Page 27 of Healed
“Alright, place the heel of your hand right here,” Bane said, holding the heel of his hand against the underside of the tip of Carson’s nose. “You know how you used the outer edge of your hand to hit my neck?”
“Yes.”
“You use this right here, it’s called the heel of your hand. And you hit out and up at the same time, just as hard as you absolutely can, right under the tip of the person’s nose that was stupid enough to put his hands on you. I promise you he’ll start crying and won’t be able to see. You can go get an adult, or you can get away, or you can keep hitting him with some other things I’m gonna teach you next time I see you.”
Carson smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Bane.”
“You’re welcome. Am I going to see you soon?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. I’ll look forward to it.”
Charlie started loading Carson in his car, but Carson stopped him and looked back at Bane. “What do you do if somebody tries to trip you? Or knocks your books out of your hands?”
“Same person all the time?”
“Yes.”
“Knocking your books out of your hands, you know where he’s going to be, right?”
“Yes.”
“You walk up to him like you don’t remember what he’s going to do. He stops you and reaches out to slap your books out of your hands. You know what’s coming. You’re ready, right? You snatch your books out of the way so he looses his balance just enough to lean forward, then you bring your books down on the back of his head. Drop your books after you hit him. Looks like you dropped your books on him by accident. Somebody trying to trip you. Same thing. Be prepared. Keep your eyes on the ground as you get closer. He sticks his foot out trying to trip you, you lift your foot and you stomp his right on top, right here,” Bane explained, pointing to the arch in the top of his own foot.
Carson grinned at Bane. “Yes, sir. I think I can do that.”
“No matter what, you hit, you kick, you fight for as long as they’re trying to hurt you. Eventually they’ll decide you’re too much trouble and pick somebody else to be mean to.”
“I’ll have to help protect whoever they pick on next.”
“Because you’re a good man.”
“I’m a little kid.”
“Don’t matter how little you are. You’re learning to be a man.”
Carson looked at Bane for a minute then nodded. “I am.” He then allowed his father to put him in the car.
Charlie looked over at Bane as he turned to get in the driver’s seat of his car.
“You know, he doesn’t talk to strangers, and he only eats chicken nuggets and pizza and macaroni and cheese. I get here and he’s having barbecued ribs, and talking to all of you like he’s known you all his life. I don’t know how, and I don’t understand it. But I’m so thankful. Thank you for taking time with my Carson. He struggles sometimes, and it breaks my heart.”
“He’s a good boy. He reminds me so much of my brother, Bam, when we were kids,” Bane said.
Charlie huffed a laugh as he thought about how he’d found Carson with all kinds of new attitude that evening. “I can’t get him to even wrestle with me, but he’s asking you to help him learn to fight a bully.”
“Hope it’s not too much. If so, I can tell him that there’s other ways to deal with bullies, but I’ll be honest, none of them work but whipping their asses. They already know he’s a soft target, so it’s not going to stop until he puts them in their place.”
“You know, there’s all kinds of opinions on how to address bullying. I’ve been trying to do it through the proper channels, the right way so to speak, up at the school, and nobody’s done a damn thing about it. Do I want Carson to fight? No. But do I want him to fold further in on himself as they take away what little self-confidence he’s got? Hell no. Like you said, he’s learning to be a man. I want him to be a man who can defend himself and anyone he loves.”
“That’s how we see it. Daisy and her brother, and all her cousins were raised that way. Peaceful, and respectful. But if somebody pushes it, they can handle it.”
“I’m thinking that’s the best way to be.”
“It is for some people.”
“I can see that,” Charlie said, lifting a hand in a wave as he opened his door.
