Just a little history for those who like novels :)

I attended St. Andrews Catholic School through 3rd grade. As with any catholic school, they use your proper name. So, for those that don't know, my "given" name was Francis. Everyone outside of school knew me as Larry, but from the very first day of classes, I was Francis. During the first week of school, I had some difficulty with a slightly older boy who according to my sisters (both are older) stayed in trouble and was a bully. He would take every opportunity to say, "Francis is a girl". Of course, other children would laugh and it would be embarrassing, but I just avoided him as much as possible. The fateful day was few months in to my 1st grade year. I was sitting on the playground with a few friends of mine when I noticed the bully and a few of his friends laughing and pointing toward me. One of the other boys walked over and said, "it is true you are a girl?". One of my friends at the table, who was not known for keeping his mouth shut asked the boy to just go back to the other rejects. The boy left and returned to his group only to return with the entire group. The bully, Christian Dodd, asked who called him a reject. I knew this was not going to end well, so I stood up and asked them why don't they just go pick on someone else? That was probably not the brightest move of my life. The bully took a stick and drew a line in the sand. He then dared me to cross the line. I was never afraid of the bully, but what I did fear was the trip to the "office". As I stated earlier, I have two older sisters. The stories they told me about the "office" included Sister Angeline and Father Nighterd using this giant paddle to get their point across. That is what I feared more than this bully. I had enough of the "Francis is a girl" taunts, so I stepped across the line. I don't believe any of the bullies expected that, so it was quiet for a few moments. During this time, as with all grade schools, the other children stopped playing and were watching. Great! Now the bully had an audience. It was at this time that he lunged out and pushed me. It must not have been very hard as I went back a step and then I went forward and shoved the bully as hard as i could. He didn't just go back a step, he back pedaled about 5 steps and proceeded to go ass over tea kettle. The other children laughed, which was not helpful to my cause. He came up red faced and cussing! Most of what he said wouldn't cause any of us to bat an eye, but if you used the word shit in those days, it was a mouthful of soap and enough  Hail Mary's to last a good 30 minutes. He charged at me, tackling me to the ground and punched me square in the face. This made me mad and I flipped him over. With my bloody nose dripping on his white shirt (we wore uniforms) I held him until Father Kennedy came and lifted me off him with one hand. One of my friends, David Waska, said, "way to go" as we were summarily escorted to the "office". Great, I get a bloody nose and I'm going to get paddled. Father Kennedy took Christian (the bully) straight into the "office" while I was instructed to sit in the chair outside the office. My teacher, Sister Rose Anne came in to bring me a wet towel and asked if I was alright. I told her what happened and she told me to remember to tell the truth when I was in the office. (More stories about Sister Rose Anne in later episodes!).

I sat there for awhile, not even sure how long, when I heard what could only be described as a giant SMACK! The next sound I heard was pure anguish. If I had to use the bathroom, I would have used it right there in the chair. Two giants SMACKS and bawling followed and you can imagine what was going through my head!  Am i too young to run away and join the Foreign Legion or circus? It was just then the door opened and out came Sister Angeline (Mother Superior) following the bully, Christian Dodd. He had tears streaming down his face and one hand on his (I am pretty sure about this) rump. She thrust him in the corner of the outer office face first and told him to stand there until she came back to get him.

I'm not sure how tall Sister Angeline was, but I was in first grade and she was 18 feet tall that day! She said, "Francis, step in my office please". I don't mind admitting, I was petrified!  Sister Angeline sat across in her chair and Father Nighterd sat over to the right. I sat in the seat across the desk and steadied myself so I wouldn't break out in tears. She asked me to tell her the entire story from start to finish. I recounted the story exactly as I remembered it and then sat there, knowing I was about to join the "paddle club" She smiled over at me and said Christian's story was different. I remember my exact words as if it were still 1965, "I didn't tell you a story ma'am, I told you the truth". Father Nighterd leaned over and said something quietly to Sister Angeline. I heard just one piece of what he said and it was, "Francis is a good boy, I believe him." Still, I was prepared to get paddled. According to my oldest sister, no one leaves that office without a paddling! I am here to tell you, I did! Sister Angeline asked if my nose hurt and I confessed it did. She told me go back to class and to never let her see me in that office again! I got up to leave and Father Nighterd stopped me so that we could say an Act of Contrition together. As I walked past the bully, he turned his head and I smiled at him. When I returned to class, the entire classroom turned around, but they weren't laughing, they were smiling.

He still taunted me from time to time, but he never dared me to cross the line.

Fast Forward......

When someone thinks it's funny to say things like, "lighten up Francis" because they want to taunt or make fun of my name, I remember the bully standing in the corner after he got paddled to tears, and smile. Sometimes you just have to cross the line they draw in the sand and show them you aren't afraid of their bully tactics. In the end, the truth wins every time.

Just a special message for 4dognite. You wish you had the ability to write a letter to the editor based in truth instead of lies and taunts. Grow up fool!