fighting back

I am SO unprepared for this "V" post. This is the first time that I'm truly winging it so here goes. I was thinking about how I really hate all the violence on tv both on the shows and on the news. It's pretty hard to sit through one night of tv without seeing multiple murders,extreme physical aggression, sexual attacks, instances of bullying and verbal assaults. And I must say the the newspaper isn't much better, there are quite a few articles highlighted that are sensationalized due to their violent content. In our culture today violence sells..

What kills me is if you were ever a victim of violence you wouldn't think it was so darn sexy or take it so lightly. I just don't understand what makes it sell, do you?

I thought violence would be great subject for "V" today. And in addition I thought I'd add a second "V" word victim.

Have you ever been a victim of violence?

I'd like to share with you all a story of what happened to me. I was a victim of violence. When I was a teenager I had this babysitting job. I'd jump on my bicycle and ride the boardwalk to the other side of town to this condo/apartment complex. It was one of those courtyard type setups all of the units faced inward and there was a pool in the middle. The little boy that I cared for was about 3 and his mother wanted me to teach him to swim; so a good part of the time together we we be in the pool. As the weeks and months passed I became familiar with all the people who lived there, saying hello, chatting in the pool or by the pool as Michael and I swam and learned. There was this one adorable little old man who at the end of Micheal's swimming lesson would give him a little treat, a small piece of fruit or candy. It was their little routine the child and the old guy enjoyed each other.

UNTIL....... One day we were just getting out of the pool and the old guy said to me " oh I don't have a treat for Michael why don't you two step into my apartment?" I didn't have any reason to fear for my safety, so we walked right in. The minute I walked in with the child he closed the door and blocked it grabbed me and slammed me against the wall!! Afraid and shocked;  I was trapped with a small child and all I could think is we needed to escape. He came at me for a second time. With  my back was to the wall; I reared up with my knee and hit him in the groin so hard that man will be singing soprano for the devil in hell. When he went down I grabbed Michael and ran like heck. I then locked myself in the apartment until Michael's Mom came home then I quit.

I did tell a trusted adult, a friend of my Dad's whose brother in law was a police officer in the town where this happened who happened to lived in this complex. He had a discussion with the old guy and told him that if he ever so much as looked at another young woman I'd press charges.