There must be something about that first day in high school that makes the bullies want to establish themselves in the pecking order. After my first day at Senn High, I was standing in the bus line, waiting to board and ride home. When a senior bully pushed his way into the front of the line, my friend said something to him.

The bully left the front of the line and came back to us, apparently thinking I was the one who had challenged him. He punched me in the eye, and I went berserk. I was young, but big for my age, and in any case, bigger than the bully.

I do not recall the details of my berserk actions, but the next thing I knew, people were pulling me off him. He was on the ground and I was stomping him.

I went home with a black eye, and was afraid to go back to school where I might meet Mr. Bully again. When I got back to school, I watched for him, but did not see him. Finally, somebody told me he was in the hospital with a broken arm and other injuries. When he showed up the next week, he carefully avoided me.

Later, as it happened, I started dating his girlfriend, but he never did anything about it. I am not sure which revenge was better, the broken arm or the stolen girlfriend.