First mate's log:
December 11, 1970
Cindy told me about her biggest problem since she had to decide who to invite to the school play a year ago. (This year her school is just going to do a Christmas/Winter concert, and there's plenty of room in that auditorium, thanks to taxes and the Howells.) She's being made fun of for her lisp. It's not all the kids, just a few, in particular an older boy, a new kid in the sixth grade, and he picked on her when she was coming home from school. None of her brothers and sisters were around, and she's too little to stand up to such a bigger kid.
I got really mad hearing about it, but she made me promise not to tell anyone, or to talk to the bully, whose name is Buddy Hinton. I made her promise that she'll talk to her parents as soon as she feels ready. And I told her it's not her fault. Lots of kids have lisps and hers is cute.
Carol Brady's diary:
December 12, 1970
Poor Cindy is being mocked by other children, not her siblings thank goodness, for her lisp. One older boy in particular, sixth-grader Buddy Hinton, has been especially cruel. I had a lisp of my own when I was her age, and it was a relief when we moved from Swampscott, Massachusetts, not that it was easy to say "Los Angeles." Mike and I said what we could to reassure her, and we've been practicing tongue twisters with S's in them with her. Her brothers have promised to do what they can to help.
(Marcia has been more focused on her steady boyfriend, Lester, whom she's been dating a record-breaking two weeks! And Jan is practicing for her solo at the elementary school Christmas/Winter concert.)
December 14, 1970
Now Peter told me about his problem with Buddy Hinton. He and his brothers promised their parents that they would help Cindy. They've been helping Cindy practice tongue twisters with lots of Ses in them. But Peter also felt like one of them should protect their little sister. Bobby isn't much bigger than Cindy, and Greg goes to the junior high. Peter felt like it was his responsibility, since he's in the same grade as Buddy (who is a year older but was held back at some point before he moved to our island).
Buddy was making fun of Cindy again, so Peter tried to get him to stop. Buddy shoved him and said, "Make me." When Peter didn't want to fight, he called Peter a chicken and a scaredy-cat.
"I'm not a coward, Gilligan."
"I know. I am one, and you're braver than me."
"I just didn't want to get in a fight in front of my baby sister."
"Yeah, of course not."
I don't know if our talk helped. I thought of telling him to tell his parents, but I think he's more embarrassed than Cindy was.
December 16, 1970
Well, Peter tried to help Cindy not just with tongue twisters but by speaking up to her main bully. Unfortunately, Buddy called Peter a scaredy-cat and a chicken. Mike had what he thought was a good talk with Peter about how he doesn't have to fight if he doesn't want to, and might doesn't make right. He encouraged Peter to reason with Buddy, but then the next day Peter came home with a black eye! Buddy hit poor Peter while Peter was trying to reason with him.
Mike decided to go over to the Hintons' house and talk to Buddy's father. I was worried that he would end up in a fight of his own, but Mike insisted he would reason with Mr. Hinton. Unfortunately, Ralph Hinton is as much of a bully as his son. No, they didn't hit each other, but Mr. Hinton saw nothing wrong with Buddy hitting Peter or picking on a little girl. And he ordered Mike off his property. Mike says he almost but didn't quite lose his temper.
Mike told me about all this when he came back, and he said he was going to teach Peter to defend himself. I decided that it was time for women to settle this, since we're usually more peaceful than men. I went over to talk to Mrs. Hinton, but, while Buddy's mother isn't a bully herself and doesn't approve of bullying, she thinks it's best to keep her opinion to herself. I had trouble not losing my own temper.
I'm reluctantly going along with Mike, and Greg, training Peter in the "art of self-defense," but I hope Peter won't have to use it.
December 18, 1970
Well, Peter told me he ended up hitting Buddy. He didn't want to, but he felt like he had to. His father taught him how to defend himself in case Buddy still refused to listen to reason. So when Buddy told him, "Shut up or fight," Peter hit Buddy in the mouth, knocking one of his teeth loose.
"Wow, I'm impressed! Especially for your first punch."
"Thanks, Gilligan, but I was just lucky. Uh, don't tell Greg or my friends that."
"I won't. So how's it feel to have got revenge?"
He shrugged. "It didn't really feel like that. And the other kids, including Cindy, were making fun of Buddy after, but I made them stop. I figured he's been punished enough."
"You really are a hero, Peter." I don't think I could be that noble, especially at his age.
"Awww, gee, thanks, Gilligan."
December 20, 1970
Well, I still don't believe in violence, but I have to admit that it seems to have worked out that Peter, after reasonable talk failed, hit Buddy Hinton in the mouth. Buddy doesn't seem to hold a grudge. He came over to borrow Cindy's tongue-twister book, and he admires Peter's good left hook.
Still, I'm glad that school is out for the two-week Winter vacation. It's been quite a school year so far. Greg, by the way, got an A on the Pilgrim movie, and he's still working as Mike's assistant and seeing Randy. Marcia broke up with Lester, but I'm sure she'll find another steady soon. Jan did well in her solo at the Christmas/Winter concert. Bobby still wishes he hadn't told anyone about finding the wallet. And Cindy still lisps.
