Were you a bully?

Couple of years ago, someone from the my former elementary school class organized a 20y anniversary meeting. About half showed up. Nice bunch. They got fat, bald, etc. Me still relatively fit. Beer to 6 beers, got a word after word. And one of the girls (now prominent wife) pointed out that I was a bully victim. Bully victim from a man just down the table.

I was. He was larger, bigger, sitting on my face, spitting in my face, tearing up my homeworks and choking me just for the fun and so (10-14 yo’s). Although he was not the only one. Had another one, which wanted just to tell him new joke everyday I passed the bridge from school to home. He is gym teacher nowadays.

Back to the anniversary meeting. Being passive personality, I said nothing, even if all were staring at me. Then stare went going around the table concentrating on the bully… Comments issue …

“Yep”

"Yep, you were the Bully.

“You were good to me, but you were ass to him!”

“Yep”

“Yep”

“Bully, hmm, yes.”

“Yep, let’s drink to it.”

Bullies comment “Me? NO! Really?”

" Yep, yep, yes, ya, sure, you were mean to him …"

“No Really?”

Bottom point. Bullies just don’t know they are bullies. Or am I mistaken?

Well, he was hardly going to admit it in front of everyone.

I bullied one kid, verbally, when we were between the ages of about 6 and 9. Probably the worst thing I ever did. If I saw him again, I’d apologize and tell him that I’m very ashamed of how I treated him. I would not ask for, nor expect, nor want any sort of forgiveness. I don’t deserve it.

I was bullied myself in high school. I would not forgive them for what they did to me. But I would like for them to apologize. I like to believe that people get better. I really do.