The Day of the Fight
[ Note from Natural: I'm honored to present this guest-post by CardioGirl as a contribution to ThinkingOutLoudBlog.com. When I first found her blog, I read it quietly, in awe. Cardiogirl's gift, in my humble opinion, is her ability to write about a variety of topics and make it interesting and humorous. Show some love and support to CardioGirl as she blogs about The Day of the Fight. ]
It’s time to jump into Mr. Peabody’s WABAC (pronounced “wayback”) Machine And if you don’t know who Mr. Peabody is, you must check out the link. But please tell me you know about Mr. Peabody. I don’t want to believe I’m getting old.
Okay, let’s set the dials to Spring of 1982. There were two girls in my 8th grade gym class who did not like me — K!m S. and Lis@ F. I don’t know why, they just did not like me. I know, that’s shocking. So they would both bump into me during our gym class and do things that could be construed as a little extra game play. So the teacher didn’t do anything about it.
I’m not completely clear why, but K!m was the leader of that twosome. She was really preppy and one of the pretty girls. So she didn’t really get her hands dirty by pushing me around. She had a wicked tongue, as I recall, and hurled quite a few insults my way. She did push me around on occasion, but Lis@ was really her henchman.
And Lis@ was a burnout.
You know what a burnout is, don’t you? A person in middle school or high school who smokes! And that same person, if she’s a girl, wears black eyeliner under her eyes and black clothes. The guy burnouts just wore black clothes and smoked. No eyeliner. That was a burnout.
Of course I told my mom about this and she said, incredulously because she couldn’t understand me, “They bumped into you and you didn’t beat the crap out of them?” Um, no. No I did not beat the crap out of them Mom. I’m a pacifist.
So it went on for a while longer and as I told my mom about it she started getting angry at me because I wasn’t fighting back. She said the only way to get through to people like that is to pound them into the ground.
Yes, that’s what she said. My mom was really animated and grew up on 24th Street in Detroit. She had a lot of fights in her early life. She grew up in a crazy family and had to literally fight her way out of Detroit. You kind of have to consider the source when you hear about the advice she gave me. Plus, all of my sisters and my brother had gone down this path before me.
My mom was used to other kids beating up on her kids and her advice was always the same: beat the other kid back with everything you have so you teach him never to touch you again. This is the motto she lived by and it served her well all those years ago in Motown.
Now the one piece she did not make clear to me was that the other kid had to initiate the fight. If the other kid touched you first that’s the clearance to go medieval on him. My mom did not make that piece clear to me and that will become important later on.
I think the abuse from those girls started in the winter and continued into the spring. My mom was getting angry at me for not defending myself against K!m and Lis@. She finally gave me an ultimatum: if you don’t fight them today you’ll have big trouble when I get home from work tonight.
You know, as I lived through that experience I didn’t really focus on what my mom said to me. My thoughts on that have always been about K!m and Lis@. But when I write that out in black and white it seems kinda crazy.
My mother threatened to beat me if I didn’t beat up the girl at school. At least that’s how I interpreted that. I was more afraid of my mother’s wrath than I was of fighting the girl at school.
I think it was May of 1982 when The Fight finally took place. My sisters were home so they were excited because they knew to expect a call from the principal that day.
My mother reminded me that morning, before I left for the bus stop, that it was okay that I was going to get in trouble at school. She knew the principal would call her at work and she was totally fine with that. She told me she would be expecting that call today. My mom curled her lip and said, “Just beat her with everything you’ve got.” She then shook her fist in front of me to emphasize her point.
As I walked to the bus stop I felt the knot form in my stomach.
I did procrastinate in the morning as I really didn’t want to get in a fight. But I quickly realized I was going to have to fight K!m at lunch time because that would be my first opportunity to see her. I remember sitting at the round lunch table telling my friend Karen, “I am going to beat up K!m Sh@rp right now, I’ll see you later.”
I slowly walked toward K!m’s table as my heart started pounding crazily. There was no turning back, I realized, as I weaved my way through the tables. When I got to K!m’s table, she was holding a sandwich and her head was turned away from me because she was talking to someone else.
