The Gang's All Here! ... What The Heck Do I Care?!

As you read earlier the Boys and Girls club that I volunteered at was in a junior high school with lots of gang activity. The gang from this school came to our club and of course they brought with them their 'Gang-Mentality'. This being; we run this school, everyone does what we say, everyone better be afraid of us, even the adults.

I observed this haughty manner for a while and they had it right! Everyone was scared of them. After all each one of them had been suspended at one time or another for disobeying, fighting or bringing a weapon to school (these had even been used on intended targets).

Thank God for my psychological background! From which I had learned how to deal with this attitude, but now was the time to put it into action.

One particular day, the gang and it's leader began bullying another student. I rolled into the middle of the incident, pointed my finger directly in the leader's face and said, "Knock your crap off! Your just a big bully! Get off school property! NOW!" A little shocked that anyone, let alone me in my wheelchair, stood up to him, he said, "I'm leaving, but WATCH YOUR BACK!" This did NOT scare me, it made me very angry. Responding firmly , yet in a calm tone I said, "You don't scare me. I've faced death and I live in Hell. Just look at the body I'm trapped in. Now go home!" Stunned he turned, gathered the other members and left.

The next day the gang members swaggered ever so coolly over to me. The leader said,"Merrym, we got your back!"(their version of an apology). Then they turned and politely began playing basketball.

After that any time they were doing something I considered wrong, I would just get their attention, shake my head slightly and they would quickly stop.

He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Proverbs 13:24

I am blessed

Merrym Dawn Mathis Bruce