Janet

When I was a kid growing up in a suburban development, there were lots of
kids in the neighborhood. Most of us got along and played together (some we
liked more than others). Across the street from us were 2 bullies. The
older one was worse, but his brother followed in his footsteps. Most of the
bullying was verbal: making fun of people, name calling, etc. I do remember
one occasion when the older one was trying to choke my older sister (and I
remember whacking him over the head with a hoppity hop ball to make him go
away) when we were in our yard. I don't remember my parents ever
intervening, except maybe with the standard things (ie walk away).

One day I was playing with another girl, when the younger bully came along
and started tormenting us. I don't remember how, but he got us trapped in
our neighbor's garbage bin (a wooden shed-like thing they stored their metal
trash cans in). Then we heard the older boy ask the younger one who he had
in there. For some reason he wanted to go after my friend. He opened the
door and started choking her. The only thing I could think of to do was
pick up a rock and hit him on the head with it. He ran home crying.
Apparently his mother called my mother on the phone, because the next thing
I knew she was there to bring me home. And as we walked past the bullies
house, their mother screamed at my mother to "keep your kid away from my
kid!"

I don't remember my mother ever talking to me about any alternatives, about
my feelings, and I remember being grounded for hitting someone with a rock
(I was probably 8 or 9). But at the time, my friend was being hurt, I knew
words wouldn't work (never had before) and I wasn't strong enough to push
him off by myself.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I remember the incidents but not any help from my
parents.

Janet (the bully's bully, rambling.........)