I politely tapped her on the shoulder and when she turned to look at me I punched her in the face. I do remember seeing her Wonder Bread sandwich take flight in the air.
Of course she stood up and thus began The Fight. I kept punching and aiming for her face, I don’t really remember what she did to me. I do recall the lunch ladies trying to pull us apart and I actually thought to myself, ‘It’s gonna take more than a lunch lady to pull me off of K!m.’ And that turned out to be true. It took a male teacher to pull me off of her. And I was secretly proud that it took a man to pry me off of her.
Soon after the fight was over I learned the particular technique I employed is commonly referred to as a “Sucker Punch” and is not highly regarded in some circles. When it was all done, I had a swollen lip and K!m had a bloody nose. She was talkin’ smack to me on the way to the principal’s office and I remember telling her, “I’m not the one bleeding.”
Anyway, in the Principal’s office we had to tell him what happened. K!m was all self-righteous telling him she was just eating her lunch when I came up out of nowhere and punched her in the face. Her attitude was such that she was sure I would deny starting the fight.
So she told her side as I patiently waited my turn. Then the principal turned to me and said, “What happened?”
“I walked up to her at lunch, tapped her on the shoulder and punched her in the face.”
So of course he wanted to know why I did it.
I told him the truth, “My mom told me to.”
He sat in his chair stunned. Then he said, “I can’t believe your mother told you to start a fight.”
I said, “Call her. She told me I had to fight K!m S. today.”
As you can see, back then I wasn’t quite the storyteller I am today. I am quite certain I did not give him the back story of how K!m had been spearheading a bullying campaign against me for the past four months in gym class.
It was my mother who explained the circumstances that led up to The Fight. She told me later that the principal apologized over and over but said he had to suspend me because I had started the fight. My mom was totally down with that and reassured him that it was quite alright. She looked at it as a well-earned vacation from school.
Since she couldn’t leave work to pick me up, my mom sent my sisters to get me. When they got to school they were really excited to hear all the details of the fight. They were shocked, as well, that I just walked up to her and started pounding away.
Later, my mother clarified that it should be the other person who pushes or shoves first. The other person has to initiate contact then it’s a fighting free-for-all. And she gave an example: “Remember when you were in gym class and they shoved you?”
“Yes.”
“That’s when you should have started the fight. Because they pushed you first.“
So I filed that information away for future reference.
It was split among the school as to who actually won The Fight. I will say I had the majority vote as the winner and I did earn the respect of some kids at school. But K!m lobbied and won a few outlying precincts.
Most importantly, she and her henchman Lis@ never touched me again.
Now, tell me about your most memorable fight. Why did it happen and how did it come to blows? Did you win? It really doesn’t matter if you won or not. I’m just curious.
Loved it! This is my favorite part:
I politely tapped her on the shoulder and when she turned to look at me I punched her in the face. I do remember seeing her Wonder Bread sandwich take flight in the air.
A fighter with manners, you did what you had to do. At least you tapped her on her shoulder. That was her warning right there. Not your fault she didn’t have time to react in .000001 of a second to save her wonder bread from taking flight.
I never fought in school, what did Michael Jackson say to Paul McCartney in the song The Girl Is Mine: Paul, I think I told ya, I’m lover not a fighter. LOL.
I was fast enough to out run my opponent, even got a trophy for being a fast runner. When I was told I was going to get beat up after school and to meet death by the swings, I said yeah right and I went the other way. Like I’m going to keep an appointment to get my behind whipped. Not.
I feel like sucker punching some people now though. I’m just too old to run.
Now there’s a civilized way to potentially fight — making an appointment for later. I imagine the bully taking out a small, leather-bound book and saying, “Hmm, I’m booked up for today, but I have an opening next Tuesday at 4 pm. Shall I pencil you in?”
And yeah, I’m going to re-frame that memory to say she did have advanced warning — that tap on the shoulder. Is it my fault she wasn’t the Bionic Teenager?
p.s. Thanks again for letting me guest post. This is so much fun!
