Violence

I was sitting at a corner hamburger stand last weekend, people were driving by looking at me, the stand the corner. I didn't mind, after all I was tucked into a giant greasy cheeseburger and a root beer float and most of them are probably on the No carb diet. So I'm smiling talking chewing I was there with someone close to me and we were just enjoying the afternoon. I had been sick all weekend and for the first time made it out of the house. Sometimes the fastest way to recover is junk food and fresh air.
There was a little kid out in front of the stand selling some kind of raffle tickets to al the families that came up, he never approached me or I probably would have bought some. I intimidate children sometimes, while the rest of the time they can't seem to get enough of me. 3 teen boys in a car pulled up at the light, and perhaps to trumpet their rebellious nature one of them yelled "Fuck you!" Instantly followed a murmur of disapproval and shock from the young parents and grandparents. Hot dog stands on Sunday afternoon tend to draw a big after church crowd. It didn't bother me though I was a punk rocker way back before I had to work for a living and "Fuck You" was my flag and mantra for years of repressed adolescence. I looked up at the boys who were looking for a reaction and gave them my best shark/ to me Soprano grin, evil glee lit up my face. It scared the person I was sharing lunch with, she said I looked like I was going to bite someone.
It seemed to upset the teens though. "yo dude, fuck you!" one yelled at me flipping me off. I had tread on their masculinity a little and they tried to save face.
"We'll fuck you up" yelled the one in the back leaning forward to poke his head out the window over his friends shoulder.
I don't pose or strut anymore, most of the time, so I just waved them over staring down the passenger. The guy in back maybe was just a real tough guy, or a nut, but probably he figured his friend in the front seat would not want to get out of the car to let him come out from behind the seat. So he goes off almost hysterically trying to tear his way out of the car to get me. My for lunch was getting a little nervous. She would probably slap them each across the heads pretty good herself, but she hates to think of me fighting. She's got an overdeveloped fear of Police and is petrified of having to deal with them. I thought this was getting pretty funny, but these guys were starting to tread on my masculinity a little now, there was quite a crowd there, and whether or not I encouraged this behavior I began to feel the need to stop it, end this whole scene. I winked at my lunch partner who, sighed "can't you just ignore them?" "Sometimes you can." I said, I got up and walked over to the car. My legs got that springy feeling growing up I always thought was fear, until I learned in karate it was just adrenaline rush. My body keying up for the conflict. I grabbed the passenger door and opened it up, the guy in back was still going off, but the kid in the passenger seat looked like he was ready to piss himself. I probably outweighed him x2 and he turned stark white looking up at me. I just waved him out of the car, "no problem man" I said probably sounding really old, "I just want you to let your friend out." He looked to the driver who was staring at the light willing it to change, just his luck to get stuck at this light onto a highway. The passenger in back just kept saying "Fuck it, let me out, come-on pussy I'll kick your ass..blah blah blah blah"
"I'm waiting on you, why don't you quit swearing for the kids and step out." I could feel my fists clenching but I didn't take my eyes off him. I was mad now, I was almost forced to call him out of there because he just wouldn't come out. I hate when people start a fight or try to then back out before we actually fight. Once I'm that keyed up it's too hard to let go.
Finally the front passenger steps out and quick steps it around behind the car, and back seat boy comes boiling out, only now he's carrying a stick or a tire iron and he's trying to menace me with it. First rule of violent situations, control the situation by always initiating the violence, never wait. As he waved that stick like a fly swatter I stepped forward and gave him a quick punch right to the stomach. I didn't even worry about the stick, he never had time to even pull it back, and unless he was some kind of Martial arts master he couldn't put any force behind it from that far away.
He kind-of folded over a little and I stepped back, trying to make it plain to his friends I wasn't interested in just beating on him, I figured problem solved. Obviously the guy behind the car thought so to because he stepped up grabbed his friend and pushed him back into the car. He turned to me a little white faced and said "I'm sorry dude" and sat back down not taking his eyes off me. I forced a smile, "you guys have fun." and turned away. They tore out behind me squealing their tires, probably more out of hurry than for show. I walked back to my table rolled my shoulders once or twice and sat down, my legs turned to limp rubber as the need for adrenaline passed.
The friend I was with tried to look stern, but ended up giggling, she must have been scared. I felt bad about that but some times like I said you can't ignore things like that. I might have saved those biys from someone worse, then again they might get a gun for the next time they're called out like that. Those are just modern day rules, probably why cowboys started carrying guns..
A little old lady with two 10ish year old boys was at the table behind me. They were looking at me like I was a space monster, she smiled and said "Thank you, if the police come I'll let them know he threatened you with that metal thing." and she patted my arm..
It made me feel bad for all the parents I've cursed out in front of their kids. Wondering how many of them were too scared of going to jail for punching a minor, when I thought they were too scared of me.
The police never did show up, I figure those boys were just as timid about explaining their action to the police or their parents. I gave my name and number to the guy at the counter to give to the police if they showed up later. He asked why, and I told him "It's a small town, I don't want people pointing at me saying that guy beats up kids. If they want me I'm more than willing to give my side of the story." I'm pretty sure the judge would side with me anyway. I would hope so anyway.