Jocks
At first, there is a bud. Then slowly develops a flower displaying its stunning colors and sweet fragrance. So too were David’s teen years starting out just as a bud waiting to bloom. Like lightening this one bud did pop out.
With an all new students in eighth grade, David started to see his school life without bullies. Under the leadership of a gregarious student, David Gimpel, his classmates were enlightened to a mature understanding of respect and consideration to all classmates. Even the bully Danae Tinch, from David’s many previous school years, changed. She transformed from a cruel, punching bully to a kindhearted and agreeable woman. Even her face changed to a beauty where her smile made her face glow. An aura of softness surrounded her. Her callous voice change to having a soft melodic tone, as well as her singing voice, where she started to sing in school programs. Her guardian angel within her sang a sweet pure sound that made the student’s eyes tear in awe. God shine brightly in Danae.
David’s past was filled with many bullies in all sizes, shapes, and ages. Bullies even came in the form of adults. Shockingly, few of those bullies were teachers. Bullies not only called David names or threaten to beat him, they also pushed him to the floor or against a wall, they stole or force over his lunch money, spat in his face, forced him off the playground, had his face held in the dirt until he ate it, punched him causing bruising, and once even tied him up and pulled his pants down exposing his underwear and making jokes that he liked to “get it up the butt.” During David’s second to sixth grade years, these forms of terror occur once a week if not daily. Bullying did amplify David’s already low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and isolation** **click here to see Endnote for Jock**. .
Richard, David’s younger brother, played the protective brother role for David. Six years separated David and his older brother, Terry, and with that difference in age their lives were worlds apart. Richard was two years younger than David. Being closer in age, their preteen lives were much more in sync with their daily routines, but their characteristics were opposites like summer and winter. Richard was more muscular and huskier to David’s wiry thin body. Richard was well liked and easy going while David was shy and avoided people. Richard saw life full of new adventures to David’s isolation.
The grades before David’s sixth year of school, both of them walked together to their same school. With this walk, David’s bullies had to deal with Richard. He stopped many of David’s brawls just with his presences. Inside the school, David had to deal with the bullies himself. With Richard’s escort, it did stop the bullies to declare, “Just wait until after school.” And those bullies who did not know about David’s escort, Richard was there to stop them, even if he had to punch the bullies to the ground. Bullies come in all ages, older ages, and some of these bullies fell harder than others by Richard’s fists. Richard had more cuts, scrapes, and black eyes from protecting David than from fighting his own bullies.
Grammar school involved games like Dodge Ball and Red Rover. Both games had two teams opposite far side of the court. For Dodge Ball, the object was to throw a ball at the other team’s player. If the ball hit a player, they would be out of the game. If the ball is caught by the other team, then the thrower of the ball is out. The school jocks were known to whip the ball at the awkward kids making the ball sting and sometime brought tears. There would be times this game got brutal. It was easier for the awkward kids to get picked off first. Those that lasted well into the game were used by their own team members as human shields.
With Red Rover, a smaller children’s game than Dodge Ball, the teams would form a line by join hands with their team members. The A team leader would call out a B team member by name, “Red Rover. Red Rover. Let ‘so and so’ come on over.” The called B team member would run into A team’s line trying to break the link of hands clasp together. If the link is broken, the named B team member picks someone from the A team and both go back to the B team’s line. If the named B team member does not success breaking the link of hands, the named B team member becomes part of his A team’s link of hands. Thus, making the line longer. The jocks did break the link of hands by either intimidation, where the weak link of hands unclasps before the jock tries to break through, or by brawny force. At times with such a force that it caused sprain or broken wrist or fingers.
The games changed as the school years went by. Red Rover changed to kickball. Dodge Ball changed to tag or flag football. Needless to say, sports were not David’s forte. By orders of his parents, Richard had to allow David to play baseball with his friends. It was known by having David on your team would be a disadvantage. To keep peace with his friends, Richard, always the team captain, would pick David onto his team. Richard saw potential within everyone including his brother. He would cheer on his brother that he could reach beyond what the world only thought he was capable of doing. With baseball, David was an easy out by always striking out. David’s younger brother took the time to teach David how to hold and swing a bat.
Somehow through it all, out of frustration and compassion, Richard contemplated that David might be better as a left handed-batter. What was there to lose? Another strike out?
