Today I was on the way to the store to get some new clothes for work. I stopped at the gas station to get a soda and took a way that I normally wouldn’t take just because I felt like it. That route took me past a middle school and an elementary school, the former of the two just getting out for the day. Since it was a school zone I was driving slowly down the street, watching for kids and reminiscing about my days in middle school. I glanced down a side street and noticed a large group of kids gathered around in a big circle and just felt this ball of hot lead gather in my stomach. I couldn’t just keep driving. So, I did a quick U-turn, as I had already driven past the street, and drove up to the crowed. Sure enough, in the center, was this little kid getting beaten. I immediately hit my horn and held it. A bunch of kids look at me in surprise and bolted, not wanting to get caught watching a fight. After a moment even the guys doing the beating stopped and looked over at me in suspicion. I turned off the car and got out, my heart pounding so hard. I yelled at them, asked the what the fuck they thought they were doing. A couple of people started coming out of their houses and the guys took notice (they were probably in middle school themselves, maybe even high school freshman or something). They bolted and took off down the street. I went over to the kid who was laying on the ground crying. I asked him if he was okay as I knelt down next to him. His lip was busted open and his nose was bleeding profusely. I asked one of the people standing around if they could go inside and grab some paper towels. They did and came out quickly, I gave them to the kid and he mopped himself up. Someone asked if they should call the police. I looked at the kid and asked him if he wanted to get them involved or if he wanted me to just take him home. I ended up taking him home.
His mom answered the door, instantly saw him, and started crying and freaking out. She looked at me, a big burly guy, and thought that I had been the one who beat her son. She started coming at me, saying she was going to call the police and press charges. Both the boy and I quickly corrected her and told her what happened. She was crying harder and she hugged me and apologized. Before I left she tried to give me money for saving her son. I waved it away and said I couldn’t accept payment for being a decent human being.
I was jumped when I was in middle school. Three high school seniors attacked me from behind and started beating me. Had someone not had the heart to stop their car and get them off of me, they probably would have beaten me to death. We got the cops involved and when they found the culprits, they said it was gang retaliation. I was a short and chubby little white nerd, so obviously I was a hardcore gang banger. Anyways, the point of the story is that had someone not stopped and helped me, I probably would have been beaten to death. I was surrounded by kids I knew, kids I had known since elementary school, and all of them had these looks of excitement and glee. They wouldn’t have stopped it.
When I saw that crowed, I instantly thought about what had happened to me. I couldn’t just drive away. I didn’t get the whole story about what had happened because the kid was really quiet. Had he been scared for his life? I honestly don’t know. What sparked this brutal beating? Again, something I don’t know. But I can sleep easier knowing that I helped this poor kid.
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