I think it was my sophomore year but it could have been my freshman year of HS. There was a
guy named Brandon in my grade that sat in front of me in geometry class. I don’t know what I
did to get his attention but he must have decided that his purpose in life was to make me
miserable. In today’s culture, I’m pretty sure you’d call it bullying. I don’t recall any physical
attack but he would just try to provoke me any way he could. Stupid stuff like ketchup packets
between pages in my textbook to see if I’d pop them accidentally. If he got to class before me, I
knew there would be something awaiting me. Called me every name in the book.
I was a pretty quiet, reserved kid. Not provoked very easily. Plus, I was kinda wimpy. Didn’t lift weights till college. But, one day he met me at my locker and said or did something that ticked me off so I responded. I don’t remember exactly what I did but it provoked him to ask “so you want to fight?” Part of me did. And the sensible part of me said that’s stupid.
The timing of this was key, though. We were right at the beginning of baseball tryouts. We had a big school so lots of guys trying out and it was about a week long process with multiple rounds of cuts. He was also trying out.
I don’t recall exactly my immediate response to his request for a fight but then he made a comment about baseball, implying that he was better. I knew the truth and saw an opportunity. “Brandon, if I get cut, there is no chance of you making the team. How about we settle things on the field?” I wasn’t just returning trash talk. I very objectively knew I was better than him. You know the song “Devil Went Down to Georgia” by Charlie Daniels? The coolest fiddle song ever. Brandon played the part of the devil. I felt like Johnny accepting the challenge. “My name’s Johnny (insert Tony) and it might be a sin but I’ll take your bet and you’re gonna regret, cause I’m the best there’s ever been.” No, I didn’t think I was the best there’s ever been. Just good enough to win this bet.
He took the challenge. That was the last time I ever had to deal with his irritations the rest of my High School days. *Insert some crazy fiddle playing
I was a pretty quiet, reserved kid. Not provoked very easily. Plus, I was kinda wimpy. Didn’t lift weights till college. But, one day he met me at my locker and said or did something that ticked me off so I responded. I don’t remember exactly what I did but it provoked him to ask “so you want to fight?” Part of me did. And the sensible part of me said that’s stupid.
The timing of this was key, though. We were right at the beginning of baseball tryouts. We had a big school so lots of guys trying out and it was about a week long process with multiple rounds of cuts. He was also trying out.
I don’t recall exactly my immediate response to his request for a fight but then he made a comment about baseball, implying that he was better. I knew the truth and saw an opportunity. “Brandon, if I get cut, there is no chance of you making the team. How about we settle things on the field?” I wasn’t just returning trash talk. I very objectively knew I was better than him. You know the song “Devil Went Down to Georgia” by Charlie Daniels? The coolest fiddle song ever. Brandon played the part of the devil. I felt like Johnny accepting the challenge. “My name’s Johnny (insert Tony) and it might be a sin but I’ll take your bet and you’re gonna regret, cause I’m the best there’s ever been.” No, I didn’t think I was the best there’s ever been. Just good enough to win this bet.
He took the challenge. That was the last time I ever had to deal with his irritations the rest of my High School days. *Insert some crazy fiddle playing
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