Bullies

First year teaching, wet behind the ears, Trying to keep thirty kids in line, School board talked about numbers and budgets, I was just trying to survive.

There was a kid named Jason, Built like a truck at twelve years old, And little Mike kept taking his nonsense, Every day getting pushed around some more.

I'd catch the tail end of it, Never enough to make it stick, Jason knew just how far to go Without getting caught for it.

Then one day after recess, I heard that sound every teacher knows, A hundred kids running toward trouble Like flies to a rodeo.

I rounded the corner by the bathrooms, And there stood Big Bad Jason, Throwing punches like a windmill For the crowd he'd gathered around him.

But every swing cut empty air, Mike ducked low and moved aside, Then cracked him clean across the mouth And knocked the swagger from his eyes.

Now I ain't proud of what I'm saying, But Lord, I'd be lying if I did, Part of me wanted to cheer that boy For finally handling his business.

Had to walk in and break it up, Had to say what teachers say, "It takes two boys to start a fight," Though Mike had earned that day.

Yeah, sometimes justice shows up ugly, Sometimes it comes black and blue, And every bully finds out sooner or later The world can hit back too.

What got me wasn't Mike could fight, It was that he'd never chosen to, He'd spent a month walking away When most boys would've cut loose.

He wasn't scared of Jason, Wasn't hiding, wasn't weak, He was stronger than the rest of us, Trying to keep the peace.

Then standing there I remembered A skinny kid I used to be, Trying on bully boots one afternoon Thinking they looked good on me.

I found myself a target, Thought I'd push him around awhile, Turns out that kid took boxing lessons, He corrected my whole style.

One punch taught me more about life Than a hundred talks at home, I apologized before the sun went down, And somehow we became close.

Sometimes pain's a better teacher Than all the wisdom in a book, And if I'd gotten away with it, Who knows the road I would've took?

Thank God somebody stopped me Before that poison took its hold, Thank God that kid hit hard enough To reach my stubborn soul.

And thank God for little Mike, For all the Jasons too, 'Cause every crossroads needs a lesson Before pride carries through.

I broke that fight up like I should, Sent them both back down the hall, But a bully getting humbled Might've helped them both most of all.

Yeah, I still see it clear as whiskey, Like it happened yesterday, Little Mike standing over Jason, And justice having its say.