I remember those feelings. Hoping to make it to school intact. “Don’t let the monsters take your colors away”- I might want to borrow that as a quote, with attribution of course, if you’re okay with it. That would be valuable to aspiring artists.
Man, I too was bullied in school. I deeply resonate with this. I was in Special Ed due to a learning disability. Well, long story short, I rode this little yellow school bus that would take me home. I was going down the steps, and these 2 burly bullies beat me up and blocked the door, causing me to miss my bus. Luckily, the Principal, Mr. Romanelli, looked into getting me home. Two secretaries drove me home. This is back in the days when such things weren't frowned upon. Sadly, you wouldn't do that today if you wanted to keep your job due to the times we live in. But I could write a whole book on the concept of Bullying. It is a Substack I was going to do on Education. If and when I have the time, I will. Well written as always, Mr. Walter. You rock,k friend.
I agree Mr. Walter. I think someday I will build my other Substack that I’m also passionate about which was a blog years ago The Young Learner. I didn’t have much success with it but I will try again here. Soon hopefully. Thanks for your fantastic insight. Blessings. :) :)
So I can have another section in the Vault for my school stuff. Really I will have to talk to you more about this. Have to head off to work. But I will reach out if it’s ok. I want to learn more friend. Blessings. :)
Walking home could be horrifying, too. I skipped a grade, so for many years I was smaller than my cohort. Some of the older kids who walked the same way would follow me whispering and hissing, snarling things like, “We don’t like little girls!” But walking had one definite advantage over the bus: I could RUN! When the threats became too frightening, I clutched my books as tightly as I could, as ran as fast as I could with my arms otherwise occupied. Needless to say, by high school, I was a sprinter on the girls’ track team. I never forgot why.
I remember seeing older kids pester kids who were trying to walk home too. Too many adults just disregarded that it happened. It's so frustrating to think about that.
I remember wanting to be invisible. I was painfully shy and interactions with teachers, in front of my peers, was always crippling. The volume of my voice was barely above a whisper and kids would laugh at me. I had a disadvantage early because I was wearing glasses from second grade on. That made me “different”. No kid ever wants to be different. It gives the predators a target. I remember if I shared my fears with my parents they had the well-meaning, old-fashioned platitudes as advice. “Just ignore them” and “Sticks and stones…”. I really didn’t achieve any confidence until I started wearing contacts in high school and became tall. But I think being a lifelong people-pleaser stems from my experiences as a child, and not making waves as an adult I was trying to avoid judgments from the critical ones…..
I had glasses too, I know exactly what you mean. And yes, that completely ineffective "don't bother me with your problems" advice was really frustrating. I just quit wearing my glasses eventually. I'm a people pleaser too. Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I'll have to write more on this!
I hated the school bus too. I went to 13 different schools due to dad's work. At one school the monsters has a particularly nasty trick. The spaces themselves along the length of the bus in aisle seats. Long sewing pins in hand ready to stab into the back of legs and bums. Horrific. Even decades later I have a loathing of a particular type of teen.
I found your post so well-written, and I love the metaphor of the monsters taking one's colors away. I discovered your writing through Alene's post. I am also an artist, and when I grew up in the Bronx, I was bullied. Luckily, I didn't ride a school bus. But I had my share of teeming characters. Thank you for this.
I was mostly ignored when I was a kid. I was painfully shy and kept to myself, which gave me a reputation for being "stuck up." The rowdy kids in the back of the bus didn't bother me, but the bus driver thought it was fun to bait me verbally, and he did.
My son when he was in middle school was picked on and mistreated so he refused to ever ride the bus again. He rode his bike for all of middle school and even carried his science projects on the back of the bike. I did not argue with him as he had made up his mind and i knew that the school and bus drivers were not going tofu the problem. He is now an adult with 2 kids. He has a good job as a nurse anesthetist and has made a good life for himself. He is a very caring and loving father and protective of his kids who are grown. His son is autistic so he will be living with them forever. He does work part time at the restaurant at Innsbruck in Palm Harbor, Fl in the pastry kitchen and he particiopates in the special olympics. His daughter just got her degree from Univ of Central Florida and will be continuing to get her masters in programming for gaming.
I remember those feelings. Hoping to make it to school intact. “Don’t let the monsters take your colors away”- I might want to borrow that as a quote, with attribution of course, if you’re okay with it. That would be valuable to aspiring artists.