Natural´s last blog post..Being Human In the Age of the Electronic Mob
Wow you was one brave child! I would have never dared, I would have rather faced the wrath of my mom, trust me. I am such a whimp. Things like that, scare me. But am glad you stood up for yourself.
Your mom wanted you to be able to defend yourself and am sure that this experience taught you a few things which you can even use today as an adult. One lesson I can see here is being able to take responsibility of your own situation and dealing with the problems.
Great post, it did take me back to those school years, it seems such a long long time ago for me…..
You know, sharon, I never did see that as bravery. It was truly the lesser of two evils. I knew my mother would put up a fight much worse than another teenage girl.
But you are absolutely right in that it was a way to learn how to handle my own issues. And just for the record, I still prefer avoidance.
sharon´s last blog post..10 Lessons to Create A New You
Wooohooo! I just love the kickin’ ass in middle school story!! How many of us experienced this and were just too darned afraid to do anything about it? Lots. Maybe too many of us back then, and, well, today’s kids too.
I, too, had my twosome–Sheri P. (who was the “princess”) and her lame ass sidekick, Kathy G. They stuck ice cream in my hair at lunch and I took down that Kathy G. after she got off the bus on the way home. In my mind, I totally whomped her, but in reality I’m sure it wasn’t more than a girlie punch here or there. But I felt better.
Wish I had the back-up of my mom during those horrible years called Middle School. You were lucky, don’t you think?
This is so interesting, Lin, sharing the story with new ears. To me, this story is like an old album that has been played over and over. I know the melody and words like the back of my hand. But now that I have played it for you, I hear the cymbals in the background. And the cow bell. Sweet!
I must admit I am glad you jumped Kathy G. as she stepped out of the school bus. I’m giving you a virtual fist bump. Way to go!
I’ve had blinders on for such a long time. I truly never stepped back from this story to see that my mom was teaching me a valuable lesson. Thanks for pointing that out.
Lin´s last blog post..I hear you knockin’, but you can’t come in
That is an amazing story. I wish I had a story to tell, but I don’t. I wasn’t a fighter. Most folk would pick on me because I had my ish together but they never laid a hand on me.
More power to you. I’ll have to check out your site. Good move Natural! She’s a great guest blogger.
Thank you Urban Thought; gosh you’re making me blush
Urban Thought´s last blog post..First Day of the Last Month of The Year
What an entertaining read! Your mother should have clarified that the other kid had to push you first, but you managed to get the bullies off your back. Girl bullies are worse than boy bullies because they’re more secretive and conniving about what they’re doing, so it’s harder to show concrete evidence.
Definitely that was an important point that I missed (waiting for the first punch to fly.) I do agree that girls are more devious, it seems, than boys are. Thank God I’m not in school anymore.
Going to check out your blog when I get a spare moment…I cannot believe that we were not introduced yet! What a great read!
Thanks Matthew. This is so fun meeting new bloggers! I’m going to mosey on over to your neck of the internet today as well.
I only had one fight, technically. Other than that, I just got beat on. My mom wasn’t as helpful as yours. She was too busy drinking & throwing me under every proverbial bus she could.
I had so much rage from the abuse I suffered at home & at school that I almost killed the girl. I walked away fine–I was used to being hit & having my hair pulled. I didn’t earn any respect (the fight wasn’t on school grounds,) but at least those few people left me alone after that.
It sucks that you didn’t earn any street cred at school, but it sounds like you were able to take care of yourself and that’s what counts.
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My 21 year old daughter has a new saying these days, “I have never, ever regretted NOT punching someone in the face. I only regret the times I DID NOT throw that punch.”
As you can probably guess, I’ve had to take the OPPOSITE approach as your mother had to take with you with my baby girl.
So I have to ask - do you regret throwing the punch?
I can absolutely, honestly tell you Kathy that I do not regret that punch. I really don’t. Even though I did get a jump start on the fight by somewhat illegal means. All’s fair in war, right?
Kathy - Virtual Impax´s last blog post..Small Business Marketing Strategy & Tactics
wow.
