CHAPTER 1

(Portugal)

Mario doesn't want to go to school. His parents don't know why and are worried. He locks himself in his room and has been quiet lately. He hasn't been able to fall asleep. He looks sad but doesn't say why. He was an excellent student but now his grades have dropped.

CHAPTER 2

(Poland)

What has happened? Why is Mario so sad? Why can’t he tell anyone about his problem?

One day during the break, Mario was reading a comic and was eating his sandwich.

Suddenly, Lisa and Eva, the girls who had the pretension of being the school leaders, appeared and they were so rude towards the boy. They started teasing him and laughing loudly...

We will show you soon who is the most important here!

You, swot, this is my place! GO AWAY!!!

Eva walked up to Mario, grabbed his sandwich, and threw it on the floor. The boy was shocked and said nothing. 

After the Maths lesson, the boy wanted to be alone and went to the playground to spend some time there. Lisa and Eva followed him. One of the girls kicked his books and they landed on the ground. The second bully was taking lots of photos and was giggling ironically. 

I will use these photos in a proper way!

Mario was so sad but he wasn’t strong enough to tell anybody about the harassment.

CHAPTER 3

(Italy)

The day after, during the History lesson, his friend Luigi realized something was wrong with Mario and wrote a few lines on a sheet of paper.

What’s wrong with you?

I can see you’re sad!

Mario asked him to have a look on Facebook. Luigi saw the post and he suddenly understood that Mario had become the laughing stock of the school.

Hey loser, what’s the use of being a friend of that swot? You’d better come with us, nobody wants him!”

During Sciences lesson, Lisa snubbed at Luigi.

So, that afternoon he decided not to phone Mario, as he usually did, and started hanging out with Lisa, Eva and other bullies of the group.

Luigi thought that all in all they were right, Mario liked studying and he was already successful at school. On the other hand Luigi needed friends. Friends mean acceptance and happiness, and to be part of the group you have to accept its rules.

Mario was getting lonelier and lonelier, even his best friend Luigi had deserted him. There was no way out. What could he do? He felt stupid and weak because he couldn’t find the strength to stand up against them. He didn’t want to tell his mum because she would surely go to school and things could only get worse. Who could help him?

CHAPTER 4

(Greece)

Mario was feeling really alone! Mario was afraid that Luigi would abandon him again.

Some days passed and Mario didn 't show up at school. On his birthday, some girls and Luigi visited him at his house with some presents. He was moved. He thought it was strange they came to his place. They had a little party! 

On the next day, Mario decided to return to school...

but this time he had friends. 

“It's easy to stand in the crowd, but it takes courage to stand alone”

― Mahatma Gandhi