With an all new students in eighth grade, David started to see his school life without bullies. Under the leadership of a gregarious student, David Gimpel, his classmates were enlightened to a mature understanding of respect and consideration to all classmates. Even the bully Danae Tinch, from David’s many previous school years, changed. She transformed from a cruel, punching bully to a kindhearted and agreeable woman. Even her face changed to a beauty where her smile made her face glow. An aura of softness surrounded her. Her callous voice change to having a soft melodic tone, as well as her singing voice, where she started to sing in school programs. Her guardian angel within her sang a sweet pure sound that made the student’s eyes tear in awe. God shine brightly in Danae.
David’s past was filled with many bullies in all sizes, shapes, and ages. Bullies even came in the form of adults. Shockingly, few of those bullies were teachers. Bullies not only called David names or threaten to beat him, they also pushed him to the floor or against a wall, they stole or force over his lunch money, spat in his face, forced him off the playground, had his face held in the dirt until he ate it, punched him causing bruising, and once even tied him up and pulled his pants down exposing his underwear and making jokes that he liked to “get it up the butt.” During David’s second to sixth grade years, these forms of terror occur once a week if not daily. Bullying did amplify David’s already low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and isolation** **click here to see Endnote for Jock**. .
Richard, David’s younger brother, played the protective brother role for David. Six years separated David and his older brother, Terry, and with that difference in age their lives were worlds apart. Richard was two years younger than David. Being closer in age, their preteen lives were much more in sync with their daily routines, but their characteristics were opposites like summer and winter. Richard was more muscular and huskier to David’s wiry thin body. Richard was well liked and easy going while David was shy and avoided people. Richard saw life full of new adventures to David’s isolation.
The grades before David’s sixth year of school, both of them walked together to their same school. With this walk, David’s bullies had to deal with Richard. He stopped many of David’s brawls just with his presences. Inside the school, David had to deal with the bullies himself. With Richard’s escort, it did stop the bullies to declare, “Just wait until after school.” And those bullies who did not know about David’s escort, Richard was there to stop them, even if he had to punch the bullies to the ground. Bullies come in all ages, older ages, and some of these bullies fell harder than others by Richard’s fists. Richard had more cuts, scrapes, and black eyes from protecting David than from fighting his own bullies.
Grammar school involved games like Dodge Ball and Red Rover. Both games had two teams opposite far side of the court. For Dodge Ball, the object was to throw a ball at the other team’s player. If the ball hit a player, they would be out of the game. If the ball is caught by the other team, then the thrower of the ball is out. The school jocks were known to whip the ball at the awkward kids making the ball sting and sometime brought tears. There would be times this game got brutal. It was easier for the awkward kids to get picked off first. Those that lasted well into the game were used by their own team members as human shields.
With Red Rover, a smaller children’s game than Dodge Ball, the teams would form a line by join hands with their team members. The A team leader would call out a B team member by name, “Red Rover. Red Rover. Let ‘so and so’ come on over.” The called B team member would run into A team’s line trying to break the link of hands clasp together. If the link is broken, the named B team member picks someone from the A team and both go back to the B team’s line. If the named B team member does not success breaking the link of hands, the named B team member becomes part of his A team’s link of hands. Thus, making the line longer. The jocks did break the link of hands by either intimidation, where the weak link of hands unclasps before the jock tries to break through, or by brawny force. At times with such a force that it caused sprain or broken wrist or fingers.
The games changed as the school years went by. Red Rover changed to kickball. Dodge Ball changed to tag or flag football. Needless to say, sports were not David’s forte. By orders of his parents, Richard had to allow David to play baseball with his friends. It was known by having David on your team would be a disadvantage. To keep peace with his friends, Richard, always the team captain, would pick David onto his team. Richard saw potential within everyone including his brother. He would cheer on his brother that he could reach beyond what the world only thought he was capable of doing. With baseball, David was an easy out by always striking out. David’s younger brother took the time to teach David how to hold and swing a bat.
Somehow through it all, out of frustration and compassion, Richard contemplated that David might be better as a left handed-batter. What was there to lose? Another strike out?
Richard hit the right note. As the baseball flew towards David, he swung the bat in his arms. The bat made a crack sound when the ball touched it. Everyone in silence watched as the baseball hurried into the air going to the left field. It was as if they were watching an UFO in the sky. Both teams let out a soft, “Wow.”
David was wowed himself. He stood there frozen by the home plate watching the baseball in the air. He noticed the view of the ball from his perspective was much different from standing on the sidelines as a spectator. He saw how as the ball took off it got smaller and smaller. How the white ball was a darker white than the white clouds against the brilliant blue sky.
