A bully?

The article on the bully made me think of an incident that occurred about eight years age. I was working at a casino at the time. I was a good bit older than most of the help and a few referred to me as old man. That really has nothing to do with the story, so…..

I was on a break and had grabbed a cup of coffee and gone outside. This huge young man walked up. I knew a lot of the help on the boat, but not nearly all of them. I did not recognize him. I don't even remember what he said, except that he was pushing for a fight. He looked as serious as he could be, but I had the idea that he was just baiting me to see my reaction. Probably even one of my friends could have put him up to it as a joke. This was only speculation on my part and I did not know, but I played it that way.

I looked him in the eye and said; "You don't want to start a fight. Everyone will just say you are a great big bully picking on a little old man. If we do fight one of us will probably end up in the hospital and the other in jail." I hesitated a few seconds and notice a slight grin on his face which made me believe that this was a joke. Then I added; "Now what would be even worse, what would you feel like if a little old man laid a whupping on you?"

He just smiled and walked off.

I never did know why he approached me this way. He might have been put up to it. He might have just been joking. I hope he did not really want to fight. Not as big and tough looking as he was.