Everyone needs to have encountered a bully while growing up. It makes us strong, and can inspire us to push harder as we navigate our way through this miracle called life.
Ed Tice was on the heavy side for a 14-year-old, with a crew cut, burly forearms and a thick rubbery neck. Before and after gym class, he tormented me and my fellow eighth-graders with surprise headlocks and sucker punches. For some reason, no one ever fought back.
I dreaded gym class. In eighth grade, I had enough problems. I hadn't hit a growth spurt yet, and I was considered short for my age. The girls I liked were taller than me. My voice was in that weird phase where it wanted to be low, but half of what I said came out in a higher pitch.
I started bad nervous habits like cracking my knuckles and biting my nails. There was a part of me that wanted to skip gym class just to avoid the burly-forearmed, rubbery-necked Ed Tice.
This is when I discovered weights. I had only been working out for a few days, but it gave me a mental edge that inspired confidence. When Ed Tice pinned me up against my locker and asked me something about crying for his uncle, I shoved him out of my way and told him to leave me alone. I locked my gaze deep into his eyes, which revealed surprise and fear. I could sense the entire locker room go silent. I didn't know what would happen. I expected a fight, but I just couldn't go through the rest of eighth grade afraid of Ed Tice.
He slapped me on the shoulder (guess he had to do something physical to save face) and told me he was only kidding. He started picking on someone else and never bothered me again. In fact, I sensed my actions mellowed him somewhat, because I can't remember him picking on anyone after our confrontation. Maybe he did. I didn't notice. I just didn't care. I could focus on looking forward to rope climbing and dodge ball.
That was 30 years ago. When I slip up and crack my knuckles (bad habit that's tough to kick), I think of Ed Tice. I'm sure he still has the crew cut, but I'll bet he's a fat loser with an ugly wife living in a shack somewhere in upstate New York.
Damn those bullies. But they help us grow up.
Enjoyed your "Bully" blog...inspired me to "google" my middle school bully. It seems life hasn't been too kind to Joe Denter. You can find him in a cell at Southridge Correctional Facility. Revenge is sweet!
http://www.prisonerlife.com/page_members.cfm?MemberID=4838
Posted by: Richard Hood | May 07, 2004 at 11:14 AM
Rich - it all works out in the end, right?
Dan
Posted by: Dan | May 08, 2004 at 09:45 AM