I remember once that I had to defend this kid from a bully in Middle School.
I would wait for my brother, every now and then, to get out of school, since he got out at 3:15 and I would get out at 2:45. I would notice that there was these group of kids that would usually hand out together when they would wait for their siblings. There would be 6th grade kids playing and running around the grass area and yelling, the usual things that a 6th grade student would do. I would usually wait by myself because I was 2 grades above them. I was more of a serious kid back in the day. Anyways, there was this one kid who was about easily 150 pounds heavier than any other kid their, and he was much taller. He was slightly taller than me. So within a 2 week period I noticed that the big kid, let's call him "Charles" for the sake of the story, would bully another kid, let's call him "Ryan". Ryan was very thin, goofy, and free-spirited.
In some sort of way Ryan kind of reminded me of me. He had long hair and used glasses. However, our clothing style was different. I went through a phase of liking Metal music, and wearing all black. I had a mohawk, eyebrow and lip piercing at one point.
I noticed that Charles would bully Ryan, with different intensities, within the 2 week period. I would usually let it pass because Ryan would be laughing, but that wasn't the case. See in my inexperienced and immature mind, I didn't realize that he was covering his fear with smiles. I realized that he was afraid when one day he stopped laughing, he truly seemed terrified. Towards the end of the 2nd week, it became clear that he was scared to even be around Charles. Ryan couldn't enjoy being himself around Charles.
On the Friday of the 2nd week, I looked at my little brother while we walk to the truck of my Step-Dad. All of a sudden it hit me, I pictured to myself, what if my brother was in Ryan's shoes? Or what if Ryan was my brother? What would I do? What should I do?
To be honest, I didn't know what I would or should do. However, I know that Charles should stop bullying Ryan. That I can be absolutely knew.
So it is Monday, I am waiting for my brother, I am usually the first one their because 8th graders would get released first. So I am in my usual spot underneath the tree. I am watching Ryan having fun with his friends, thankfully the weekend was kind to him. All of a sudden Charles appears, and starts walking to Ryan. Ryan face turned from happy to scared in an instant. Charles was being rough with Ryan and the result I did not like. Charles ended up breaking Ryan's glasses. Ryan just fell to the floor and start crying softly.
Now that, that was the final straw. It made both upset and sad. I walk up to Charles and said to him "Dude, why the hell are you bothering him?"
Charles replies "Hey if you want that to happen to you too, I'm all for it."
He then proceeds to shove me, and then I threw a punch with my right fist and I hit him. It just happened instinctively, and I didn't expect this to happen. I hit him on the right temple, and doing so, I broke his sunglasses and dazed him.
When he realized that someone stood up to him and stood up for Ryan, he finally knew how it felt to be the victim. He was shocked to be in that situation, it was so foreign to him.
I told him that I was sorry that I had to do it, but it had to be done. He then apologized as well. I told him that he had to stop or I would do it again. He agreed with me. I helped Ryan up, and I told him that he wouldn't be bullied by him any longer by Charles, and I told him that I used to be bullied when I was in elementary. I knew how he felt, nobody helping, and feeling useless.
Throughout the week he was nicer to Ryan and the other kids. I was happy that this had happened. It was necessary.
This is one of my favorite memories. I was able to prove to myself that I could stand up for what is right.
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