Yes, you're always welcome to do that, thank you!
Man, I too was bullied in school. I deeply resonate with this. I was in Special Ed due to a learning disability. Well, long story short, I rode this little yellow school bus that would take me home. I was going down the steps, and these 2 burly bullies beat me up and blocked the door, causing me to miss my bus. Luckily, the Principal, Mr. Romanelli, looked into getting me home. Two secretaries drove me home. This is back in the days when such things weren't frowned upon. Sadly, you wouldn't do that today if you wanted to keep your job due to the times we live in. But I could write a whole book on the concept of Bullying. It is a Substack I was going to do on Education. If and when I have the time, I will. Well written as always, Mr. Walter. You rock,k friend.
You should write those stories. It's important that people know the reality of what other people have to go through!
I agree Mr. Walter. I think someday I will build my other Substack that I’m also passionate about which was a blog years ago The Young Learner. I didn’t have much success with it but I will try again here. Soon hopefully. Thanks for your fantastic insight. Blessings. :) :)
You can create sections in your substack. I do that. I have one for fiction that I don't use enough :)
So I can have another section in the Vault for my school stuff. Really I will have to talk to you more about this. Have to head off to work. But I will reach out if it’s ok. I want to learn more friend. Blessings. :)
Walking home could be horrifying, too. I skipped a grade, so for many years I was smaller than my cohort. Some of the older kids who walked the same way would follow me whispering and hissing, snarling things like, “We don’t like little girls!” But walking had one definite advantage over the bus: I could RUN! When the threats became too frightening, I clutched my books as tightly as I could, as ran as fast as I could with my arms otherwise occupied. Needless to say, by high school, I was a sprinter on the girls’ track team. I never forgot why.
I remember seeing older kids pester kids who were trying to walk home too. Too many adults just disregarded that it happened. It's so frustrating to think about that.
I remember wanting to be invisible. I was painfully shy and interactions with teachers, in front of my peers, was always crippling. The volume of my voice was barely above a whisper and kids would laugh at me. I had a disadvantage early because I was wearing glasses from second grade on. That made me “different”. No kid ever wants to be different. It gives the predators a target. I remember if I shared my fears with my parents they had the well-meaning, old-fashioned platitudes as advice. “Just ignore them” and “Sticks and stones…”. I really didn’t achieve any confidence until I started wearing contacts in high school and became tall. But I think being a lifelong people-pleaser stems from my experiences as a child, and not making waves as an adult I was trying to avoid judgments from the critical ones…..
I had glasses too, I know exactly what you mean. And yes, that completely ineffective "don't bother me with your problems" advice was really frustrating. I just quit wearing my glasses eventually. I'm a people pleaser too. Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I'll have to write more on this!
I hated the school bus too. I went to 13 different schools due to dad's work. At one school the monsters has a particularly nasty trick. The spaces themselves along the length of the bus in aisle seats. Long sewing pins in hand ready to stab into the back of legs and bums. Horrific. Even decades later I have a loathing of a particular type of teen.
I'm sorry to hear that. Such cruelty. The indifference that allows it to continue is awful too.
Hi Walter,
I found your post so well-written, and I love the metaphor of the monsters taking one's colors away. I discovered your writing through Alene's post. I am also an artist, and when I grew up in the Bronx, I was bullied. Luckily, I didn't ride a school bus. But I had my share of teeming characters. Thank you for this.
Thanks for your kind comments Beth! I’m glad to meet you!
Thank you! Nice to meet you too!
I was mostly ignored when I was a kid. I was painfully shy and kept to myself, which gave me a reputation for being "stuck up." The rowdy kids in the back of the bus didn't bother me, but the bus driver thought it was fun to bait me verbally, and he did.
My son when he was in middle school was picked on and mistreated so he refused to ever ride the bus again. He rode his bike for all of middle school and even carried his science projects on the back of the bike. I did not argue with him as he had made up his mind and i knew that the school and bus drivers were not going tofu the problem. He is now an adult with 2 kids. He has a good job as a nurse anesthetist and has made a good life for himself. He is a very caring and loving father and protective of his kids who are grown. His son is autistic so he will be living with them forever. He does work part time at the restaurant at Innsbruck in Palm Harbor, Fl in the pastry kitchen and he particiopates in the special olympics. His daughter just got her degree from Univ of Central Florida and will be continuing to get her masters in programming for gaming.