“I’m a pacifist,” he’d told Eddie Arnold, a foot taller and two grades ahead of him.
“So that means you won’t fight back if I hit you?”
“Violence doesn’t solve anything,” he’d said. “It’s barbaric.”
“What did you call me?” said Eddie, who immediately whipped him two hard blows in the face that knocked him sprawling to the pavement.
He wiped the blood from his nose and stared up at the jeering kids
Pussy. Weakling.
“Had enough?” said Eddie Arnold.
He got to his feet, stood defiant.
“Pussy,” repeated Eddie.
The kids dispersed.
One girl stayed behind. She was smiling.
”
Bet she hits him too. Nah. Just teasing. Good one, Joshua
Dear Josh,
The scene crackles. Still I wanted to see him paste Eddie one. At least the girl understands him. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Things are about to improve it seems! Nice one Josh.
Here’s my story.
Well, at least she stayed. Better days ahead for sure.
I thought she’d hit Eddie…
Perhaps in time Eddie will understand the lesson he has been taught – especially when he sees his victim has ended up with the girl :-)
It’s not all bad then. But that’s a high price to pay to get the girl. Nicely done.
Going to have to learn to dodge better, still have principles, don’t get hit.
You’ve done an excellent job of describing a typical schoolyard bully picking on a smaller, weaker kid who won’t fight back.
My question is, did the girl stay for Eddie’s sake, or for his victim’s?
Well done describing the realities of bullying and the power that is fed by the mob, but can be drained by decency. I hope the gal stayed for your hero.
Also, I wonder who hits Eddie. Not that this is always the case, but all too often the bullies assert their own need for power over the helpless because they’d learned it, someplace, from others who’d brutalized them.
Good story!
Violence begets more violence.
Well-written piece, Josh. I like to think the girl knows a good one..
An interesting conjecture, Josh, and well written. I have my doubts that it would play out quite like that, though…
Some kids will do anything to make a girl smile ;) One day geneticists will identify the bully gene and then we can send them all somewhere together and let them sort out who is the meanest.
I could feel the energy in this despite initially thinking of Eddy Arnold and hearing “Make the World Go Away” in my head.
The Junior Pacifists League is about to be formed, I reckon. Wonder about the time period on this. Thought I smelled the Vietnam War.
A good story, Josh. What a bully. He picks on both younger and smaller children. The other children standing around must be of the same mind. The girl at least admires a pacifist. :) — Suzanne