Richard broke the silence and yelled, “Run, David! Run!”
David stood there like a sculpture.
Richard ran towards David and again yelled, “Run!”
It was as if in slow motion, David’s eyes still on the ball in the air, he took a step away from the home plate. And another step, and another.
Richard grabbed the bat from David. He again shouted, “Run!”
Another step, and another, until David was fast and furious towards first base. His foot touched the first plate as he flew over it.
“Go to second base,” yelled Richard from behind David. “Run!”
David’s eyes turned away from the baseball that was now heading down towards the left field’s ground. He legs obeyed Richard’s command and twisted towards second base. Again, David’s foot slams on the plate. From David’s back he heard his brother’s voice yelling, “Go to third base! Run to third!”
David turned to the third base, and a strange thought crossed his mind: He had no idea where the ball was, but that it did not matter. He was running in a baseball game heading to third base, and more important, he was not running away from a bully. But his legs ran even as fast. What a different feeling to run for a game instead of running from fear.
David warped by third base where he heard the thrill in his brother’s voice, “Run to home! Go, David! Go!”
Without dropping speed, David headed towards the home plate. He saw his brother standing near the home plate; Home plate where it all began. Richard’s face of elation turns to a stern command appearance. His hands moved to the universal motion to stop.
“Go back,” he roar at David, “Go back to third!”
“Why?” thought David. “I’m going to make my first home run. Why stop me?” The reason fell in front of David. The ball bounced as it hit the earth in front of him.
It was from all of his past swift get-aways from bullies; Quick as a flash, never dropping out of his warp speed, David turned, and dashed to third base where the third base player had his arms reaching out as to grab something in the air. From his back he heard Richard yell, “Turn back to home!” The baseball crash landed into the player’s mitt. David stopped and turn without skidding. Again, a talent he learned by keeping his distance and fooling bullies.
David ran towards home base seeing the other team’s catcher looking pass David, and his brother’s delighted face.
“You can do it,” he cheered David. “Run!”
Once again, Richard’s face turned stern and yelled, “Go back to third!” The catcher looking up while moving towards David, Richard kept yelling, “Go back to third!”
The catcher missed the ball, and again it bounced as it hit the ground in front of David. As before, David turned on a dime, sprinted to third base, and landed on third with both feet.
From home plate, Richard screamed, “Safe!” He ran to David yelling, “Stay there, David!”
And there was a roar of cheers. David’s first hit was a triple play.
And Richard saw that it was good.
David was wowed himself. He stood there frozen by the home plate watching the baseball in the air. He noticed the view of the ball from his perspective was much different from standing on the sidelines as a spectator. He saw how as the ball took off it got smaller and smaller. How the white ball was a darker white than the white clouds against the brilliant blue sky.
Richard broke the silence and yelled, “Run, David! Run!”
David stood there like a sculpture.
Richard ran towards David and again yelled, “Run!”
It was as if in slow motion, David’s eyes still on the ball in the air, he took a step away from the home plate. And another step, and another.
Richard grabbed the bat from David. He again shouted, “Run!”
Another step, and another, until David was fast and furious towards first base. His foot touched the first plate as he flew over it.
“Go to second base,” yelled Richard from behind David. “Run!”
David’s eyes turned away from the baseball that was now heading down towards the left field’s ground. He legs obeyed Richard’s command and twisted towards second base. Again, David’s foot slams on the plate. From David’s back he heard his brother’s voice yelling, “Go to third base! Run to third!”
David turned to the third base, and a strange thought crossed his mind: He had no idea where the ball was, but that it did not matter. He was running in a baseball game heading to third base, and more important, he was not running away from a bully. But his legs ran even as fast. What a different feeling to run for a game instead of running from fear.
David warped by third base where he heard the thrill in his brother’s voice, “Run to home! Go, David! Go!”
Without dropping speed, David headed towards the home plate. He saw his brother standing near the home plate; Home plate where it all began. Richard’s face of elation turns to a stern command appearance. His hands moved to the universal motion to stop.
“Go back,” he roar at David, “Go back to third!”
“Why?” thought David. “I’m going to make my first home run. Why stop me?” The reason fell in front of David. The ball bounced as it hit the earth in front of him.
It was from all of his past swift get-aways from bullies; Quick as a flash, never dropping out of his warp speed, David turned, and dashed to third base where the third base player had his arms reaching out as to grab something in the air. From his back he heard Richard yell, “Turn back to home!” The baseball crash landed into the player’s mitt. David stopped and turn without skidding. Again, a talent he learned by keeping his distance and fooling bullies.
