The girl up the street, TWO GRADES LOWER than me, threatened to beat me up twice a year. I guess she needed to establish something. She never had to exert even the small amount of effort it would take to ball a fist, because I’d ran away. After a few years, needing to inflict some kind of damage, she give an oral wind up. Her sound was reminiscent of the spittoon era. She retaining the bubble gum and projected brightly colored spit on my bare feet.
Kids and their parents have leaped up a few more steps on the ‘bully’ ladder. Now if someone says they don’t like your ear rings or they won’t be your friend, they are considered bullies and probably should be legislated against.
As my school’s official wimp I say, “THAT’S WRONG! Hey I LEARNED SOMETHING in my wimpy years!” After all art schools can teach a kid how to use tools and how to see. They can’t grow the character inside. A character that scraps and churns within will seep out, slops onto the page and erupts into a message. A coddled kid, whose life comes easy doesn’t have the opportunity to learn stamina, how to long for something more, or how to reflect, reevaluate and improve. Apathy makes a poor mark on the page. nancymauerman.com

Madonna Up A Tree – Framed