Very well done CardioGirl!
Excellent post!
Oh Meleah (swipes hand in the air, kicks the sand with her toe) go on. You’re very kind, thank you.
meleah rebeccah´s last blog post..The Flu
You’re a great storyteller.
I never participated in a fight. But I thoroughly enjoyed reading this!
Thank you Vered. I really appreciate that. I love how civil and benign this sentence sounds: “I never participated in a fight.”
The fight itself wasn’t so great. But I do enjoy telling the story
So I guess I can say 26 years later that the fight was worth it.
You really know how to tell a story
I was dying when the principal asked you why you punched her and you said, “because my Mom told me too” - lol
I grew up in a very rural area so it wasn’t the same kind of school experience. Since there were 20 kids in my class, we kind of had to figure out how to get along.
My best fight was with my younger brother. He tormented me our entire childhood - I was always told to ignore him but that really didn’t work. When I was 12 and he was 10 he was hitting me in the back of my legs with one of those kids combination bike locks wrapped in plastic. I finally turned and punched him in the face. Blood started gushing out of his nose. He said, “mom, I’m bleeding” and my mom replied, “I saw the whole thing and you deserved it. Don’t bleed on the couch.” I will always love her for that. Turns out that I broke his nose
I fell in love with your mother as soon as I read “… you deserved it. Don’t bleed on the couch.”
I LOVE that!
And I know *exactly* what kind of bike lock you are talking about. I had one that was faded red with sparkles. I’m sure whoever wanted my yellow 10-speed could have easily yanked that chain off without breaking a sweat.
But surprisingly, no one wanted my 10-speed.
It is a bummer that your brother’s nose was broken. But it does sound like he deserved it.
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Being from Detroit;
not the number st’s. but from the WESSide…. (that’s where la got it from)
I had to tap one girl when I was in Jr high too.
theresa king, and yeah my mom told me if she touches you
you betta whoop her bad.
theresa made the mistake of following me to my house, to fight.
what kinda fool was she ?
my mom was sitting on the porch as the mob approached.
mom walked to the steps and said, if she touches you,
you know what to do. It Was ON..
I smacked, Punched, Slapped, Kicked and bloodied her up bad. I tore her blouse, exposing her training bra, so my mom gave her one of my shirts to put on; a washcloth to clean her face; and walked us both to her house, where she explained what happened to her mom - Mrs King,
she made me go so Mrs King could see the evidence of the fight, which I now understand was a part of the sorting out process.
ooo you thought she got a whoopin from me;
aaaawww helllnawww her mom pounded her fierce.
she was out of school for the rest of the week cause
I hear she had wheps on her head from the beating.
It’s a shame it had to come to that, but you’ve got to stand up for yourself. guess that’s why when you’re from the D, you learn it early.
You Did Right Cardiogirl,
When you hear your story it truly is a case of the end justifying the means. But it’s a hard lesson to live through.
I do like that your mom sort of cleaned Theresa up before she presented the evidence to Mrs. King. However, as a kid I would be pissed off that she gave her one of MY shirts. Did you ever get that shirt back? Just curious.
Agreed, it is a shame her mother went nuts on her, but I bet it’s a lesson she never forgot, either.
RE Ausetkmt´s last blog post..The Bobo says - Show Us ‘Them Guys’ was Down Wit Hemp
Wow, you had me from start to finish. Of course, I stumbled at 1982, grade 8, and I had to stop and do the math. Dang, yep, as I feared, 19 to your 13. Ah well.
ANYWAY, great story. Great mom! Can you imagine if she openly advocated that now? There would be right royal heck to pay.
Nope, never fought anyone. Unless tackling my sister to the ground a couple of times counts.
Isn’t it funny how human nature makes you calculate your age when you see a date like that? I do the same thing!
Yes, things are much different now. I imagine there might be legal action over something like that these days.
I’m hoping my kids never have a fist fight at school, or at home. Unless of course it’s with their sister. That’s like a level two fight — it counts but usually there’s no blood involved.