David ran towards home base seeing the other team’s catcher looking pass David, and his brother’s delighted face.
“You can do it,” he cheered David. “Run!”
Once again, Richard’s face turned stern and yelled, “Go back to third!” The catcher looking up while moving towards David, Richard kept yelling, “Go back to third!”
The catcher missed the ball, and again it bounced as it hit the ground in front of David. As before, David turned on a dime, sprinted to third base, and landed on third with both feet.
From home plate, Richard screamed, “Safe!” He ran to David yelling, “Stay there, David!”
And there was a roar of cheers. David’s first hit was a triple play.
And Richard saw that it was good.
In Physical Education class in school, David used this new found knowledge of batting left-handed. On that day in his Physical Education baseball game: There were two outs when it was David’s turn to bat. The bases were loaded. Gary Blau, the other team’s captain and pitcher, call out to his team players, “Gunnell’s up to bat. An easy out. Move in.” And his team moved to the infield.
Gary Blau was the top school jock, the all-star player. He played in every sport as the school’s quarterback of the football team, forward position for floor hockey, and the team captain of the school’s track team.
Gary pitched the ball, and David’s bat hit the ball and made it fly to the outfield; An outfield that had no players since they were all inside the baseball diamond. An infuriate Gary threw his mitt down on the pitcher’s mount. David made his first home run. With his run and the three on the bases, he scored an easy four runs from his hit.
And again, Richard saw that it was good.
During Richard’s fifth grade year, he had become friends with a fellow classmate named Joel Blau. They both had a passion for sports and war movies. He even spent sleep-overs at Joel’s home. During Richard and his new friend Joel’s sixth grade year, both of them and their older brothers attend the same school. Gary Plow’s younger brother was a good friend with David’s younger brother. This was something that Gary and David only talked about once. How would it look to the student body that the popular jock and the retard-kid had something in common? These are two circles that are not allowed the blend.
Just one step less from the bully group are the sports minded jocks. This jock group would laugh at David or anyone’s awkwardness in Physical Education class. David was easy prey to be picked on by the jocks since he was a skinny cumbersome boy with big feet. Chute Junior High School’s gym uniforms were in the school’s colors: green shorts and a white tee-shirt with green letters spelling Chute’s Eagles. Add it all together: long, skinny, and in green shorts; David got taunted with the name Grasshopper, long before the movie Karate Kid.
Jump ahead to David’s eighth grade, a time for the flower bud to open.
After World War II, the economy changed significantly from physical labor, such as farming and factory, to professional and office labor. President Eisenhower was concern about the physical fitness of draftees during World War II and the Korean War. On 16 July, 1956, he established the President’s Council on Youth Fitness. This program did not get off the ground until President Kennedy took the reign of the program. The National Advertising Council was created to publicize this fitness message. The same National Advertising Council that brought Smokey Bear for forest fire protection, and “This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs” television ads. The National Adverting Council first act was broadcasting on radio and television promoting the fitness program with a song titled “Chicken Fat Song” written by creator of The Music Man, Meredith Willson, and sung by The Music Man’s gay star, Robert Preston.
Gary pitched the ball, and David’s bat hit the ball and made it fly to the outfield; An outfield that had no players since they were all inside the baseball diamond. An infuriate Gary threw his mitt down on the pitcher’s mount. David made his first home run. With his run and the three on the bases, he scored an easy four runs from his hit.
And again, Richard saw that it was good.
During Richard’s fifth grade year, he had become friends with a fellow classmate named Joel Blau. They both had a passion for sports and war movies. He even spent sleep-overs at Joel’s home. During Richard and his new friend Joel’s sixth grade year, both of them and their older brothers attend the same school. Gary Plow’s younger brother was a good friend with David’s younger brother. This was something that Gary and David only talked about once. How would it look to the student body that the popular jock and the retard-kid had something in common? These are two circles that are not allowed the blend.
Just one step less from the bully group are the sports minded jocks. This jock group would laugh at David or anyone’s awkwardness in Physical Education class. David was easy prey to be picked on by the jocks since he was a skinny cumbersome boy with big feet. Chute Junior High School’s gym uniforms were in the school’s colors: green shorts and a white tee-shirt with green letters spelling Chute’s Eagles. Add it all together: long, skinny, and in green shorts; David got taunted with the name Grasshopper, long before the movie Karate Kid.
