Page 12 - letmetellyou

My Family My Family
I am the middle child of five, having an older brother and I am the middle child of five, having an older brother and
sister and two younger brothers. My older brother by five years sister and two younger brothers. My older brother by five years
bullied me mercilessly until I became old enough and big enough bullied me mercilessly until I became old enough and big enough
to challenge him, after which he never bothered me again; proving to challenge him, after which he never bothered me again; proving
the axiom that bullies are really cowards. I mention this because I the axiom that bullies are really cowards. I mention this because I
spent most of my life defending the under-dog, a propensity which spent most of my life defending the under-dog, a propensity which
precipitated almost every fight, physical or professional, I had. precipitated almost every fight, physical or professional, I had.
The very first fight I remember happened when I was four years The very first fight I remember happened when I was four years
old. Although my father was a civilian, we lived in military old. Although my father was a civilian, we lived in military
housing in Dayton, Ohio during World War II where my dad housing in Dayton, Ohio during World War II where my dad
served in the Signal Corps, attached to Wright Field (now Wright served in the Signal Corps, attached to Wright Field (now Wright
Patterson Air Force Base). My dad played on the base softball Patterson Air Force Base). My dad played on the base softball
team and was treated as if he was military but he never discussed team and was treated as if he was military but he never discussed
what he did. It has only been recently that I concluded that my dad what he did. It has only been recently that I concluded that my dad
served in military intelligence, probably as a code breaker. His served in military intelligence, probably as a code breaker. His
civilian status was attributable to the four children he had when he civilian status was attributable to the four children he had when he
arrived at Dayton after which my youngest brother was born. arrived at Dayton after which my youngest brother was born.
My first fight was, predictably, with another bully. He was My first fight was, predictably, with another bully. He was
nine years old and terrorized us younger kids. One day my mother nine years old and terrorized us younger kids. One day my mother
met me at the screen door of our barracks’ unit with the met me at the screen door of our barracks’ unit with the
neighborhood bully hot at my heels. When he saw my mother, he neighborhood bully hot at my heels. When he saw my mother, he
pulled-up abruptly and turned tail as I rushed through the threshold pulled-up abruptly and turned tail as I rushed through the threshold
to the sanctuary of our home. My mother, who was unaware of us to the sanctuary of our home. My mother, who was unaware of us
younger kids’ daily travail, questioned me about my pursuer. younger kids’ daily travail, questioned me about my pursuer.
When I explained our plight, she promptly advised me that I would When I explained our plight, she promptly advised me that I would
have to face my much older and much larger (in my eyes he was a have to face my much older and much larger (in my eyes he was a
giant) tormentor and stand my ground. In other words, I would giant) tormentor and stand my ground. In other words, I would
have to fight him. Ignoring my tearful pleas not to make me do have to fight him. Ignoring my tearful pleas not to make me do
this, mom opened the screen door and sent me to the arena where this, mom opened the screen door and sent me to the arena where
the much older and much bigger nine year old, a giant, was the much older and much bigger nine year old, a giant, was
lingering. It was then that I learned what a great motivator fear can lingering. It was then that I learned what a great motivator fear can
be. The only thing I remember about the fight, itself, was my be. The only thing I remember about the fight, itself, was my
mother and a neighbor dragging me off the bigger boy who mother and a neighbor dragging me off the bigger boy who
tearfully left the field as fast as his fat legs would carry him. I tearfully left the field as fast as his fat legs would carry him. I
doubt that our politically correct culture today would sanction my doubt that our politically correct culture today would sanction my
mother’s behavior but, to this day, I have never run from a fight mother’s behavior but, to this day, I have never run from a fight
again no matter how big or how powerful the aggressor, physically again no matter how big or how powerful the aggressor, physically
or professionally. The only other thing my mother taught me about or professionally. The only other thing my mother taught me about
standing up for yourself is, if someone hits you, you hit him back standing up for yourself is, if someone hits you, you hit him back
44