The Fight Card

A flashback, I had last night, around suppertime.

It's back

Replaying

Over and over

In my mind

Again.

Like a bad

"B" grade movie

From the 1950s

Or the 1960s.

Can feel and see

The other kids

Surrounding us

In forming

A rough fighting circle.

Yelling out

Their thirst for blood

To be spilt.

Most preferably

Mine.

As the prelims

Get underway

With my winter jacket

Being smeared

In canned apple sauce.

Much

To the delight

Of those

Gathered around.

The middle cards

Sees me

Being used

As a punching bag

By him.

Blinded by

My tears of shame

And pain

I staggered around.

Trying to breathe

Through my bloody nose

With red mucus flowing

From my nostrils.

Until the final round

Of the heavy weight championship

Like a circling shark

Who's sensing blood

He moves in

For the kill.

Placing my head

In a vice-like headlock

Pounding my head

He plays

To the crowd

Stroking his ego

With each new punch.

Before

There was

A "Miracle on Ice"

There was this.

My reversing

His headlock

Into a "Liverpool kiss".

Shattering

His two upper incisors

At the gum line

Giving him

A "hockey smile".

Blurred images

Of me

Gathering my self

And fleeing home.

Anxiety gripped

My soul

As the days

Turned into weeks.

Waiting

For the knock

On the front door

From the police

That never occurred.

Author's Note

This Spring will mark, the 37th anniversary, of this flashback occurring. It has been a few years, since the last time, I have experienced, this particular flashback, when I lived, in a rural Ontario village.

Reviews

[Lyn Anderson]

Sometimes we have to fight back. It is the sign of a person with conscience to feel guilt even if the person deserved it.

[therisa]

KL, I had no choice, either that or be beaten, into a very fine pulp, by this barbarian. Thing is, before he started targeting me, I never knew, he existed. I rather do everything to avoid this type of situation, than engage in it.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

good for you messing up his teeth---damn bullies...once we really smack them in the face, they cower.

but before that they can make us feel like nothing---and that is the pity of it.

[therisa]

But Jacob, I feel so guilty, have done this, to this bully's mouth. Why do I feel guilty and he doesn't? And yeah, he never bother me, again. The following school year, he and his family moved to Calgary, Ab.