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Originally Posted by Geeseman
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Interesting. My ex often thought I had a form of PTSD from my childhood. From the 1st grade to the end of 8th grade, the neighborhood we lived in was a very violent environment.
Funny, mum would tell me to ignore them. Yeah, right. Sorry mum.
I remember in 2nd grade coming upon a scene of one of my friends getting his head bashed with a rock and being told I would get the same the next day. A couple years later seeing the older brother of a good friend getting hit by a baseball bat in the back of the head. He never saw it coming. I was at least 100 yds away, but I know what I saw. He didn't die. But he never returned to school. Never left the house again.
Dad was a good athlete. Record holding mid-Atlantic weight lifter and accomplished amateur boxer. He taught us how to box. Very useful skill at the time.
When I learned the word "mutants" I applied it to these people. They were mean and vicious, but not nearly as physically tough. I had to finish my studies then help my dad lumberjacking even at a young age. I met friends on the other side of the neighbourhood. The Feuillet (fee-aye) family of French origin. They also had strong guidance to finish studies and help their dad with heavy physical work. There were a couple of other good families, The English and the Brookshires. The older English daughter saved my as from a sure *** kicking one time..another story. We were the island of normalcy.
Every day was an effort to either get yourself to school and back safely or get your friends to school and back safely.
Took me a long time to lower the guard a bit after that time. In all honesty, some of the inner aggression I developed helped me later in life, but I would never wish any of that on a child of mine.