telling a young boy hes a fat little boy to his face isnt something he usually did

not usually

         but if the young boy had a bad spleen a mouthful of shit and spat it in his face

he was surprised how easily it ticked his brain and seemed an appropriate reply to What the fuck you lookin at old man

there was truth in the boys venom

he was older

but then

tit for tat

the boy was little and fat

if you cant take the bald facts about yourself

then  keep your trap shut

but the fat little boy was encouraged by his rancorous buddies who probably understood that they were accessories sides and not the target of the old mans ire

the fat little boy followed their lead

thinking he was in the lead

at their head

just as a little boy would think     

secure in his new little world that he had nothing to fear(Nike) that his parents stoked giving him everything his little heart desired stroking him awarding him trophies for participation

if – only if – he actually competed in anything

his complexion was clear

not a scar to behold

by the time he was the little boys age he had a split eyebrow a split chin a twice broken nose and too many black eyes from older boys fists than he cared to count

each secured by beatings when he refused to back down

there were occasional wins among them

though fewer than loses

his parents figured hed quit standing up to the bigger boys

he could only suppose they didnt understand he was standing up for himself

clear-complexedHell  the boys clear-complexions told him all he needed to know

they didnt know what adrenaline was

or what it could do
(he was probably a junkie) 

and when the knot of them grew to a dozen his guess

among them were little boys who wouldnt dare stand up for themselves and quietly selfishly submitted to the gang

no one likes getting beat

but beatings were worthwhile

you learned the tricks of the trade

learned to trade punches countered punches caught them on your arms  moved

then  they didnt dare come onto him one-on-one

that eventually preceded him

his lumps earned him his reputation

by high school he was in the clear

not having a clear-complexion salted away challenges

and because he never looked for a fight(once) the fights stopped

what few fights happened thereafter

his complexion didnt change much

bruises

no cuts

now his hands bore the scars

split knuckles broken fingers

theres always hard bone behind someones face

the fat little boy was just going to have to suffer the truth

his delicate untried ego SMASHED by a fuckin old mans tongue 

1601,  Twosday,  13  9. 16