Theme Week 14 "The Bullying Stopped"

April 26, 1991 has gone down in Kaynor Tech High history. That was the day that the bullying stopped. Playing the memory back in my mind, I could remember the scene as vividly as it was just two seconds ago.

It was 2:45 in the afternoon and the school buses haven't pulled into the parking lot yet. Everyone was either hanging around the tree, by the exit doors, or in the gym playing ball. The girls were double dutching and braiding hair, the geeks were doing homework. The situation was very typical for that Friday afternoon.

LL cool J just had his new album released and so Hollis had the tape bumpin nice and loud on that 4 speaker box of his. All of sudden people started moving towards the lobby, a trickle at first, then it was just an all out stampede.

"Fight! Fight!" somebody yelled out.

There was a circle gathered, next to the trophy case, in the lobby. The circle seemed to move as one unit, out the exit doors and right outside to the tree. I pushed my way through to see what was going on. I was a little scared because just last week somebody got into a fight and ended up getting shot at Hamilton Park later. I was able to make it through the crowding and get myself a front row view of the action.

"Oh no!" I thought to myself, as I saw who was getting in to it.

Melcom Robinson and Lamont Copefield were squared up and you could tell it was serious. Melcom was the school bully, always picking on everybody; teachers, students, substitutes, it didn't matter he was just bad and probably would end up in jail or getting shot. Lamont was real tall, quiet and kind of clumsy. He tried out for the basketball team but made a better mascot than a center. You could hear Melcom shouting, "What the fuck! YO! you just stepped on my Jordans. These shits cost a hundred dollars!"

"Whoa!" the crowd said.

Lamont was just quiet. Melcom jeered, "What's the matter bitch, you mad because I am going to make you lick the shits clean in front of everybody?" "Say something punk."

Lamont was just standing there, quiet, taking it.

Melcom was pissed and started shrugging his shoulders at Lamont to make him jump back. That's when it was all over. Melcom said, "Naw fuck that, I am going to have your mother come down here and clean my sneakers for you. I'll give her some money for it too, with her broke ass. She's so poor that she can't even afford the "o-r" she is just PO."

"OOOOOOOOHHHHHH." everbody in the crowd said; some people squinting and putting hands to their mouths like they just ate a sour "now and later".

Lamont lifted his head and just came to life. I realized that nobody was getting shot today, just shot down. What happened next couldn't even be scripted. Lamont busted out with something that would shut Melcom up for good.

"My mother isn't poor, your mother is...She's so poor that she had to put FOOD STAMPS on layaway.

Your mother is so nasty that everybody knows when she is having her period, BECAUSE SHE IS ONLY WEARING ONE SOCK!

Your mother's ass is so big that when she farts it won't clear up until NEXT WEEK.

Your mother is so stupid that when you told her that you came out the closet, she said well go back in there and get my slippers."

Everybody was laughing and snickering by this time and you could tell Melcom was stunned. He had that look of surprise and embarrassment mixed with anger and shame. Lamont was relentless and didn't let up.

"Your mother is country that she makes you BIRTHDAY CHITTLINS.

Your house is so small that your welcome mat just spells WEL.

YOUR MOMS IS SO FAT THAT WHEN SHE JUMPED IN THE AIR SHE GOT STUCK!"

OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH!

Everybody, including me, was in the parking lot running around, holding our stomachs cracking up. Melcom just stood there looking stupid.

The buses had pulled up by then and we all got on and to our seats, still laughing. Lamont just went his way like usual, as if nothing happened.

Melcom went through the rest of the school year like a little punk, trying to run his mouth but nobody listened. Eventually he just gave up and went into obscurity.

When any of us get together, we still talk about that day. The day the bullying stopped.

Theme Week 13 "armying"

I am glad to finally be back in my own house, especially after three weeks of "armying." All of that waking up at three in the morning and going to bed in the evening at ten was getting played out. The base that we trained at was old and in need of some government funded help. The barracks had that WWII, John Wayne, Classic Movie Network, look. All of the bunks were lined up with the pillows at opposite ends of the bunk next to it. The mattresses were stained and covered in plastic, army green mold and spider webs all over the place. I had fabreeze and pine scented car fresheners at my bunk, but the smell of gunpowder and feet overpowered both. There was something a little cool though about looking up and down the bay and seeing the brothers in arms cleaning weapons, playing cards, and having some beers. We all have different backgrounds, different problems at home, and different ways of doing things, but when we get together for training we are unified by this calling as a soldier. I don't know....I still racked out, shaking my head thinking that if I ever stayed at hotel and this is what my room was like, someone would be getting fired. That reminds me, I have some laundry to do and I really need to mop my floors.

The scene in the chow hall was like watching re-runs of M*A*S*H. You can hear everyone complaining about the powdered eggs; there are only so many ways you can ruin them. The coffee had flakes in it, whether it was the grounds or the gnats I couldn't tell the difference. Eventually it all settled to the bottom of the dixie cup or our guts. The bananas were brown, spotted like cheetahs, and the milk still had ice chunks in it from being frozen past the expiration date. Still though the line for food was out the door and around the building. You would think that this place was a 5 star restaurant. I was thinking to myself, "WHY OH WHY do I put myself through this?" Who am I kidding, as much as I complain, I either love it or accept that boot camp brainwashing to love it.

