I remember on the Second grade, though not as vividly as I would have liked, one of the first times I’ve ever been bullied. As well as one of the first times I’ve ever been punched in the face AND one of the first times I’ve ever punched someone in the face. A lot of firsts right there! As a younger kid, I wasn’t that much of a runt. I was on the heavy side as well. So being not so short and not so small, I wasn’t exactly bullied often.
On an irrelevant day after school whilst waiting to board the school bus, I was at the waiting shed when this kid introduces himself and hangs out with me. Though older and the same height as me, he had a smaller build. After some time he said he was getting hungry so he asked for some money from me. Thinking I’ve just made a new friend, I obliged him. This went on daily for over a week. It was funny that I didn’t pick up on it earlier.
But nonetheless, sometime the following week of constantly asking money from me, I finally wised up to what was going on. He once again asked for money so that he can get himself something to eat and I told him I didn’t have any money, though I really did. I needed to save up and buy those awesome Star Wars toys. So he said that I should have money for him tomorrow. Come the next day, there he was at the waiting shed waiting for some lunch money. He again asks for money from me and this time I bucked up and told him that I do have money but it was mine and I wasn’t going to give him any of it.
He then replied with a fist to my chubby face. I staggered back and my nose bled. Being the nerd that I was, and because of the shock, I stood frozen. I’ve never punched anyone else before. I’ve never had to deal with people who punch me before either. I was afraid. So the bully, noticing this comes at me again asking if I wanted another one or my lunch money. I, for some reason, still said no. So I got another one in the face.
I was expecting the worst and I was about to cry. But funny thing was that, maybe the shock wore off, maybe it was the adrenaline or maybe my chubby cheeks were awesome cushions against punches but the punch did not hurt as much as I thought that it had. Noticing this, I returned the punch right back to sender. And returned and returned and returned. This time he staggered, eventually fell, and his nose was bleeding. I had made him cry. After that, he never bother me again. In fact, no one ever bothered me at the waiting area again. Well, at least for that year.
I never did bother to ask for my money back or ask him for his, which I think would have been awesome if I did. But I did learn a thing or two from the entire experience. The first of which would be that; you are a lot stronger than you think you are. Second would be to never take shit from anyone.
And the last one would be for the bullies in the world: Never come between a nerd and his funds to buy his Star Wars toys.
