Feb 24
My Charachter formation.
My Earliest confrontations were often related to a sense of injustice.
Farragut school . Probably 6 years old. I had brought a plastic spaceman to school. Probably shoudl not have but I did . An Older kid girl walked up to me and took it out of my hands. My immediate reaction was to punch her and take it back. This was my first trip to teh office.
An intimidating trip to see Dr Kermorian . They still had corporal punishment then so plenty to fear.
A lecture and a call to parents and a ban on bringing toys to school.
This reaction however seemed to be in my nature and how I reacted when someoen did an injustice to me. If you hit me or threatend me you were going to get trouble.
Another example was , I was sent to Safeway on Ocean ave to buy milk and bread. On the way out an older kid probably 10 grabbed me from behind and tried to steal what money I had left . I pulled his had towards my mouth and bit a chunk of his palm out. He let go. I went on my way.
Overall the neighborhood was "normal" but there were kids who were predatory and or competitive . some just liked to domonate or over power. I felt then the path to survival was to be the kid you just did not want to attack.
I was a bit on the small side (my growth was delayed a bit. Later I got pretty big.
Our little organization.
Being smaller I decided to make larger and more ruthless friends. I was pretty samrt so I had Ideas that wodl be profitable to my "Protectors" Usually this had to do with finding ways to extract Lunch money from other kids or oganized shoplifting . In any event these guys (Rocky Gregory Morton and Mario Smith) kept me safe . I often had some scheme in mind which was profitable for the team.
Event
Leg break fend off knife guy and later hit a guy with a crutch (serious)
In June 1965 we were n a camping trip with Mom and My mom's German friend. (parents in divorce) I slipped nder a root and broke my left leg.
I spent many weeks ina cast (poison Oak)
But I was particularly vulnerable and some neoghbor hood toughts decided to take opportunity to intimidate steal etc from me.
This was during "Beatle mania" I had amanged to hobble down tothe drughg store and purchase some Beatles magazines
On the way home some tough came at me with a knofe. ( I hit him with a crutch and took his kkniofe) He had nerve enough to ask for it back , I told him to send his dad up toteh house and get it from my parents.
Nicholas vs Mr Waters.
The Ear puller 4th grade teacher.
I had a good friend and fellow Mad Magazine fan Nicholas.
Nick was a Jewish kid who lived with his dad in a flat over a store on Ocean Ave.
Wewere pretty good busdies.
Nicholas though was often a bit unkempt so he got teh attention of Mr Waters who was also the Yard monitor . we had to line up in columns after lunche and then proceed back to class. THe rules were" Keep still no talking."
Nicholas woudl often violate the rules and Waters woudl pull him from teh line by his ear. thsi was Painfula nd humiliating.
I remember telling my dad about this treatment imposed on Nicholas. Dad said " He better never do that to you" well this wasna pportunity. withign a few days I arranged to misbehave in line and have my ear pulled. I ran home and told dad. who was furious and henmarched down to school walked intothe class room and pinned waters agains the black board. Waters nearly pissed his pants. Needless to say Waters Ear pulling ceased. for me and I never saw him do it to anyone else.
Ethnicity and Racism.
A little spick?
