Forced Feeding

    By Sukram Benavides

    Forced Feeding cover image

    24 May, 2024

    a boy in a school uniform walking down the street with a backpack on his back and a school bus in the background, vancouver school, a character portrait, Ben Zoeller, promotional image

    In the midst of the schoolyard, a chubby boy stands alone. His eyes are downcast, and he clutches his schoolbag tightly.

    a cartoon of a man with a big smile on his face and a group of children behind him on a sidewalk, american realism, a storybook illustration, F Scott Hess, official art

    Suddenly, a group of bullies approach him, their cruel laughter echoing around the playground. They poke and prod at his belly, causing it to jiggle.

    a group of young boys walking down a street next to each other in school uniforms and ties on a sidewalk, american realism, a poster, David Park, promotional image

    They continue their torment, their fingers digging into his soft chest and love handles. His cheeks flush with embarrassment and humiliation.

    a group of young boys in school uniforms walking down a street together with their mouths open and their hands in the air, heidelberg school, a poster, David Annand, promotional image

    One of the bullies pulls out a large soda bottle, shaking it up and down. The other bullies laugh, their eyes gleaming with malicious intent.

    a group of young boys standing next to each other in front of a crowd of people in school uniforms, photorealism, a hyperrealistic painting, Edward Otho Cresap Ord, II, cinematic photography

    The bullies force the soda bottle to his lips, ignoring his protests. He struggles against them, but they are too strong.

    a group of children standing next to each other in front of a crowd of people wearing school uniforms and holding cell phones, fantastic realism, a detailed painting, Aaron Jasinski, cushart krenz

    He chokes on the fizzy drink, but they force him to keep drinking. They laugh and joke about how much fatter he's going to get.

    a group of children walking down a street next to a building with a man in a red tie and a group of other children, american scene painting, a storybook illustration, F. Scott Hess, storybook illustration

    Once the bullies leave, the chubby boy is left alone. His stomach churns from the soda, and his face is flushed with humiliation.

    a painting of a boy walking down a sidewalk with a bag on his shoulder and a group of children walking down the sidewalk, american realism, a digital painting, F. Scott Hess, highly detailed digital painting

    He picks up his bag and walks away, his head held high. Despite the humiliation, he refuses to let the bullies see him cry.

    a young boy sitting on a bed in front of a window with a brown shirt and white collared shirt, american realism, a character portrait, Daniel Lieske, christian macnevin

    The chubby boy sits alone in his room, his mind replaying the day's events. He feels a mixture of anger, humiliation, and determination.

    a boy in a uniform sitting on a bed in a bedroom with a lamp on the nightstand and a picture of a boy in the background, american scene painting, a hyperrealistic painting, F. Scott Hess, highly detailed digital painting

    He vows to himself that he won't let the bullies get to him. He decides to stand up for himself, to fight back.

    a painting of a boy raising his hands in a classroom full of students, with one boy in the middle of the class, institutional critique, a comic book panel, F Scott Hess, graphic novel

    As the bullies approach him again, the chubby boy stands his ground. He looks them in the eye and tells them to stop.

    a group of children walking down a sidewalk next to each other in school uniforms and ties on their heads, american realism, a detailed painting, F. Scott Hess, official art

    The bullies are taken aback. They try to laugh it off, but the boy doesn't back down. Embarrassed, they walk away, leaving the boy standing tall.