By JACK GODBEY

There’s no doubt we are living in unprecedented times. I read in the newspaper that the school systems were trying to figure out how to educate our children while still offering a sanitary environment for them. 

Many of those school systems are opting to offer instruction through computers with the kids safe at home. It’s amazing to me that we live in a world that offers the technology to make this a possible scenario. 

While being physically present at school offers many benefits, one thing that these kids will be able to avoid by learning from home is the class bully. 

There’s one in every class who makes every child in the class live in fear the entire school year. I was fortunate in that I was always a bit oversized for my age so the class bullies tended to steer clear of me. 

As I continued to read the story in the newspaper, my mind started to drift back to an incident where I did have a run in with a bully as a child.

As I’ve mentioned before, I grew up on a farm and there was one rooster that was clearly the bully of the farmyard. This rooster would flap his wings and use his spurs to rip apart anything that got in his way. 

On one fateful day in the summer of 1976, I got in his way. I didn’t realize that I was challenging the rooster to a dual at high noon by going outside to play, but it became obvious pretty quickly that this is what I had done. 

I used to love to hang out in our barn when I was a child. It was full of many things that sparked my imagination. 

Tobacco sticks that I would use as swords, scrap of lumber that I could widdle on or baby calves that I could feed by hand with a bottle. It was just a great place to be. 

However, what I didn’t realize is that this rooster had decided the barn now belonged to him and I was no longer allowed in. 

I quickly finished my Froot Loops that morning and ran outside ready to start the day. The rooster was waiting for me and as I drew closer our eyes met and it was clear only one of us was going to rule the barn. 

The rooster drew first blood and flew up and spurred me in the face, missing my eye by millimeters. I retreated and ran back to the house. 

I told my mother all about the horrible incident as she cleaned the blood off my face. One of the most dangerous things in the world is a mother with an injured child. 

Just like a scene from the “Godfather”, my mother looked at Dad and told him that the rooster had to go. 

My dad and brother left out the front door and I never saw that rooster again. 

We all have to learn to deal with a bully as they are everywhere at all stages of life. Those who are bullied look for revenge in some way, whether that be by learning how to defend themselves or by mastering the art of flying below the radar. 

One thing for sure is that revenge is a dish best served cold. However, in my case, it was a dish best served with mashed potatoes and corn bread as the rooster that attacked me became that evening’s supper. Revenge never tasted so good.