Hahahaha I can't help but laugh at the fact that I am so anal about cleaning my house and eating healthy and while I am in training it is somehow acceptable for me to live like an animal. I have got to check all of my email, get my school work finished, have a bowl of cereal and try to get some sleep. I know I will be waking up at 3am for the next couple of weeks. That's the downside of going away for training; all of the conditioning messes up my sleep cycle and my attitude. I have to be mindful that I will probably cuss a whole lot for a while.

At least I am in my own house, with my own toilet, and the facilities to scrub my ass. Who am I kidding, I love that shit.

Theme Week 12 "A Mirror's Wisdom"

Make sure that the ground is even when climbing the ladder of success.

Nice guys don’t finish last, they finish the best.

Check for room on both sides before deciding to spread your wings.

“I’m sorry” is two words away from winning or losing an argument.

For: The best way to give and get. (for-give and for-get)

If you walk by faith with your eyes closed you will miss the show.

Those that ran for office would have lasted longer if they walked instead.

Remember when dirt used to be your favorite toy.

Courage is fear with a cape.

Poetry is a song ahead of the music.

Music is waiting to give a ride to poetry.

If you lay down with the dogs you will wake up with fleas.

A smile is sign language at its best.

Boot Camp is an all expenses paid vacation to a nightmare.

You don’t have to prove the truth.

The world was discovered to be round by men who were not afraid to go over the edge if it was flat.

If a person could not reach the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow they could still admire the beauty of the rainbow.

Theme Week 12 "Come to Understand"

A woman needs love, romance, and she needs tenderness. The romance that a woman so desperately needs, one that she has dreamed of for so long is simply just not in some men to give.

Desire a woman with a woman’s love to give, a woman that needs someone reaching out for it.

Love is not something that blindly affects the innocent. Love is what two people choose to share that can make them guilty of so many things.

A woman can always find something in a man that is worth having.

The butterflies that you feel should be allowed to fly, to escape through your touch and through your kiss. Though the butterflies don’t stay, they never leave you. There are always some to take their place.

What inspires the most is the one desire to be completely happy

Be whom she loves.

Watching her dance, the beauty in the way she moves, is reminiscent of a good conversation.

What to realize is that she already knows what will be said and she will be more happy for it to be said and prove her right.

Love can be one sided if the two are on the same side.

Do not settle for him, especially if you know that you will not remain happy.

Do not pursue her especially if you know that she will not stop for you.

Souls are eternal, as real love should be. So why does age matter?

It is possible for two people to be in love with what they can be together, but better to be in love with who they are together.

It is easier to change the relationship than to change the person.

Love can parallel a drug addiction.

Telling her what you would like to do can turn her on; talking her through what you are doing will turn her out.

Love is not enough until it is all that you have.

A woman’s main goal may include being happy and to have a meaningful life.

The difference between sexuality and sensuality is you can have too much sex but never enough sense.

Don’t ask her what she likes. Do what she loves.

Watch her shoot a basketball for the first time. Watch her shoot it every time after that. Put that kind of effort into your relationship with her.

Theme Week 11 "The Waterfall"

Today he stood alone to gaze at a waterfall. It was beautiful to see such a wonder as this; nature so expressive in simplicity. If only she was there to see this with him. The scenery around the waterfall seemed to move backward and fade so that this outpouring of water can have a voice.

He would listen and gaze with an intent to understand what message that voice would say to him. His eyes traced the waterfall to it's beginning. There were two pools that would fill with what seemed to be the purest of water. As these pools would rise they would form two streams that ran side by side, as if they were having a conversation. When the streams converged, there was a surge of water that was powerful, intense, and breathtaking.

As strong as this surge was, it was unusually non-destructive, almost cleansing to the landscape. The surge, so fierce, was uniquely very quiet. That's when he heard the waterfall speaking these words:

"I am natures messenger who travels from the depths. To gaze at my pools is to gaze at an unspeakable happiness, also to understand the expression of sorrows. My streams are the voice of the truth to all those who see. My surge is the companion to emotions whatever they may be."

He watched as the water would fell, seemingly to no destination. The scenery was coming back into view as the waterfall finished it's message. There was a familiarity about this place. He has been here before. The pools, the streams, the surge, and the reason for being here were the same.

If only you were here to see this with me. Today I stood to gaze at a waterfall because I could not turn away from my reflection, in the mirror, as I cried.

Theme Week 10 " A Recipe for Happiness"

Live your life like you are writing a love song for her.

Love her like you are writing a song about your life together.

Love her like she was the best of three wishes.

Don't give someone another chance; Give someone all the chances that you can.

Don't try to make her what you want; Accept her for being just what you need.

The anniversary is a milestone in celebrating "everyday".

When she says that her heart beats for you, say that she is the beat of your heart.

Everything stops when she starts.

Tell her that you love her, just like you are counting stars in the sky.

Give her the universe...not the outerspace, but everything that is within you.

When you can't say anything, be happy because there are no words to describe how much you appreciate her.

Tell her Thank You.

Tell her Your Welcome.

Say Please.

Please her.

Be a Gentle-Man

Let your smile be sunshine to her smile.

Your kiss should be her favorite flavor.

Cook the dinner for two.

Your relationship is your romantic movie.

Flowers should come from the garden that you grow for her.


Fact:
(Written by Marlon Weaver after his divorce)