Jump ahead to David’s eighth grade, a time for the flower bud to open.
After World War II, the economy changed significantly from physical labor, such as farming and factory, to professional and office labor. President Eisenhower was concern about the physical fitness of draftees during World War II and the Korean War. On 16 July, 1956, he established the President’s Council on Youth Fitness. This program did not get off the ground until President Kennedy took the reign of the program. The National Advertising Council was created to publicize this fitness message. The same National Advertising Council that brought Smokey Bear for forest fire protection, and “This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs” television ads. The National Adverting Council first act was broadcasting on radio and television promoting the fitness program with a song titled “Chicken Fat Song” written by creator of The Music Man, Meredith Willson, and sung by The Music Man’s gay star, Robert Preston.
In 1962, President John Kennedy changed the President’s Council on Youth Fitness to Council on Physical Fitness. This was President Kennedy’s “New Frontier” into school’s physical education classes and recess time. Schools throughout the United States participate in this presidential fitness program.
All of David’s schools were involved in this fitness program where during gym classes the students were tested in push-ups, sit-ups, climbing rope, chin-ups, 1500 yard run, and shuttle run*** ***click here to see endnotesl***. For the chin-up test, one hangs by their hands on a bar that is usually higher than the person’s height, so their feet are unable to touch the ground. Using one’s arms, the person pulls oneself up until their chin is above the bar. David completed 12 of these chin-ups. This was not only the most chin-ups for his school’s entire eighth grade gym class, but David did the highest number of chin-ups of all the city of Evanston’s eighth grade classes. That meant he outperform Gary Bleu’s 11 chin-ups, and all the other jocks at his school. It must have been from all those years of David climbing trees.
This test was not as notable with all of David’s classmates. The students rotated chin-ups, sit-up, and pull-ups. There was no announcement. David saw Mr. Risch, his gym teacher, eyes widen when he dropped to the floor after doing the chin-up test. “Twelve, Gunnell?” he said out loud, “Not bad. The most chin-ups done so far.” He seemed rather surprised by David’s accomplishment. Nevertheless, Gary did know that David beat him, for he overheard Mr. Risch telling him so.
Sometime later during the school year, when the physical education class was doing the gymnastic section, Mr. Risch told David that he should try the rings. “You can do more with your strong arms,” Mr. Risch told David.
What strong arms?
All of David’s schools were involved in this fitness program where during gym classes the students were tested in push-ups, sit-ups, climbing rope, chin-ups, 1500 yard run, and shuttle run*** ***click here to see endnotesl***. For the chin-up test, one hangs by their hands on a bar that is usually higher than the person’s height, so their feet are unable to touch the ground. Using one’s arms, the person pulls oneself up until their chin is above the bar. David completed 12 of these chin-ups. This was not only the most chin-ups for his school’s entire eighth grade gym class, but David did the highest number of chin-ups of all the city of Evanston’s eighth grade classes. That meant he outperform Gary Bleu’s 11 chin-ups, and all the other jocks at his school. It must have been from all those years of David climbing trees.
This test was not as notable with all of David’s classmates. The students rotated chin-ups, sit-up, and pull-ups. There was no announcement. David saw Mr. Risch, his gym teacher, eyes widen when he dropped to the floor after doing the chin-up test. “Twelve, Gunnell?” he said out loud, “Not bad. The most chin-ups done so far.” He seemed rather surprised by David’s accomplishment. Nevertheless, Gary did know that David beat him, for he overheard Mr. Risch telling him so.
Sometime later during the school year, when the physical education class was doing the gymnastic section, Mr. Risch told David that he should try the rings. “You can do more with your strong arms,” Mr. Risch told David.
What strong arms?
Two rings hung from the gym’s ceiling suspend about seven feet from the ground. And Mr. Risch was correct. David did the handstand where his arms were locked by his side holding himself up on the rings. He did a swinging handstand to hanging upside down, and the Bird’s Nest, which his front side of his body facing down to the floor with one hand and one foot together in each of the rings, arching his back. All of these actions must be held motionless for two seconds. The rings as must be still as possible.
For extra points and with Mr. Risch’s coercing, David did a dismount from the rings that no one else tried. This dismount was swinging up into a summer saw, but instead of his hands on the rings outside his body, his right hand went in-between his legs. This requires learning the right timing for his right hand to let loose of the ring, or else David would be hanging upside down with his right arm in his crotch.
