Life on the Line
In 1994, my brother Ruddy put his life on the line against three teenagers in Warninco Park looking to steal our bikes. He was nine years old. Roselle, New Jersey had a reputation for being rough and the youth made sure to remind you. In those days, the anti-bully movement, was movement of the feet—run fast and hard. But, on that day, only thing getting ready to run was a fade.
While my brother and I were shooting hoops, three teenage boys joined us. But what had appeared as innocent, quickly turned into monkey in the middle, and with our basketball as the prize. After 20 minutes of pleading, and then seeing what was coming next, I turned to my brother and said, “Grab your bike and forget ‘bout the ball. We’re going home”. But doing this was like poking a stick into a hornets nest. The teenagers grew more aggressive, and now our bikes became the prize, instead.
As we pedaled through uneven grass and mulch, they ran after us. We built some distance, but not enough. One of the three grabbed Ruddy’s bicycle frame and lifted the rear wheel off of the ground. My brother was now pedaling mid air. So, I bust a U-turn, slide off my bike, and step to Debo. But only to negotiate. I’m a peace maker. “We don’t want no problems bro. Just wanna go home. That’s it”, I said. Laughter. That’s what they gave me. Just laughter. And returned their focus back to Ruddy.
Suddenly, however, I see my brother eject himself from his bike, squares his feet, curl his fingers, ball both hands, and raise them eye level. He then says, “Knuckle up. You bitch ass nigga”. But, really, it’s not what he says, at all. Just seems fitting to me at this point of the account. And would’ve been dope, though, if he had. Yet, not as dope as total silence. Ruddy was done with talking. My brother instantly realized a new power. The less I speak, the louder I become. And my bullies shrink. It’s exactly what they did.
“Oh, shit. Little man got heart”, said one of the cowards.
At the end, we left in peace and with our bikes. My brother taught me a great lesson that day. That when you put your life on the line, you soon find not many really want the problems that come with it! They just pretend.