A crazy/scary experience... - WritingForums.com - Writing Forums, Writing Challenges, Critiques and Help for Writers

Tom · 08-04-2008, 05:52 PM

Yep, another thread from yours truly, but I wouldn’t worry. This has nothing to do with me spelling my heart out like my previous ones, but is actually based upon an event that happened to me last Friday evening and my feelings towards it.

Basically, myself and a couple of mates decided to take a trip down to the nearest park to mess around with Kites, Frisbees and American footballs, and all up to this certain event it was going really well, and we were having a lot of fun. It got to around 5pm, so we got to the bandstand in the centre of the park and decided to relax there, mainly just sitting and chatting. A group of Black and Asian lads passed us on the way to the main park, they all looked suspicious in their track-suit bottoms and hoodies, but we just ignored them and they ignored us.

We remained their for another twenty minutes, when they returned, most of them passed but one Asian guy walked up the band-stand, stood in the middle and asked us how old each of us were. ‘15’ we all replied. He nods, takes his hood down and acting all ‘hard’ asks us which one us wanted a fight with him. I chuckle, merely thinking he was having a joke. He wasn’t, and I shouldn’t have laughed, that was a mistake I shouldn’t have made. This is how the following conversation went:

‘Why you smiling?’
I wasn’t.
‘I said, why you smiling?’
I’m not.
‘Stop looking at me, stop looking at me, look down!’
What? What do you mean?
‘I said fucking look down’

And then, before I could react he grabbed the back of my head and pushed it to the floor. My mate stood up, but with all the people surrounding the bandstand and now entering it, he was told to sit back down. Of course he did, they were 4-5 years older than us and we were absolutely crappin’ it. Then, they asked us if we had phones or any money, and we lied. We did, but I was more scared of how my mother would react if she found out it had gone that what these guys were going to do with me.

Anyway, after that, the guy let go of my head and him and another started rummaging through our bags. Luckily enough, all we had was a boomerang and some other sports equipment, so they weren’t the bit interested. We tried to get up, but they told us to ‘sit the fuck down’, and with their being around 10 of them, and 3 of us, we sat the fuck down. Anyway, finally, some black guy comes up and asks if he can borrow my mates deodorant which he had by his side. My mate, of course, said sure, the guy used it and told the others that we were ‘safe’ and to leave us alone. They left in due course, but it scared the hell out of me, the whole experience.

Some of you will be thinking, wait a second, nothing happened, you didn’t get hurt and nothing got nicked, so…why you so shitted up? Well, that’s a first for me. I usually keep away from the ‘scrouts’ and the ‘wannabe gangsters’ but I couldn’t do anything in this situation, I couldn’t escape. That’s why it was so scary, and now I feel as if it can happen again, and again, and maybe next time there won’t be ‘some black guy’ to help us out, and maybe this one dick who decided to ask us for a fight will expand into a group of dicks. It’s just made me weary of every situation, but mostly of Asians and blacks in track-suits. It’s racist I suppose, but I can’t help it.

Maybe I’m just a coward, but this was a crazy experience for me.

Thanks for reading,

Tom.

P.S – We did contact the police, they took a statement. Apparently, black and Asians gangs have been beating up and mugging people at this park later in the day, around 9pm. I suppose we were just lucky.

Sam Winchester · 08-04-2008, 06:02 PM

I don't think you're a coward. I think any 15-year-old in your position would have been scared. I know I'd've been scared at that age.

When people like that start getting into your face, you're better trying your best not to antagonise them. Don't laugh, don't make any sudden movements. Just sit there, give yes or no answers, and hope they get bored and walk away.

I was in a similar situation when I was 18. I was talking on my phone outside the Royal Hospital in Belfast, and three Belfast guys (scrawny little dicks) surrounded me and ordered me to give them the phone. It was raining, and I was wearing a bulky overcoat. They couldn't see how well built I was. I hung up the phone, removed the overcoat, and told them to take the phone from me if they wanted it. They scampered.

But as long as you're okay, Tom, that's the main thing. It's okay to be scared. Everyone gets scared. It doesn't make you a coward.

PS: At that age, I was more terrified of my mom than any bully in my school!

lilacstarflower · 08-04-2008, 06:09 PM

That's a scary situation to be in Tom - i'm ten years older than you and I'd be terrified!

What is it with people getting kicks out of being so aggressive? what a bunch of a**holes!

Tom · 08-04-2008, 06:13 PM

Haha Sam, that's awesome. I'd love to have watch them run away, a big smile on your face.

And Lilac, I agree. It's really stupid, I really don't understand the thrill they get. I wish someone could teach them a lesson.

Sam Winchester · 08-04-2008, 06:16 PM

It's all to do with power. They get off on it. Personally, I never understood the thrill either, even in my rowdy teenage years. For me, it was all about making a statement - that I wasn't to be fucked with anymore.

Tom · 08-04-2008, 06:19 PM

At the ages of the large percentage being attacked, which in this area is from 13-16 year olds, making a statement not to be fucked with against 18/19 year olds is very difficult I find.

Sam Winchester · 08-04-2008, 06:20 PM

Not if you're six-two and built like a brick outhouse. People stay the fuck away from you in that situation, trust me!

valeca · 08-04-2008, 06:32 PM

Always find the positive. In this case, your world expanded. Granted, it expanded to include some negative things, but it still expanded and grew from what you knew of it before that happened. And chances are, you did too.

Malone · 08-04-2008, 06:56 PM

That's quite funny. There's really nothing you can do against ten guys but get you're ass kicked, so you were pretty much fucked no matter what. Next time fight them and see if they're really tough or just posers. Worst case, probably just an ass kicking. Best case, you beat the shit out of one while the others stand around scared and watch.

Gabriel Gray · 08-04-2008, 07:59 PM

Ok, ignore Malones solid advice lol. Don't start a fight with them, but definitely don't do what the nice asian fella said 'look at the ground'. Then my friend, he would of been able to do anything to you. Shitty situation to be in, i was in a similar (but not) situation myself once and got out through having a friend who was smart enough to calm the situation down. Now the 'black guy' was probably their version of my friend, making an opening (the deodrant) to show that you guys were 'safe' aiiiight. You got lucky, don't try to take them on like Malone said unless you are extremely confident with yourself (as sam pretty much pointed out).

Think yourself lucky for not getting stabbed, there really are some sick kids out n about.

SevenWritez · 08-04-2008, 09:36 PM

EDIT: Bleh. Broke my own rule. Sorry about what happened, Tom.

terrib · 08-04-2008, 09:48 PM

Gosh Tom, I think you did the right thing...thank God for the black guy.

Malone · 08-04-2008, 10:27 PM

Quote:

thank God for the black guy.

Don't hear that everyday.

I don't know what kind of neighborhood Tom lives in, but turning the other cheek and not fighting isn't a very good way to get by when "gangs" are that prominent that you can't go to the park. Especially if you don't have to worry about guns. My friends who grew up in bad neighborhoods had to fight constantly or they would have been shit all over.

JosephB · 08-04-2008, 10:37 PM

OFF TOPIC.

Malone, did you hear Skip Caray died? I grew up listening to him. I normally don't give a shit about celebrities dying (not that he was one outside the southeast), but this really made me sad. He was fucking hilarious.

Sorry Tom.

Malone · 08-04-2008, 10:47 PM

I can't think of him off the top of my head, but I'm sure I'd recognize the voice if I heard it.