After David showed the gym class this move, Gary tried the same dismount.
After David showed the gym class this move, Gary tried the same dismount.
Where David really made the spot light was during the 600 yard run – that is little more than 1/3 of a mile. Also part of the President’s on Council Physical Fitness program, this race went around the outside school’s two football fields twice, pass the school building, and back to the starting line. Many gym classes started out by running just the two football fields before the class’ schedule physical activate. David usually ran with both the slow kids in school and the slow kids on the track. He wasn’t dead last, but certainly near it. This was his practice since he started at Chute Junior High School in sixth grade. David knew he was the fastest of the both categories of the slow classes.
It was a bright cool sunny day for the President’s Council on Physical Fitness program test of the 600 yard run. The class knew this was different from pass runs around the fields. One, it was twice around the school’s two football fields plus double the length of the school building. And two, instead of just going out and start your run whenever you got onto the field, everyone had to line up and start together when Mr. Risch yell, “Ready? Set. Go!” And off when all the eighth grade boys on the 600 yard run.
David stayed in his usual position during the run, until something struck within him; an energy that pulse down his arms and legs. It was an anxiety type of feeling; one like he would get when a bully was chasing after him. Maybe it was bottled up energy? Maybe it was the vibes in the race from his teachers and runners? Maybe he was just bored of the same run in the same position with the same people? Or maybe it was the flower breaking the bud that shelters it?
David stayed in his usual position during the run, until something struck within him; an energy that pulse down his arms and legs. It was an anxiety type of feeling; one like he would get when a bully was chasing after him. Maybe it was bottled up energy? Maybe it was the vibes in the race from his teachers and runners? Maybe he was just bored of the same run in the same position with the same people? Or maybe it was the flower breaking the bud that shelters it?
David turns his head to the runners near him and said, “I’ll see you later,” and off he went. His leg stretch out in front of him, then fell down by its own weight with the help of gravity making his foot strike onto the dirt below him, and his leg lifted up behind him by inertia as his body flew ahead, and with that his leg then snapped to the front of him repeating the stretch out in front of his body, and so on, and so on. It started as a beat. His legs kept the rhythm while his heart beat double time. A song is formed. As he exhale through his mouth, each of the hissing sounds were different musical notes. His body played its melody faster and faster.
This beast called “Race” has a body of it own. It is built much like a triangle. The wide base has the most runners – the slower runner. The middle of this beast’s body is thinner with its moderate runner. Closer and closer to the top of the triangle, the runners become sparser and sparser till there is only one at the tip - the lead runner.
Immediate and incensed, David intrudes the moderate body of the beast. It seems that no one noticed. Expeditious and enraged, David elapse the moderate body of the beast. David flew by the assistant gym instructor, Mr. Wise. He stared dumbfounded at the anomalous David speeding in the run.
Abrupt and angered, David ascends to the tip of the beast.
Here are the fast runners; all who are on Chute Junior High School’s Track Team. Their heads are down as if watching their feet kick out in front of them. As David passes them one by one, they look up to see if it is one of their track team members, but their face alters to an air of alarm seeing David accelerating pass them.
Immediate and incensed, David intrudes the moderate body of the beast. It seems that no one noticed. Expeditious and enraged, David elapse the moderate body of the beast. David flew by the assistant gym instructor, Mr. Wise. He stared dumbfounded at the anomalous David speeding in the run.
Abrupt and angered, David ascends to the tip of the beast.
Here are the fast runners; all who are on Chute Junior High School’s Track Team. Their heads are down as if watching their feet kick out in front of them. As David passes them one by one, they look up to see if it is one of their track team members, but their face alters to an air of alarm seeing David accelerating pass them.
Fast and furious, David flew by the track team and heads for the tip of the beast. At the tip are Gary and Brad Weiner running neck to neck. Brad, another school jock, is second to Gary’s all star position.
David comes along side the two stars of the school’s track team. They are surprise that it is not a track team member, but it is David Gunnell, the slow kid, the retard kid, the kid that both had made fun of many times.
David comes along side the two stars of the school’s track team. They are surprise that it is not a track team member, but it is David Gunnell, the slow kid, the retard kid, the kid that both had made fun of many times.
The threesome flew together.
Gary and Brad quicken their sprint. Gary is faster and has gain an ample lead in front of Brad. David’s pace never altered. His stride is bigger than the smaller Brad. David slowly passes Brad as he struggles to go faster.
