I wanted to write something witty or clever today. I thought about starting a story for you to carry on but I can't seem to settle on a good start. I find that my thoughts are dominated by someone from my past. I can't help but feel I did him wrong. It's probably due to the ABC news show last night "What would you do?" At any rate I feel like I could have done something more...
I remember when Gregory first came to our school. We were in seventh grade and he did not blend in. He wore the same dirty Husky jeans to school every day and the green striped polo was easy to identify as the shirt he wore the day before. He was quiet, most of the time. The times I spoke to him he would go on and on. It seemed like he was letting a weeks worth of pent up commentary gush out all at once. I never did anything mean to him. I never called him names or made fun of him but I never stuck up for him either.
In all the years we went to school together I only saw his anger once. It happened in gym class and when it was unleashed even the p.e. teacher had a hard time getting him under control. It makes me wonder why we didn't have a school shooting. (Greg wasn't the only one to be tormented. Those small town boys can be ruthless!) To be snubbed so much and not to lash out must have taken so much energy. Finally toward the end of our high school years he found someone to hang out with. They were snubbed together. Although by that time no one teased or tormented him anymore he was just sort of ignored.
I saw him at our 10 year reunion. Still as quiet and good natured as before. He was an aspiring pro wrestler. He handed out tickets to his match that night with such enthusiasm. He was really excited about it. I don't know why he bothered, these people didn't care before and they snickered behind his back even now as adults. I'm thankful he didn't see it.
I'm sorry Gregory. I'm sorry I never had the guts to be your friend.
5 comments:
I always find it weird, everybody says they were bullied, but people rarely admit to bullying.
I was a bit like Gregory, the class misfit. I did have a group of friends who I am still in close contact with, but I still got sniggered at and teased. I coped by just getting on with it and dreaming of getting out. I still remember my school days with nothing but contempt. However, it has provided me with a thick skin which I'm more than grateful for and an immunity from caring what people think of me.
I think it is time to try and look him up. I think the Lord is putting a little bug in your head and hopes you will act on it.
Maybe you could find him on classmates.com or see if his parents still live in the same house. Go to Yellowpages.com and see if you can find him there.
It couldn't hurt to give him a call or send him a card. It's a great act of kindness.
I remember,years ago, when my sisters daughter was in elementary school. There was a little boy in Misseys classes that no one talked to. He was totally ignored. One day in class, he just killed over right on his desk. It was a real shock to everyone. My sister, told Missey that she should never ignore kids like that again. She feels that he died of a broken heart. It was so sad. From that point on, Missey talked to everyone in her classes and didn't care what anyone thought. What a hard way to learn a lesson.
I did not know Adam Kle..err Gregory, but even I was kind of sniggering behind his back....
But to your original point, there is a place where people are tortured everyday, relentlessly. And that is the schools systems in America. But I think sometimes the teasing can lead to positives for the teasee. It may make them independently strong and successful because the can handle rejection and harsh circumstances. It may not be right, it just is.
sometimes those people are hard to be friends with, because they're so weird. I knew a couple of them and they were just awkward around everyone, so it wasn't any fun talking to them or 'trying' to be their friends. It was easier to ignore them. I blame their parents, as, isn't that something parents should teach their kids? How to contribute positively to society?
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