4 Comments
User's avatar
Melissa Amateis's avatar

In the sixth grade, we had a Halloween parade in our small town (1500 people) for all the elementary school kids. I dressed up as a bum with my dad's old boots and overalls, a weird mask, and a pillow over my stomach. I carried a stick with a red handkerchief tied to it with my "worldly possessions." At the party afterwards for the kids, the school bully came up to me and PUNCHED me in the stomach. Knocked the air right out of me. I'll never forget that!

Expand full comment
Elizabeth M. Johnson (she/her)'s avatar

Yikes, Melissa! How awful. What in the world did he do that for? Did you ever find out?

Expand full comment
Melissa Amateis's avatar

He was just a mean little boy.

Expand full comment