Every day life at the Taylor household was full of life. No family could plan their life totally and Tim and Jill were no different from any other family. They were both from the 1950's generation and had been blessed with a good home and a good financial situation. But life cannot always go as planned and three boys later their lives were full and happy.
Jill thought of the adjustments that she and Tim had made. She had put her career and life on hold for her three children for the most part. Tim had always thought that the woman's place was in the home, but had accepted her going back to school.
But Brad was now in school and Randy would be following the next year. Brad was a smart child, but was a boy through and through. One day Jill thought of he was not on his best behavior.
As usual the boys were out on the baseball field arguing about the rules and regulations when a new boy had joined the school. He was taller and bigger than most of the boys and wanted to rule the roost. Brad had always been the leader of most of the kids and he took this hard. Brad had no time for patience with this young man .
One thing lead to another and before the teacher knew it the two boys were fighting. Brad was not one to back down and either was this new kid Monroe. To top it off the kid had a name like that 'Monroe of all things' he had told she made one of her many visits that were to come to the school principal's office.
When Jill had gotten to the office with her two other children in tow she had looked around to see Brad. Brad was in his macho man mode and had a ripped shirt and a nice big black eye that he held with pride.
That was when Jill had looked around for the other boy Monroe. The boy was about the same size as Brad and he too was sporting a shiner and a ripped shirt. But when his father came in to pick him up, Jill had seen real fear in the boys eyes. He had grabbed Monroe by the shoulder and yelled at him the whole way out to the car.
Jill felt sorry for the boy. First of all his parents had named him a name that they knew would result in him being picked on. Then when his father had come to the school he had not even spoken to the principal or her. The father had gone right after his son and taken the word of complete strangers that his son was the one that caused all of the trouble.
Jill took her three boys and headed out the door. She was no longer very angry at Brad. Boys would be boys and Brad was a real boy. He had seen what the father had done to the other boy. She hoped that he had understood what he had seen. Brad had never been yelled at like that in his life even though there had been times that he deserved it.
As they four of them left the school Brad looked up at his mom and said "I am very sorry for what I did. But he was trying to make the rules for the game and we started yelling at each other. The next thing I knew was that he hit me. For a big guy like that he was a real sissy. He hit like a girl." he had told her.
"Brad, you should never hit another person no matter how angry you get. To hit someone is to show that you are weak not that they are weak. A strong person walks away from his enemy. Remember that, all right?" Jill told him.
All the way home that day the boys were strangely quiet. Even Mark who was just a baby. Brad went upstairs without saying a word. Jill was downstairs making supper when Tim had come home that day. He had a long day and was tired.
That was when Jill had told him about the type of day she had. She told him how she had been called to the principal's office because Brad had gotten into a fight with the new boy Monroe.
"Monroe. No wonder Brad hit him. What kind of name is Monroe for a little boy who is just in kindergarten?" he asked her.
"I don't know but his father picked him up and he did not even speak to anyone. He just grabbed his kid by the shoulder and forced him out of the building. Tim, the father was screaming at his son and as he put him in the car it looked like he hit his son. It was terrible."
Tim had never been one for making his sons a sissy, but he did not like the idea of corporal punishment in front of others. A fast slap on the buttocks was all right with him, but not humiliation. This father had done more than that. "All right I will talk to Brad, I promise.
That night at supper Tim and Jill had found the boys very quiet. They each ate their meals, but Brad spent most of his time playing with it. After Randy and Mark had gone upstairs with Jill Tim took a look at Brad He said "I know that sometimes things happen, but fighting at school is never a good thing. You are there to learn and so isn't this other kid. Sometimes things are so bad at one's home that kids act out." he told him.
As Jill had come down the stairs she had heard what Brad had said "Dad I know that. I had no idea what kind of father he had. His father was yelling and screaming at him and I think he hit him. When we were in the principal's office he told me that he was going to get a beating when he got home. I thought he was just saying that, but now I know that it is true. I am so lucky that you and mom aren't like that."
Tim and Jill had both said "amen to that". They both had different views on some things, but one thing for sure. They loved their boys and never wanted to see them hurt or would they hurt them.
