Bullies are notorious for holding all the cards, using brut force to have their way, or taking advantage under circumstances of control. Such instances often go unnoticed by others, but consequentially it could seriously ruin anyone’s day, or in other situations have long lasting effects; sometimes for ever!

Students invariably suffer the consequences of bullies in one form or another, and I recall my own experiences, which were few, but nevertheless moving. I happened to be quite a stocky teenager and headed a gang of lads. We used to get up to the usual mischief like smoking in the toilets, shouting out teachers’ nicknames in the hall ways while looking to the floor; not to get caught. It wasn’t like we bullied anyone. In fact we just used to have fun.

Every so often I got caught up with a gang leader from another gang who wanted to fight in the middle of the playground during break. I couldn’t understand it at the time; literally at least twice a year some other guy fancied his chances. Even though most instances were rather abrupt fortunately I’d play the right dice, hold my calm, and luckily strike back at exactly the right moment. I’m not bragging, but when I recall some fights they went like clockwork.

So all in all my high school years went well, a few close calls, but I seem to get by. Others weren’t so lucky. The thing is: I used to be scared even with my track record in tact. I suppose that went with the territory. If I could wave a magic wand to help today’s bullied students I would say it’s a tough call. Be smart and walk away; that must be the best form of defense unless you’ve got something up your sleeve that could appease the bully. But even then you’ll be bribing the tormentor, and that could backfire along the road.

As I grew up there was a teenager in the year above me who had a really bad reputation and scared every one. Apparently, his fame included terrorizing students of all ages. His name was Steve B. He used to walk around the playground like he owned it with tattoos boasted all down his arms. Shoulders thrown back to stimulate his pectorals while wearing braces to make him look hard he’d stroll around like he owned the school with his gang behind him. I never forget those high turn up trousers that added hardness!

I never bumped into him and fortunately kept my distance. However, in my last year at school another gang leader called Ramsi fancied his chances against me. It was completely out of the blue again, and I saw no reason whatsoever he’d want to fight me. I remember my mates said one day during the lunch interval, “be careful Ramsi is coming after you with a machete!” The notion of having someone cut me up was unbelievably scary. Again good fortune was on my side and the police had arrived before he got to me.

I wasn’t so lucky in the last semester when Steve B got a message to me that he’d be waiting to fight at the bus stop after school. This time my knees were trembling, and it wasn’t so much that he scared me because as I said I’d always been extremely lucky. What scared me more than anything was seeing him all those years walking to and fro and his reputation as a thug!

Anyway I’d rather not comment about the beating he gave me, but what I can assure readers is that bullies are generally losers. Think about it; they need to thrive off another ones weakness because they lack character to feel adequate about themselves, if that makes sense. Another way to look at it is bullies are inferior because they are not intellectually proud to be a part of society. If you are the victim of bullies may I suggest you expect halfwits to bully you; we’ve all suffered before.

I know this doesn’t stop bullying, or reduce it, but by coping with it by expecting it you may be able to avoid it, or deal with it more objectively. I hope that helps!

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