My sister, my late sister, (she was never on time, but now “late” refers to deceased in case you were wondering) always had a habit of pissing people off by simply stating her mind. My middle son has this same filter-less brain affliction that my wife and I put up with day in day out.  Essentially, you think something, you speak said thing, people get annoyed.

One day in public school, my sister spoke her mind. To this day I am unsure what she said, who she said it to or what the circumstances were but I do know that it occurred around the big maple tree on the west side of the school near the swings. I was on the north side of the school hanging out with my friends playing hockey cards against the wall with a few friends. Recess ended, I went to class and the day continued. She being four grades behind me, I lined up at another door and did not witness the aftermath of “the beating” as it was henceforth referred to in our home. I only found out that something was up about thirty minutes later when I heard my father yelling from the quiet depths of the school “stand still you little fucker so I can remind you what its like to have someone kick your ass!”. This came from the principals office.

Background.  My father was a bit like Captain Kirk. He was intelligent, a bit of a ladies man, quick to crack a joke and ready to fight a Gorn at the drip of a hat.
Further background.  My principal was a red Corvette driving well dressed smooth talker who also was a bit of a 70s era schmoozer with the lady secretaries and teachers.  He also went to school with my dad. He also tried to tell my dad that “everything was fine..” and that my father was “overreacting…”. Bad thing to tell an ex-army boxer who’s little girl just got beat up.

As I learned later, this was not simply one person cranking my sis in the mouth. It started that way but expanded to an actual lineup of people she had ticked off over the years, one after the other taking a swing at her.

In the end, no charges were laid, my sister recovered and became more grumpy in general, my father was restrained by a couple of male teachers who treated me really quite well for the remainder of my term and the following year.  There is no moral to this tale. My dad got what he wanted by threatening to pummel someone.  My sister named names and detention was meted out ( nowadays charges would have been lain along with multiple suspensions). She learned nothing.  I benefited from the entire event in that teachers were afraid to even give me trouble which sadly I never put to use as I was a good kid who never got in trouble to begin with.  No after school specials will ever be made with this tale.

It does however go to remind me that my father, flawed, a bit of an incessant liar, a bruiser at times, spoiled brat of a kid, a crappy husband and not the best parent, he wasn’t that bad when it counted.