Now, ahead of David is Gary. David slowly gains on him. While Gary is an inch shorter than David, his legs are just as long; maybe longer. David knows that they are certainly hairy than his own. Yet, Gary is able to keep his lead by six to ten feet from David.
Gary and Brad quicken their sprint. Gary is faster and has gain an ample lead in front of Brad. David’s pace never altered. His stride is bigger than the smaller Brad. David slowly passes Brad as he struggles to go faster.
Now, ahead of David is Gary. David slowly gains on him. While Gary is an inch shorter than David, his legs are just as long; maybe longer. David knows that they are certainly hairy than his own. Yet, Gary is able to keep his lead by six to ten feet from David.
Gary is the tip of the beast with David right behind, and Brad trailing about 6 feet behind David.
The beast’s tip passes the finish line where Mr. Risch is calling out the runner’s time. David comes in right behind Gary. “7 minutes and 57 seconds,” Mr. Risch calls out to David. David follows Gary’s pace as he slows down after the finish line. Gary turns and see that David has also completed the run, and Brad just crossing the finish line. Mr. Risch cries out Brad’s time, “Eight minutes and twenty-four seconds.” Brad passes by David as he slows his run heading towards Gary. They both talk together shaking their heads and looking at David.
The area pass the finish line gradually got more numerous as each of the runners completed their race. The only sound was the heavy breathing of the runners and Mr. Risch still calling out each runner’s time. Brad walks by David and said, “You cheated, Gunnell. That’s the only way you could have beat me.” David just shook his head.
At the conclusion of the 600 yard run, Mr. Risch approached David and asked, “Hey, Gunnell. Did you run the full course?” Standing next to Mr. Risch was Brad with a “Ha-Ha-Got-you” smile. David stood there dumbfounded. He shook his head and weakly answered, “Yes.”
In perfect timing, following the final runner, Mr. Wise had emerged and heard Mr. Risch’s question. Before David could say anything more, Mr. Wise said, “I would think so too, if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. Gunnell passed me at the mid-point of the race and I found it odd. But I kept my eye on him and he ran the full course. He didn’t cheat.”
“Good job, Gunnell,” said Mr. Risch with the look on his face changing from referee to disbelief.
Brad face turned red and said, “Guess you’ll want him to join the track team?”
Mr. Risch smiled, and replied without looking at Brad, “That’s not a bad idea.”
In the locker room, everyone of the slow runner cheered David for beating the jocks. Even some of the moderate runners gave their congratulations. Gary approached David and said, “Where did you learn to run like that?”
“I don’t know,” answer David; which was a lie. He knew it was from using his legs to shimmy up trees, as well as running away from the many bullies in his life.
“You did good out there, Gunnell,” Gary said to David.
As the days pass, something had changed. The jocks didn’t know how to react to David. Here was a retard kid that beat them at their own game. As a group, the jocks would stumble trying to talk to David. Now, tripping over their words when talking to David might be cause by one of two reasons: One, they found themselves tongue-tied trying to talk to David because he was a jock like them; or two, they always talked like that.
About two weeks after the 600 yard run, Gary approached David without his jock cohorts. This was their one exchange about how their two circles are not allowed to blend. Nonetheless, these two circles indeed have mix into something. “My little brother and your brothers are friends,” said Gary.
The beast’s tip passes the finish line where Mr. Risch is calling out the runner’s time. David comes in right behind Gary. “7 minutes and 57 seconds,” Mr. Risch calls out to David. David follows Gary’s pace as he slows down after the finish line. Gary turns and see that David has also completed the run, and Brad just crossing the finish line. Mr. Risch cries out Brad’s time, “Eight minutes and twenty-four seconds.” Brad passes by David as he slows his run heading towards Gary. They both talk together shaking their heads and looking at David.
The area pass the finish line gradually got more numerous as each of the runners completed their race. The only sound was the heavy breathing of the runners and Mr. Risch still calling out each runner’s time. Brad walks by David and said, “You cheated, Gunnell. That’s the only way you could have beat me.” David just shook his head.
At the conclusion of the 600 yard run, Mr. Risch approached David and asked, “Hey, Gunnell. Did you run the full course?” Standing next to Mr. Risch was Brad with a “Ha-Ha-Got-you” smile. David stood there dumbfounded. He shook his head and weakly answered, “Yes.”
In perfect timing, following the final runner, Mr. Wise had emerged and heard Mr. Risch’s question. Before David could say anything more, Mr. Wise said, “I would think so too, if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. Gunnell passed me at the mid-point of the race and I found it odd. But I kept my eye on him and he ran the full course. He didn’t cheat.”
