Beneath The Surface (Mine, Yours, and Theirs)

By Marida Nhim

One "No" Should Be Enough. What starts as a sunny summer barbecue at ten-year-old David's (formerly Peter) house quickly turns into a day he will never forget. Excited to host his family and friends, David's pride in his home is overshadowed when a "harmless" game in the pool goes too far.

The Cycle of "Just Playing" When Uncle Bill (formerly Edward) begins repeatedly dunking David in the deep end, the laughter of the onlookers drowns out David's desperate pleas to stop. Every time David surfaces to catch his breath and firmly says "No," he is met with the same dismissive response: "We're just playing Don't be so sensitive".

A Lesson for Everyone

Beneath the Surface explores the origin of the "Credibility Gap"-the frustrating moment when a child's legitimate boundaries are treated like a punchline. This story serves as a powerful introduction to the series, illustrating:

For the Bullied: The importance of finding your voice even when the world refuses to listen.

For the "Bullies" The realization that "fun" isn't fun if everyone isn't enjoying it, and that a single "stop" should always be the end of the game.

For the Adults: A reminder to look past the laughter of a crowd to see the distress of a child.

Discover the moment David realized that "stop" doesn't always mean the end-and the journey that follows to make his voice heard.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0H1SGP2Q1
• ISBN13: 9798196884948
• Release Date: May 2026
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 25 Pages
• Weight: 0.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.1" x 5.0"