5/29/24

Most Tuesday nights I go to karate class and then I go to a music open mic at the Train Stop. Last night I did both after a long day of work.

My karate sensei is an old friend who teaches classes across town so I went there after I was done working. When we were practicing self defense, my PTSD kicked in. But it was a little different this time. This time, while I was practicing, when I saw the other student’s fist coming at me, I flashed back to the guys trying to mug me. Good thing I was able to catch myself and pull out of it.

After class I talked to my old friend Paul who was the teacher. I told him about the kids who jumped me and how I knocked the gun away and beat the crap out of them. I didn’t mention what happened the second time. I was half expecting him to reprimand me because he always said “If they have a gun, run.” But he was actually proud of me. He said “If you walked away from the fight, you won for that day.” I guess he was right. I mean it’s better than not walking away I guess.

Afterwards I went to the open mic at the Train Stop and told my band mates about what happened. The lead singer and guitarist Frank started telling this woman about it and she seemed really interested. I thought maybe I could make something of it until she started talking about her boyfriend. I shrugged it off played music and it went pretty well. I’ve been playing violin for 38 years now so I can do some impressive things. Yeah, I’m that old.

When I was done I talked with my friend Chris who does both poetry and music stuff with me. He explained that he got jumped by some guys who pulled a car over and ran out. I remembered my old friend Nick who I’ve known since the fifth grade saying something similar about some guys who pulled over and got out of a car and tried to jump him. Same neighborhood, same street. Of course my first thought was I need to do something about these assholes.

When the open mic was over, I put my violin in the trunk and walked to the street where these guys in the car tried to jump my friends. It was after one in the morning and here I was this guy standing around in a shady neighborhood where I knew people had been jumped. I wanted something to happen. I welcomed it. I had so much anger I needed to get out and I figured this was the best way.

I leaned against a building and this pretty college age girl walked by. I tried not to look at her because I didn’t want to creep her out, being this old guy standing around in a dark street. Little did she know I was the only thing standing between her and what could have been a very bad night.

A car pulled up and four kids dressed in black got out, a lot like the ones who tried to jump me. They started harassing the woman. Saying things like “Hey bitch. You got a nice ass. I bet you got a nice pussy too. You got any money on you?”

I walked over to them. “Leave the lady alone.”

They laughed. “Or what.”

I grinned. “Or I’ll give you a really bad headache.”

One of them tried to grab her but she broke free. I lunged at the guy, grabbed his head and slammed it into my knee. Then I elbowed him hard in the head. The other guys started punching me, but it didn’t hurt, so I side kicked one guy in the knee and he stumbled to the ground. I blocked a few punches, right hooked one guy in the jaw, and roundhouse kicked the last one in the stomach. I tried to keep them in front of me and they all stumbled back to the car and drove away. “This ain’t over!” one of them shouted. “We’ll find you!”

“I welcome it!” I shouted back. “I’ll be waiting!” And they sped off.

I turned to the girl. “You okay?”

She nodded.

“Want me to walk you home or to your car or to wherever you were going?”

She nodded. “Home.” I walked her home and we talked some small talk. She was a student at the art school nearby. I told her to be careful and said good night and she went into her apartment building and walked up the steps. I went home, wacked off, and went to sleep.

Today I worked and then went to acupuncture and sound bath. Afterwards, I talked to the guy who ran it, Alex. My friend John wasn’t there that night. He usually brought his guitar and we would jam a bit after sound bath. But Jonah, one of the other violinists was there. So I told Alex and Jonah what happened the week before. Jonah smiled and said “I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. Yes! One of the good guys won this time.”

Alex told me about the time he got mugged when he left his girlfriend’s house. He gave them the keys to his car and got out, but soon after, the police found the guys and gave his car back.

Thats when I realized I needed to start cleaning this city up. The cops were overwhelmed. The citizens lived in fear. And if there’s something the past week has proven to me, it’s that my place in this world is to try to make things right.