Unless you’re Kim Woodbridge. If provoked enough, she might break your nose
Urban Panther´s last blog post..The day Christmas grossed me out
hhhmmm wow!!! i punch somebody when i was still in my elementary year. my father was even proud of it. he always brags about it with his friends until now. and sometimes i will give him a look like “stop ittttt” hehehe… and is that my shoes? hehehe i have the same shoes as what you post hehehe
That’s so funny that your dad is still proud of that. As a parent I can relate — when pushed you want your kid to stand up for himself. And I will admit, my mom is proud of my story as well. I guess especially because of my nature to be a human doormat.
Yes, those are probably your shoes. I am absolute enamored of Converse low tops and I have a nice collection here at home. Of course the collection at my site is even more impressive.
And something I will never have in true life.
Eds´s last blog post..World’s Oldest Person Died at 115
I haven’t heard the term burnout since 1986.
Sometimes we gotta kick some ass - and when it is sanctioned by mom, well the whopping is just priceless…great story!
Thanks Christa! Viva la 80’s.
wow - I just happen to come across this blog through a friend’s and am lucky to have read this post - it was great. I’m about to go and read more of the blog. I had a similar experience when I was a kid only it was with a guy named Paul, but he didn’t wear a training bra. Thanks for the great story.
Thanks Tony — you’re much too kind! Lucky for Paul he *didn’t* wear a training bra, otherwise he would have been staring down a few more fights, eh?
I look forward to seeing you over at my pad.
Tony´s last blog post..Memories of Thanksgiving Past
Too funny! I grew up in a “tough” school, didn’t like to fight, tried the “ignore them they will go away approach” who ever thought of that?
I was in the 7th grade, having a really BAD day (for a 7th grader) I was in the bathroom all by myself when the gang of 5 or so came in. One girl told me to give her my cigarette. (I know) anyway, that was NOT going to happen today. Her 4 friends didn’t help at all, that was the funniest part. the next best part, she didn’t get my cigarette.
It probably would have been more mean to give her the nasty cigarette! Great story, felt like I was there.
Thank you Dee. Now that I’m an adult it just seems crazy to imagine all of these bullying stories happening to a group of 40-year-olds. Can you imagine?
“You are NOT getting my cigarette and if you take one more step I will put a run in your pantyhose and then report you to Human Resources. Now step off!”
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What a great story. I remember this neighborhood girl who was a couple years older than me (I was 10, she was 12) and she hated my guts - for what I have no idea. But she taunted me constantly - always calling me names and hurling threats. “The Fight” finally happened one day when she called me over to her house. When I arrived, she hit me in the nose and I turned and walked home, trying to hold in my tears. My parents went to her house to talk to her parents but they weren’t home so they gave the girl a good ‘talking to’. It did some good because the bully never messed with me again. Anyway, reading your story brought back memories.
Man Laura, that bites it that you were invited to your own fight. Isn’t it weird how kids suddenly decide they absolutely hate another kid? I had my fair share of girls who really did hate me. And I truly have no idea why.
Sometimes I want to get on Facebook, find some of those chicks and ask them to honestly tell me why. But I think most of them wouldn’t remember the reason. Oh well, maybe I’ll just have to write a book about that. I can let my heroine deal with their responses.
That’s not a bad idea for a fiction story after all… Sorry for the stream of consciousness. I usually keep that in check.
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hey CardioGirl,
What a great story. I really like your mom, and I really like her reaction to the principal. I can think of a time or two when I was growing up that I could have and should have used her advice. Thanks for sharing it.
~ Steve, aka the trade show guru
Hi Steve, thanks for your kind words. My mom is definitely something else. I’m sure there’s a lot blog fodder there. I’ll have to start thinking about that.
Steve | Trade Show Guru´s last blog post..King Corn
being a lover not a fighter I have slimpickings on this one..:)
I think there’s more to be said for loving than fighting, robert. But every so often you have to step on some toes to keep your ground.
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My father always reminded me that the rule of fighting is never to start first. I had a few fights in my school time. Actually, there are no problem with anyone. We just test power only. See who is winning or losing from simple rounded by friends fighting game. Who falls first is the loser kind of game. No real serious fight.
