When I took a stand

One of the most courageous acts I have ever taken part of took place on a dirty, sweaty, cement floored kickball "field". This act was such a simple but hard thing to do that I will never forget or regret it. On this cheap Los Angeles School District playground one group of kids ruled the swings, the 5th graders. No one ever questioned them, challenged them or most of the time even talk to them, they seemed soooooo big and tough, but one day i decided I was not going to take it.

I still remembered the day, so very cold to us, 60 degrees, but we still couldn't wait for recess. Us underlings, the 1st through 4th graders, knew we where not to touch the handball courts, they where 5th grader territory. We knew not to go to the soccer fields because we would get trampled. We even knew not to touch the playplace because that's where the bad kids would lay. So we would accumulate at the kickball fields. We where surprisingly nice to one another and kept the rules, rarely would kids try to cheat. But on this freezing, 60 degree weather day, something changed. The 5th graders decided to attack the kickball fields, they took over and changed all the rules to they're favor. We had no choice but to accept it. But it got worse and big, tough, 60 pound Bobby was coming through and pushed my friend Scott down. I decided not to take that and tackled him strait down into that cement ground, stood up and kicked him in the face and shouted "Freak You" (I thought that made sense and that it was a really really bad word. But of course I was wrong on both accounts). Everyone gasped and cheered me on.

Of course after the incident I was suspended and had to pay for Bobby's broken nose's medical bills with my allowance but it was more then worth it. Everyone, including some 5th graders, treated me with much more respect, not to mention I was the coolest kid from then till we graduated (or maybe for just a week or so).