by Robin Kibodeaux

Created on: January 12, 2009

My experience with bullies is, they take your lunch money, give you atomic wedgies, stick gum in your hair, and post kick me signs on your back. What I want to know is where was the sign up sheet for that extracurricular activity in the packet of forms my mom filled out on the first day of school? She must have signed me up to play on the losing team of that game. She did always say, "David, you need to be challenged in order to broaden your horizon." You know, she was right. My horizon was vast. I learned to hold my breath for three minutes in toilet water. I could contort my body to fit in unimaginable places. I could run faster than any kid in the school. There was not a subject I did not excel in because of all the extra homework practice I got. I could have marketed an anti-atomic wedgie underwear line. I had a niche for finance management by the time I was in the fourth grade because I had bullies to pay and still needed to eat.

My mom was oblivious to what was going on. Besides if she new I was being picked on she would have caused a scene at the school and make my already dreadful school experience a million times worse. The last thing I needed was another target on my back for kids to shoot at. Besides I could handle myself. When I came home drenched in toilet water I would tell my mom that we ran laps in gym that day. When I was doing other peoples homework I would tell her that it was for extra credit. "Oh that's nice dear." she would reply.

I jumped through hoops to avoid getting beat up all the way through my senior year. When I went to college, things changed drastically. I wasn't picked on, I had many friends, and I even met the love of my life. Besides the guys that bullied me or any bully for that matter couldn't pass a college entrance exam to save their life. I did all of their homework for twelve years. I don't think they would know what to do with a book other than throw it at someone.

I majored in business and minored in entomology. I am now the proud owner of my own pest control company and am doing extremely well for myself. Believe it or not, one of my employees is one of the guys that put me through hell in high school. It is funny how life works. Now I am the one with the upper hand. I am still a nerd, but I have always been proud of who I am, even when I was being bullied. I have always treated people with the same respect that I would want to be treated. I guess you reap what you sew and I am definitely not sewing anymore anti-atomic underwear.

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