That sounds like the movie Fight Club, although I’ve never seen actually seen it. So maybe it’s nothing like that movie, but is more like a physical version of the game Battleship, except you actually fall to the ground if you lose.
Regardless, I’m glad to hear there wasn’t much bullying going on.
I have never had any fights in the school; it must be pretty boring right? You are right to say that she has an interesting and humorous way to bring out a variety of topics.
BK, boring is a relative term. Besides that day, I am happy to say I’ve never had another fist fight (wipes the sweat off her brow). Thank you for your kind compliment.
Hi Natural and CardioGirl - What a fabulous story. I wanted to peek and see how it was going to end, but held myself back. I’ve never been a fighter, but always admired those who stood up for themselves. I always cheer for the underdog, so in this case, my vote goes to you.
Remember the cartoon Underdog? There’s no need to fear, Underdog is here. Let me kick my cape behind me and send a bow of thanks your way Barbara.
You’re much too kind, thank you.
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I think this is the best blog post I have ever read. Thank you!
I grew up in a tough neighborhood too. Around the same time as your Fight, 1983 or so, I was casually acquainted with someone who was generally believed to be “the toughest girl.” She had eight older brothers, so you can imagine the beatings she took.
One evening, very drunk, she surprised me by grabbing both sides of my head and slamming my face against her knee–her signature move.
I was not known for my fighting ability and looking back I realize that she just felt like beating someone up. But I surprised her and completely snapped. I pinned her up against a car and pounded her face until two boys finally pulled me off of her. One of them took a few shots for his troubles.
This happened just up the street from my house. I went home and when my mother saw the egg on my forehead, *she* snapped. Ignoring my pleas, she marched up the street, brought the drunken, beaten Silvia back to my house by the collar and made her apologize to me! And she did!
It was awesome. And nobody ever pegged me for an easy target again.
I am and always have been a pacifist too, but sometimes, I guess, beating the crap out of someone is necessary and productive. At least it was for us.
I still can’t believe you told the principal that your mom told you to do it. LOL, that’s priceless.
Woah, Susanne. That’s a hell of a story. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer? I’m surprised she didn’t break your nose doing that.
When you said you surprised her and completely snapped I felt like I was in a movie theater and suddenly everyone burst into cheers. Way to go Susanne!
And I *loved* this line:
“… but sometimes, I guess, beating the crap out of someone is necessary and productive.”
That phrase is going to make me chuckle and smile for a good long time.
Thanks Susanne!
This was a very interesting story to read, and I’m really sorry you had to experience it. I was appalled that your mother pushed you into violence when there were other solutions available. In my opinion, we’ll never have peace in the world until we learn not to use violence as a solution on a small scale.
I went to school 25 years earlier than you did, when things were much less violent. However, my family was so violent that I became a pacifist very young. My mother had no interest in what was happening to me in school, and I was so beaten down mentally that I didn’t stand up for myself at all. However, I was only hit once, in grade school, when out of nowhere this girl punched me in the stomach because she liked this boy and thought I did too. I had never noticed him until then. I was too busy trying to find out what was going on to worry about hitting her back.
I eventually decided that the next time my mother hit me, I’d hit her back. She must have sensed it, because she never hit me again.
Wow, Dot. That sounds like a difficult childhood. I also grew up with a chaotic home life and knowing that it seems like the answer my mother gave is the answer I would expect looking back on everything.
Dot´s last blog post..Weird Tip Tuesday - Eat Less Butter
anyhow, very surprising indeed about this blog. I do know how it feels being bullied. We all know that there is no satisfaction on beating somebody up (some people do though) for no apparent reason.
Yet, I do admire you for your bravery and being a pacifist at a young age.. do take care and I am excited for your newest blogs…
Thanks for stopping by Reezen TOT. As an adult, I can understand that violent kids are usually acting out on their own sense of helplessness (sh*t runs downhill). But as a kid that was hard to handle.
take care and holiday greetings! =)
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Wow, you poor kid. A lot of us went thru this sort of bullsh*t, but I bet your mom was the only one (A) egging you on and (B) threatening to beat you up if you didn’t fight back. MAN!
