ALTERNATE REALITY

Entry No. 2

I was thirteen when I first had a fight. Lining up for clean water, the bully of the neighborhood would insist that others give him way. I, as well as other kids my age, have tolerated his behavior for much too long. He wasn’t big, he was just vicious. Sporting a tattoo on both sides of his arms and chest, it was an open secret that he picked pockets to live. Kicking buckets aside to clear his way, I would step aside and let him through. What I could not forgive was when he pinched my butt instead of the spanking that he gave the others.

“Peklat (Scar),” he said. “Move aside or I’ll whip your ass.”

Having seen what my grandma did to a neighbor a few days ago, I pulled his hair. This irked him a lot. He slapped me on the face then went on to punching me on the nose, the chest – then he started kicking me while I was down.

“That should serve as an example,” he shouted.

I cried.

“Ohh, a cry baby,” he teased.

If menace and mockery could be done so skillfully, this was one. The others laughed with him. Inspired by the attention he got, he went on this time cursing my parents.

“Lousy child,” he said. “You want more!”

He sounded serious.

With whatever strength I could not imagine, I kicked him but to no positive result. The next thing I knew, I was again down at the pavement. My face now bloodied, flashbacks of my family came pouring in on my head. Reaching to what turned out to be a strip of metal, I plunged the rusty object at him. It him on the right leg. Blood came spurting out. He wailed in pain. I scratched him on the face then proceeded with several punches. Tears were trickling down my face.

Seeing him down, I felt pity. I was almost even compelled to offer him a hand. Conscience – it was a fatal mistake. He threw his body at me and we came scrambling on the sidewalk. By this time, people were around us. No one even stopped us. The noises around came spinning on my head. I was so sure that I would die that day. With the bully on top of me, I felt my strength slowly fading.
It was here that I managed to feel a stone right above my head. I reached for it. With a sudden swoop, it hit him on the head. I saw him roll on one side. I then blanked out.