Boys and girls together

I guess that my life started to take shape in elementary school. My seventh grade teacher, Miss Schmidt, started to treat me better then the other children in my class. I was a little above average intelligence. My parents were of the type that believed that the teacher had complete authority over me, as their student. I was well mannered and clean. I guess I didn’t realize it at the time I was very attractive. I was not really attracted to girls yet and they used to annoy me, the way they got that silly look on their faces when they looked at me. Little did I know this was going to shape my life in the future. They used to chase me around the schoolyard trying to kiss me. I was a very tough boy, and the little kids used to run to me if someone was bullying them. No one every messed with me. I was the youngest in my family and I could kick my brother’s butt. He was two years older then I was and for the most part very passive, everyone liked him. They were afraid of me, and respected me. I seldom fought, but most boys were afraid to mess with me. I was built and had the body of a weight lifter. I never lifted weights at that age.

One day this new kid came into our school, he was a tough kid and was looking to establish his place in the pecking order. I was top dog. So he figured that he would start with me. He pushed me in the schoolyard, so I pushed him back. He threw a punch at my head. I blocked it, the way my father had taught me and put him on his back with one punch. You see dad was a bouncer at a very rough neighborhood bar and taught my sister, brother and I how to fight.
George got a bloody nose and scrapped elbows. The teacher, Mr. Cooper, came over and took us to the principles office. Mr. Carroll, the principle, knew my family very well and knew that I almost never caused trouble.

He took George and I down into the basement of the school. This was a concrete floor where we would line up when it was cold outside or raining and wait to be admitted to the classrooms.

“So, You guys want to fight huh. Ok, Go at it then.” Mr. Carroll stood back and waited for it to begin.

I stood with my right foot forward and left foot back. This was a left-handed fighting stance, with my hands at my sides. In this stance my groin was not an available target. George stood with his feet in a right-handed stance, but his feet were not positioned to protect his groin. George tried to hit me with his right hand in the face. I just used an inside-out block to deflect his punch. Before George recovered, Mr. Carroll grabbed him and pushed him face-forward into the wall. I backed off.

“John, return to class.” Mr. Carroll instructed me.

I turned and returned to recess.

The next day my father received a note from Mr. Carroll.
Two days later Dad came to school. George’s father was there as well. My dad and George’s father knew each other and seemed like old friends. We were in Mr. Carroll’s office when we met. George had a swollen nose and his both eyes had been blackened.

“Good day, Mr. Robert Blaugh and Mr. Rocco Tucci. I am sorry to have to bring both of you in today. The boys got into a fight in the schoolyard on Monday and apparently, I can’t allow this to go unresolved. I need to find out what caused this problem.”

My dad looked at me, cocked his head to the side and pursed his lips.

“John. Let me hear your version, please.” Said Mr. Carroll.

“I have no idea, why he swung at me. All I did was protect myself. I blocked his punch and decked him.” I said.

“George? Is what he said true?” Asked Mr. Carroll.

George looked nervous. “No he started it!”

My father looked at me and raised his one eyebrow. I shook my head no.
Mr. Tucci slapped George on the back of the head. “George, tell the truth!”

“I swung first!” George blurted out.

“I’m sorry John. I believe your son, Mr. Blaugh. Why George?” Said Mr. Tucci.

“He is the toughest kid in the school, I just wanted to be the toughest.” Said George.

Mr. Carroll asked. “Who told you he was the toughest kid in the school?”

“Everyone!” Said George.

I was trying my hardest not to smile. He heard right. I was the toughest. My dad just looked at me and I could see his chest rise with pride, but not so openly.

“Shake hands you two.” Said Mr. Tucci.

I stuck my hand out and George hesitantly shook my hand.

“John? What did you hit him with?” Asked Mr. Tucci.

I was confused. “I had just used my hand.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to confuse you. You have some punch their John.” Said Mr. Tucci.

“Thanks, my dad taught me.” I said with pride.

“Oh, no wonder!” Smiled Mr. Tucci. “George, next time you want to test yourself, do it outside of school. Oh, and I suggest you choose a different one to test yourself with.”

Mr. Tucci and George left the office.
“Mr. Blaugh, I am sorry to have dragged you in here today. I didn’t think that John started it.” Apologized Mr. Carroll.

“No problem Ed. I expect these things from John. He seldom starts anything, but seems to be involved in most of them. Better him then his brother. His brother is very quiet, but if John is the toughest, then his brother is second.” Said my dad.

I went back to my classroom. Miss Schmidt called me to her desk and asked me to stay after school for a short time.