For the record, I was a burnout but never started (or got involved in) any fights during that phase. When I was around 6 or 7, however, the neighborhood bully was pounding on me when a strange lady stopped her car (I feel like I’ve told this story before). Anyway, the lady told the brat to stop and told me I could hit HER (the kid) for 5 minutes while she stood there and watched. So I pounded on her with impunity. Then the lady declared us even, and drove away. And that was that.
I don’t know how smart fighting is, but I have to say, I admire you for walking up to that girl and punching her in the face.
Get out, JD! You were a burnout?! I never would have guessed it. OH! Maybe you could do a post, “I was a burnout so you don’t have to be.”
Yeah, my mom is somethin’ else. And to this day, I still struggle with confrontation and not being a doormat.
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never fought anyone ever except with words - my husband- what a waste–
But tell me Miss Bad A.. whom did you fight this week??hahah
Nothing wrong with words, sandy. I thought about fighting the neighborhood cat, the one who give me dirty looks and won’t let me pet him unless he’s in the mood. But it was too cold out. And the snow put me at a disadvantage.
But just wait until next summer when I have some traction under my feet again.
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a truly lovely holiday story
Doesn’t it just make you all warm and fuzzy inside?
sandy k´s last blog post..Camera Critters #35 - The Pharoah
Don’t worry… some of us also remember Mr. Peabody… and are dreading the day when he and Sherman join the ranks of classic cartoons turned into a lousy motion picture…
Dwacon, you have no idea how good that makes me feel. I loved Mr. Peabody and Sherman. Everyone should have a dog like Mr. P. Especially one that wears such cool glasses.
Ugh, I hadn’t even considered that they might attempt to make that cartoon into a movie. Let’s cross our fingers and hope they leave well enough alone.
Dwacon´s last blog post..Bail Out
This was hilarious, but man, I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of you!
I moved schools a lot as a kid so I got used to not fitting in and being picked on a little, but I wasn’t bullied per se. Although all the moving meant that I went from being an extroverted kid to someone who tried to blend into the walls a lot at school. I didn’t really come into my own until I was at university.
I do remember one school fight I almost got into. I didn’t start it - it was brewing for ages and was over a boy. This girl, her boyfriend had liked me for years and had asked me to prom. I accepted as his friend, but then he and her got together. I offered for him to cancel and take her but he didn’t want to.
Instead of being pissed at him, she was angry at me and started to hassle me between classes. One day she pushed me walking up the stairs so I fell forward and knocked a girl over. I turned around and pushed her back. She started talking big about having a fight so I advanced on her, heart in throat but totally cool on the outside. She shoved me again and I laughed and asked if she was going to hit me and fight for real or just pussy foot around all day. I got up real close to her and told her to hit me. She didn’t know what to do and backed off. I called her pathetic and walked away, saying no wonder her boyfriend preferred to take me to prom. Everyone thought I was fantastic, but all I was thinking was “thank god” because I didn’t want to end up in the principal’s office again. I was already in trouble for cutting school and I was going to be suspended if I got into any other trouble.
Despite the way this all sounds, I was considered a very sweet, NICE girl at highschool. Post 18, well that’s a different matter…
Kelly
Isn’t that just like a chick to get mad at *you* instead of the punk guy who dumped her? And I’d have to say the same of you, Kelly!
“I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of you!”
Actually we sound like we might be good friends if we got to know each other. I’m off to visit your pad now…
There was this kid who bullied me in 3rd Grade. One day I got so sick and tired of him that I started chasing him around the neighborhood throwing rocks at him. After that day he never bothered me again.
I didn’t want to get into a fight back then because my mom always told me not to fight even if I didn’t start it.
I teach my children something different. I tell never start a fight and that if they can walk away, they should but if they are trapped into a fight, they should make sure that they finish and they come out the winner.
