The first bullies I had to deal with was Steve Fillon and his friend Jim Schultz who were 9th Graders at Pioneer Jr. Hi, when I was in the 7th grade. (1956) They used to stop by in the morning while I was waiting for the bus, on the road outside my parent's little ranch on Mill Creek, to try and scare and intimidate me. It increased during my 7th Grade track season, as I could beat him Pole Vaulting and took his place on the Track Team pole-vaulting. This did not end until Steve Fillion temporary moved away from Walla Walla in 1960!
My anger grew for some time as the memories of the bullying came to my mind often until, as a 10th grader, I went to sit with my High School and Football Buddy, Freddie Quinn in the Wa-Hi Auditorium. We sat down and then looked forward and there was Steve Fillion with a cocky grin looking at me. Instantaneously, I said let's go outside. He was surprised, but I was ready to kick his ass and I did my best to do so.
I was not stupid and still had some fear underneath my anger, I realized that school officials would come and break up the fight before we got to carried away. And they did! But I got a few good hits before they broke up the fight! After that day I was never bothered again by Steve Fillon. In fact, he avoided me and moved away a few months later. Jim Shultz avoided me like the plague, although I pursued revenge for some years. Revenge is a complete loss of good energy! I have found as difficult as it may be some time that forgiveness is always the way to go when possible!