“Good job, Gunnell,” said Mr. Risch with the look on his face changing from referee to disbelief.
Brad face turned red and said, “Guess you’ll want him to join the track team?”
Mr. Risch smiled, and replied without looking at Brad, “That’s not a bad idea.”
In the locker room, everyone of the slow runner cheered David for beating the jocks. Even some of the moderate runners gave their congratulations. Gary approached David and said, “Where did you learn to run like that?”
“I don’t know,” answer David; which was a lie. He knew it was from using his legs to shimmy up trees, as well as running away from the many bullies in his life.
“You did good out there, Gunnell,” Gary said to David.
As the days pass, something had changed. The jocks didn’t know how to react to David. Here was a retard kid that beat them at their own game. As a group, the jocks would stumble trying to talk to David. Now, tripping over their words when talking to David might be cause by one of two reasons: One, they found themselves tongue-tied trying to talk to David because he was a jock like them; or two, they always talked like that.
About two weeks after the 600 yard run, Gary approached David without his jock cohorts. This was their one exchange about how their two circles are not allowed to blend. Nonetheless, these two circles indeed have mix into something. “My little brother and your brothers are friends,” said Gary.
“Yea, they are,” replied David not really knowing what to say.
“They like their sports.”
“Yep, they do.”
“It’s good that they’re friends.”
“That’s Richard. He’s very friendly.”
“I guess we’re friend in a sort of way.”
“Yea.”
“You did good on the 600 yard run. You should think about joining the track team.”
“I’ll think about it.”
And David did think about it as Gary turned and walked away slowly as his wild thick hair bounced by the spring in his step.What an odd conversation. Gary, as well as all the jocks, knew zilch about David. What his favor color was? Or his older brother’s name? Nothing had really changed in David. He was the same person at the start of the school year. His favorite color was the same as before, and his older brother’s name was still the same name. The only things that seem to be different were his recent physical triumphs, but he was still the same person inside. If you did not like David before, why like him now? Just because he has become athletic? How superficial is that?
“No thank you” David deliberated with himself, “If that is what it takes to be part of the jock’s circle, or even part of the popular circle, I’ll still continue to stand outside their circles.”
With his verdict, David took a step being comfortable with himself, and a little more confident; For the flower popped out of the bud.
***************************
** Williams, K.D., Forgás, J.P., Von Hippel, W. (Eds.) (2005). The Social Outcast: Ostracism, Social Exclusion, Rejection, and Bullying Psychology Press: New York, NY.
***To test in the shuttle run, mark two parallel lines 30 feet apart and place two blocks of wood or similar object behind one of the lines. Students start behind opposite line. On the signal, "Ready? Go!" the student runs to the blocks, picks one up, turns back to the starting line, places the block behind the line, runs back and picks up the second block and runs back across the starting line.
“They like their sports.”
“Yep, they do.”
“It’s good that they’re friends.”
“That’s Richard. He’s very friendly.”
“I guess we’re friend in a sort of way.”
“Yea.”
“You did good on the 600 yard run. You should think about joining the track team.”
“I’ll think about it.”
And David did think about it as Gary turned and walked away slowly as his wild thick hair bounced by the spring in his step.What an odd conversation. Gary, as well as all the jocks, knew zilch about David. What his favor color was? Or his older brother’s name? Nothing had really changed in David. He was the same person at the start of the school year. His favorite color was the same as before, and his older brother’s name was still the same name. The only things that seem to be different were his recent physical triumphs, but he was still the same person inside. If you did not like David before, why like him now? Just because he has become athletic? How superficial is that?
“No thank you” David deliberated with himself, “If that is what it takes to be part of the jock’s circle, or even part of the popular circle, I’ll still continue to stand outside their circles.”
With his verdict, David took a step being comfortable with himself, and a little more confident; For the flower popped out of the bud.
***************************
** Williams, K.D., Forgás, J.P., Von Hippel, W. (Eds.) (2005). The Social Outcast: Ostracism, Social Exclusion, Rejection, and Bullying Psychology Press: New York, NY.
***To test in the shuttle run, mark two parallel lines 30 feet apart and place two blocks of wood or similar object behind one of the lines. Students start behind opposite line. On the signal, "Ready? Go!" the student runs to the blocks, picks one up, turns back to the starting line, places the block behind the line, runs back and picks up the second block and runs back across the starting line.