That’s a good philosophy, Chris. We do have to defend ourselves but sometimes I wish the bullies would just disappear.
Chris´s last blog post..I Shall Return
wow
just, wow
That’s one hell of a story telling gift you have there, and one hell of an upbringing. I’ve never been one for fighting myself, avoided it as much as possible so I see where you are coming from with regards wanting to avoid it… but bullies need to be stood up to so good on you for doing it and good on your mother for pushing you.
Not something I have ever been used to (all through school i was a very large, sports playing bloke) but you certainly managed to get me empathising with you…
I certainly bet that Kim learnt her lesson!
I have to say that Kim never talked to me again after that day. We did sort of look the other way whenever we crossed paths. But it really did stop the bullying.
It’s a shame that some people have to be stopped that way, but I suppose it will happen where ever you go.
And thanks for the kind compliment Nick. I appreciate that!
Nick´s last blog post..Stcherbina improving
very nice blog please you have to show me a thing or two
http://www.blackfitnessblog.com
Thanks mv! I don’t know if I can teach. I’ve been backsliding myself since Thanksgiving. I need to get back to the elliptical machine post haste.
My most memorable fight was in 6th grade. It was after school and we were on the school bus headed from the middle school to the high school. I sat in my seat and one of my friends was sitting behind me. For some reason, she thought it funny to pull by braids (weave). She was my friend, but I was not in the mood this day. Plus, I did not want her to pull a braid out. How embarrassing it would have been if she would have pulled this long braid out and I was left with this little inch-long strand of hair?!?
So she pulls my braid and laughs. I turn around and tell her to stop. She pulls again and laughs. I turn around again and tell her to stop. She pulls again. I stand up and “announce” to her that if she pulls my hair again, I will slap her.
I sit back down - and what do ya know, the heifer pulls again! Well, since everyone on the whole bus heard me tell her I would slap her if she did it again, I had to follow through. Couldn’t risk being thought of as soft now ,could I? So I turned around and smacked the fire outta her….and so began the fight. (I think I lost one braid in the ruckus, but it wasn’t evident to anyone…whew!)
That is a tough position, Tamika, when you throw out “or else” because of course the follow through has to happen. But I mentally stood up and cheered for you as you smacked the crap out of the girl on the bus.
Way to go!
And I love that your hair was intact after the fact — well that it appeared to be perfect!
Tamika´s last blog post..Senseless
OMG that is the hardest I’ve laughed all day! Kudos to your mom for making you defend yourself (even though you actually made K!m defend HERself- LOL)
I’d be wary of giving that advice in this day and age, but when I was growing up, I learned fast that fighting back was the only way to put bullies in their place. They usually deflate when they see their own blood.
I actually think it was helpful to making me a strong adult, as I don’t let people push me around now, either.
Excellent guest post!
Thank you Corrina!
It is a different world today. I’ve been wondering how I would handle that same scenario with my daughter. Sadly, I think I would tell her to tell the teacher when it happened so the teacher can deal with it (cringes). I told you I hate conflict.
Thanks for commenting!
Corrina´s last blog post..Updating The Blog
I’m not really a fighter. This post was a good read.
Thanks Melbel! I’m with you, I really don’t like fighting — physically or verbally — but I suppose sometimes you must speak up. One way or another.
Melbel´s last blog post..Answers to the Unicru Application
Talk about getting my blood going! Great story, I absolutely love your writing. I hope my English is ok, not my first language.
Thanks Italian Godess! I am so surprised English is not your first language! I never would have guessed. Now I have to head on over to your place to see if you blog in Italian or English!
I’ve gotten in a couple fights in my school… I’m in grade 7, and i can probably beat up most of the other kids in my grade(Me being almost 6 feet and the grade 7 wrestling divisional champ). It’s mostly niners that I get in fights with though, and usually by accident, like once I saw one of my friends who owed me money and went to tackle him(he’s owed me money for a while now) and then like, five grade nines came and grabbed me, and now I look out for them whenever I walk down the hallway. Personally, I’m terrified by the grade niners in my school, since most of the are pretty big…