As an adult I can tell you it was a disaster waiting to happen. In the morning the buses would drop us off at the monster high schools side entrance. You would then walk down a long hallway to the cafeterias where there were a couple of rooms with seats. It was there that we would wait for the first bell. There was no supervision - I mean none - insanity. The leather jacketed brain surgeons would line that long hallway. When you are 5’2” and 120 pounds on a good day you are he gazelle with a bad leg and they are the hyenas. Lots of needless stress. My initiation would come from an unexpected source; a former friend from years earlier had grown significantly and now sported a leather jacket. Im not sure why, except maybe he felt I was a sure thing but, I was his target. A full head taller than me and 30lbs heavier I would be boxing out of my weight class. Not good. Trust me when I say I didn’t want trouble. He shoved me because he could. The two black eyes I had post fight validated he landed at least two good blows to my face. I never felt them. But God smiled at me that day, he got too close to the wall. I landed a solid blow to his head an it bounced off the wall. The redwood fell and the fight was over.
The harassment continued and I told my Brooklyn born father about it -his advise: “Pick one out and hurt him. Even if you lose they wont bother you.” Sure enough not too many days later the leathers had singled me out. I picked one, a lucky choice he was all leather and no skills. I cant remember if i hit him or just tossed him over the table - he flew, he crash landed, it was ugly. Dad was right, the hyenas were shocked, they left me alone.
Yet the fights were not the scariest things that went on. The school also had a program for developmentally challenged young adults. It was one of those gents who put a switchblade up to my throat while I was using a urinal.
My son was also a little guy in 9th grade (he’s grown since)and he was being harassed. I called the school, had a chat with the guidance counselor and they had a sit down with all parties and the harassment stoped. Somethings do change for the better.
I write these little ditty’s because I enjoy reading your responses. I think our experiences make us who we are.
The harassment continued and I told my Brooklyn born father about it -his advise: “Pick one out and hurt him. Even if you lose they wont bother you.” Sure enough not too many days later the leathers had singled me out. I picked one, a lucky choice he was all leather and no skills. I cant remember if i hit him or just tossed him over the table - he flew, he crash landed, it was ugly. Dad was right, the hyenas were shocked, they left me alone.
Yet the fights were not the scariest things that went on. The school also had a program for developmentally challenged young adults. It was one of those gents who put a switchblade up to my throat while I was using a urinal.
My son was also a little guy in 9th grade (he’s grown since)and he was being harassed. I called the school, had a chat with the guidance counselor and they had a sit down with all parties and the harassment stoped. Somethings do change for the better.
I write these little ditty’s because I enjoy reading your responses. I think our experiences make us who we are.
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