Sometimes I'm a fighter!

We still have our flag flying. I was making the bed and caught a glimpse of it through the window. I said a little prayer for those fighting against terrorism. I doubt they wanna be fighting, but as an answer to the attack on 9-11 they are.

I got in a 'righteous' fight once. Don't panic, I was in elementary and still don't panic~I don't teach Hiz Kiz to take up for themselves like that. There was a small girl in my third or fourth grade class. I remember it was either of those grades because I remember the hallway and bathroom we used. On a bathroom break, Lisa who had beautiful, straight, long hair asked me to look at a bump on her eye. Actually it was a reoccurence because over time I was able to tell her that I thought it was growing. And indeed it was and unfortunately it was cancer.

She had the lump cut out and she had to take the stuff that makes you lose your hair. When she came back to school, she had a wig that was itchy and hot. It paled in comparison to her long, gorgeous hair. She hated wearing it and we all told her not to wear it because she still looked pretty, so she didn't. She would be the first to crack a joke about being bald. She had such an easy-going, fun-loving attitude about it. Something I admired.

It was lunchtime and we marched down the west wall of the cafeteria waiting our turn in the chow line. After scoopin' up our tray, we went to the east side of the cafeteria to sit in our assigned area. The tables were lined up together and made an endless row of little circle seats for each student. I'm not a 100% sure, but I think that I recall my back was to the windows. Lisa and I must have been sitting beside one another or near one another because I overheard it all.

A boy called her, "Bald-headed eagle!" She usually took a joke pretty well, but this kid wouldn't stop. I told him to stop. He didn't. I repeatedly told him to stop. He still didn't and he rebutted, "Whatcha gonna do about it?" "Well", I said, "I'll fight ya!" He demanded a time and place...I'm sure I stuttered, but he finally stated, "After school! On the playground!" I know, that I know, I lolly gagged after school that day. I also know, that I know, this was before fifth grade because I got contacts in the fifth grade. Yeah, he was waiting on me at the kindergarten playground and he stood in the way of me and my house on Stratton Street.

We bantered back and forth for awhile, "You start it!" "No, you!" Finally he did start it and with a great big push my glasses flew like a projectile through the air and onto the ground. I huffed, "Well, if you're not gonna fight fair then forget it!" To which, I scooped up my glasses and tromped home.

Ms. Paris, the principal, called me into the office the next morning! I was scared to death! I had NEVER been to the office before. I told my story and she said I was free to go. What? Praise my ears, free to go back to class! But, I never knew the rest of the story...

In our grown-up years, Lisa and I ran into one another. We recalled and retold that episode like it was yesterday. She appreciated me taking up for her. I was touched that she remembered. She asked me if I ever knew what happened to that boy. I didn't. She said that Ms. Paris called her and her mom into the office and allowed them to watch while she gave him licks. WooWeee!

Now, I don't know if I did everything right, way back when. But, I will say that it turned out okay. We could've tattled, but didn't. We could've walked away, but didn't. I'm not saying it was or wasn't right to fight. And I'm not saying the war we are in is right or that it's wrong, but I know the bible says there's a time for war and a time for peace. King David didn't get to build the temple because of the blood shed during his reign. So, who knows? Only HIM! My prayer is that it will all turn out okay.

There I was in the middle of a fight that I didn't want to be in, but it was for a VERY worthy cause! That cause had a name, Lisa Poteet. And on the t.v. yesterday, they called the names of everyone who lost their lives at the WTC, Pentagon and on the flights. It's worthy!