get the life pummeled out of them

[frindle2]

Hello. Would you please tell me what the underlined part means in the context below. Thank you.

Does it mean smaller children were relieved they are not the ones who were going to get beat up by the two mean girls?

(Two mean and strong girls and two little boys(Pong and Somkit) were fighting over a mango. )

from A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat--------------------------

The girls chased him as he galloped around and around the courtyard with Somkit clinging onto his back like a baby monkey.
He dodged around clumps of smaller children, who watched gleefully, relieved not to be the ones about to get the life pummeled out of them.

 

[GoesStation]

Does it mean the smaller children were relieved they [STRIKE]are[/STRIKE] were not the ones who were going to get beat up by the two mean girls?

Yes.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello. Would you please tell me what the underlined part means in the context below? [STRIKE]Thank you.[/STRIKE] Unnecessary.

Does it mean [that] the smaller children were relieved [that] they [STRIKE]are[/STRIKE] were not the ones who were going to get beaten up by the two mean girls?

(Two mean and strong girls and two little boys space here (Pong and Somkit) were fighting over a mango.)

The girls chased him as he galloped around and around the courtyard with Somkit clinging onto his back like a baby monkey. He dodged around clumps of smaller children, who watched gleefully, relieved not to be the ones about to get the life pummeled out of them.

[STRIKE]from[/STRIKE] Source: A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat (no reason for a string of hyphens here)

Note my corrections above.