Dodging bullies was one of my most important skills as a kid. When you are small, nearsighted, bad at all the popular sports and the sort of bookworm whom the teachers like to use as an example with which to embarrass the underachievers, you get beat up a lot. I learned all the different ways out of PS#4 so as to better give the slip to whomever was waiting to “get me after school.” I stopped winning spelling bees. I was a master at finding the path of least resistance.
Understand that my Mom loved all animals, and was absolute death on animal cruelty of any kind.
On a midsummer day when I was twelve, thirteen, fourteen – I’m not sure exactly – I came around a corner and nearly walked into a bunch of kids standing in a circle. The circle included a couple of my more popular tormentors. They were all laughing, and encouraging one of the proto-criminals to “go on” and “do it.” I saw that they were all gathered around a large frog.
Understand that my Mom loved all animals, and was absolute death on animal cruelty of any kind. One of our dogs was adopted by way of our stealing him from his abusive owner.
At the center of the circle, with the frog, was my chief tormentor, Moretti. He was going to blow up the frog with a firecracker.
The mystery switch in my brain that sometimes activates me to do odd and impulsive things went click. I didn’t really think, and gave them no time to act. I slammed my way into the circle, scooped up the frog, slammed my way back out and ran like hell. One thing in my favor; I was very fast. For some reason neither Moretti nor his crew bothered to chase me. I was followed mainly by curses and threats.
I ran a few blocks, then made my way to a nearby industrial site, mostly abandoned, and released the frog into a pond.
Dave VentreA hyper-annuated wannabee scientist with a lovely wife and a mountain biking problem.
I love your recounting of this incident, Dave, and no doubt you stunned your tormentors with your actions. Isn’t it moving when we intuitively act outside ourselves and do something so alien to our comfort zones? Bravo for you! I love your mom stealing a dog to rescue it. My sister-in-law, known in our family as the “dog whisperer,” has adopted dogs that no one thought could be redeemed and turned them into loving, secure pets.
Marian, Mom came home and told my brother and me about the dog being tormented by a group of kids. He and I went back with her, found them and took the dog. We tossed them five bucks so it wouldn’t be a theft.
Bravo, Dave! That took real courage and your kindness and instinct for protecting the helpless just kicked in, regardless of what cruelty might have transpired for you. I applaud your goodness.
I relied a lot on my fast quarter-mile times back then….
Bravo Dave, this animal lover gets it, seeing those anti-animal cruelty clips on TV often has me upping my monthly donations to ASPCA, PETA and WWF!
My dad was raised on a farm and told me he used to dissect frogs – out of curiosity, not cruelty, so hopefully he was more humane and conked them out first! (He did go on to med school so I like to think those poor frogs gave their lives in the name of science.)
What a great story, Dave. I loved how you saved the frog and got away from your tormentors. It was a pretty brave act for a kid your age.
Being on the track team served me well many times!
Hooray for your quick action when it was the right thing to do. I’m sure you learned from that and have done many good things since. Thank you.
Not as many as I might have wished, Khati. I have at least achieved high levels of harmlessness!
Good for you, Dave, I love this story about your good trouble on behalf of that poor frog. One question: in the 4th paragraph you say “(Moretti again; no surprise)” but you have never mentioned Moretti before, so I’m wondering what the original reference was supposed to be.
Oops. “Moretti” was one of the two most psychopathic of the bullies of my childhood. He appears in another story that I wrote and did not publish here because it is sort of fictionalized (it combines two separate incidents into one narrative). I’ll edit this one to get rid of the ambiguity.
Good for you, Dave! I love this story! I’d call it ‘Frog’s Lucky Day.’ Though I’ll bet it was yours, too. Probably gave you the courage to keep doing the right thing despite those bullies.
I’ll take you on my team over Moretti every day and Saturday too! Especially on my cycling team,.
This was a really vividly recalled narrative. You built up the character development and the suspense very adroitly.