BULLY
I write this next narrative for my grandchildren, their eventual children, and to laud my late father for another momentum-changing strategy where he (again) LEVELED THE PLAYING FIELD.
BEING BULLIED:
For some reason two much bigger kids than I would target me going to the last class of the day (8th period) and knock all my books to the hallway floor. The BIGGER ONE was 4” taller than me and easily 70 lbs. heavier. The SMALLER ONE was my height but at least 20 solid lbs. heavier (I only weighed a mere 120 lbs. in 10th grade). They would BUM-RUSH me and THWACK at my books (at least 6, along with notebooks and pens), until they splashed chaotically all over the floor, amongst the countless students bustling to their next class. Then, they would take off running down the hall hysterically laughing. This made me habitually late to my next class within the last week.
THE STRATEGY:
My perceptive father noticed that I came home distraught after school and asked me what was wrong. We had a very close and open relationship, so it was easy to talk to him without being judged. I conveyed the bullying episodes and told him what I was up against. I wasn’t sure if I could take-on both of them, let alone either one individually. In addition, I feared getting expelled from school. My father asked me if there was any teacher that monitored the halls during class change. I informed him that there were not.
He thought for a minute and being the savvy tactician that he is, instructed me as follows: “Okay, if you want to stop the bullying, you’re going to have to take EXTREME MEASURES. After your 7th Period Class, drop off all your books in your locker, that way you will only have your 8th Period Class book. When you see them coming after you, and you’ll know it when you’re targeted- THROW DOWN YOUR BOOK and CHARGE towards the BIG ONE…you have to go BUCK WILD on him, and I mean HAYMAKERS, kick, bite, scratch, EVERYTHING. Don’t let up, EMPTY THE TANK- you fight with everything you got! DON’T STOP. Don’t let them break up the fight without someone literally pulling you away. You must be ferocious & emotional! I guarantee you; they won’t mess with you again- EVEN IF YOU LOSE.”
I asked, what happens when I get sent to the office. My father said, looked at me with ABSOLUTE SURETY- “You call me, I WILL BE THERE…I will speak on your behalf and let them know how these 2 bullies have been terrorizing you for weeks.”
THE OUTOME:
A couple days went by, and the bullies were a no show. Then, in the middle of the week- HERE THEY COME! Like a pack of hungry Hyenas, with EVIL GRINS on their faces they came powerwalking towards me. But I was prepared this time and geared up emotionally to implement my father’s strategy- I threw down my book, TOSSING IT who knows where to the side, SPRINTED towards the BIG ONE, and jumped in the air to throw a SUPERMAN PUNCH. It landed SQUARE in his face!... The next thing I know, the fray ended up in a classroom with the BIG BULLY lying flat on his back on top of a desk and I was PUMMELING him!
I was machine-gunning dozens of punches, but I doubt I did any serios damage, given my size, (but I did make a big impression). The BIGGER BULLY was taken by surprise and was so EMBARRASSED that a tiny guy was pummeling him, that he kept yelling, “He’s crazy! He’s crazy!” The SMALLER BULLY just fled (like all cowardly bullies will do). Eventually, some huge senior on the football team YANKED me off him, and the BIGGER BULLY just ran away, shouting, “HE’S CRAZY! HE’S CRAZY!” The bell rang for the next class, and I was late as usual. But this time I picked up my lone book with satisfaction and when I entered the classroom- I handed my teacher a note my father prepared for the event. I was never sent to the principal’s office and from the time on- never saw the two Bullies since.
P.S. Countless times throughout the years, everyone in my family has heard the story when my father came to this country and a big Bully (2 years his age) was constantly picking on him. To summarize: Tired of being picked on, my Dad had enough & a fight ensued. Bully gets my Dad down, “Give up?” My Dad says, “Yes.” Bully lets my Dad up- My Dad attacks! Bully gets my Dad down again, “Give up?” My Dad again says, “Yes.” Bully lets my Dad up- My Dad attacks again! This goes on and on and on, until the Bully gets so tired, that he eventually walks away. Next day- noth’n but respect...
B.P.S. Moral of the story: Sometimes you have to fight- to prevent a fight (to get THE UPPER HAND)…from the Lookout Post.