He loathed it when he had to go out; br he was the one whom the boys br laughed and joked about. br Here comes our three-legged stool! br they jeered from the nearby school. br Being handicapped and lame br brought their insults and to him shame. br He shuddered, holding back a tear, br and hobbled away in absolute fear. br They considered him an easy prey. br They almost always got their way. br His own disability he could not fight. br They took advantage of his plight. br He often questioned their nastiness: br Why deny a lame boy happiness? br It did not change their vicious ways; br he hobbled on through troubled days.