victims. They feel big when you let them make you feel small. Their aim is to elevate their own stature in the eyes of others by putting you down. They hate resistance and they rarely try to victimise anyone who they believe will fight back. Being prepared to stand up to a bully is often enough to prevent the bully putting you down!

There are three types of people involved in the process of 'bullying'. There is the bully, the person being bullied and the people observing the bullying. Wherever bullying continues to exist, all three types remain victims of their role.

Many fail to understand that almost all bullies have, at sometime, in their own lives been the victim of bullying and they are attempting to replicate the immense feeling of 'power' that dominating the victim brings to the bully.

Power carries with it the responsibility to ensure that no individual experiences the indignity of being rendered powerless. It was this concept and the inspiration of my son, William, which led me to write Maw. The name 'Maw' was also a name of endearment that all of the Forde family gave to my dear mother when she lived, it being an abbreviation of her name Maureen.

This story was first published in 1994. It was due to be read to the pupils of 'R. M. Grylls Middle School', Hightown, Liversedge, West Yorkshire by the late Roy Castle. Due to his illness before he died, the legendary, international footballer, John Charles read in Roy's stead, and the television magician, Paul Daniels kindly recorded an abridged version of the book.

The story of 'Maw' is suitable for any reader over 8 years. It is written in the style of the 1950s when the sport of boxing and football tended to dominate the world of growing boys and some girls. Because its story theme focuses on the sport of boxing and football, some girls may not feel it to be suitable for them.

Maw is born exceptionally small and enters secondary school life to face the school bully. He confronts the bully and challenges him to a boxing match. On the very start of his fourteenth year of life, Maw makes a wish upon a shooting star and from that moment, his life changes. He awakes with super human powers, but quickly learns that with all power comes a responsibility to discharge such power humanely. Later, the school loses its striker from the football team at the semi- final stage of the School League Football Cup and Maw is asked to stand in as the striker. A super story told in the adventure style of writing that was more common in the 40s and 50s.