One afternoon, I was playing on the jungle gym on school grounds while my dad caught up on some work. He was a band director and there was a playground nearby.

Suddenly a couple of Cedar Chopper boys showed up, pushing us off the equipment, threatening to beat us up. The meanest kid was a 7th grader. I as the oldest and I was only in 2nd grade, so I stayed there while brother number 2 ran to the band hall to get help.

Pretty soon Dad came walking up, saying, “Leave these kids alone.” The boy started cussing him and then took a swing at him. Dad, being a full grown man, grabbed his fist and bent his arm behind his back, saying “Go home!”

The kid ran down the street, yelling “I’m gonna suuuuuueee!”

And that was it. Dad never got sued.

A couple of days later Dad was driving us kids and a friend of his was riding in the passenger seat. I wanted to brag about my dad so I said, “My dad beat up a 7th grader!”

And Dad goes, “Shhh no. No I didn’t!”

I didn’t understand. I thought Dad would be proud. 7th graders could be dangerous.