Thread by @realBixterN

Story Time.

Long ago, in the Before Time, when I was working in an auto shop one summer during my college years, I was at a McD's getting lunch when a Young Scholar of a Neely-ish Persuasion came shambling in and was walking around harassing diners.

People were generally ignoring him, but he was being loud, aggressive, and confrontationally odorous. McD's staff told him to leave, but otherwise did nothing when he refused.

A family of tourists came in: grandparents, parents, and 4 young kids. Obvious out-of-towners.

They sat down at a big round table like you used to find in places like this, and piled up their various purses, bags, etc. In the middle while the grandpa and dad went to get food, women and children happily chatting.

The Fragrant Scholar took notice of this immediately.

I could see him focus his gaze on the pile in the middle of the table from across the room. He moved in toward it.

By the time he reached the tourists, I was already starting to stand up, like a reflex action. I just knew what was going to happen.

Thus, I was already on my feet when the Boisterous Youth reached between two kids, snatched the womens' purses from the pile, and bolted for the door.

Without thinking about it, I immediately launched after him.

Keep in mind: this was back when we still had a partly-functioning society.

Also, I was young still. Full of piss and vinegar. College athlete. Hormones rushing. IMMORTAL.

And I had been raised in a moral schema in which the strong were supposed to protect the weak.

I caught him in the parking lot.

Just as I would do on the field, I hit him from behind on the sprint, full force tackle in the small of his back.

He went down on the hot asphalt, hard. The purses went flying.

The impact caught him completely by surprise, stunned.

He recovered quickly, but not before I got him into a full submission hold: full nelson pressing his face into the pavement and a leg lock preventing him from flipping out of it.

He started thrashing, fighting desperately to escape. The stink was overwhelming.

Other patrons from the restaurant came flooding out to see what was happening. Thank God this was before cell phone video.

One of them yells "he's got a knife!"

OH SHIT.

The Aspiring Rapper had managed to get a hand back to his jacket during the struggle and had a knife.

Fortunately, another guy came up and stomped down hard on the knife hand. The blade went skittering under a car.

I had the tiger by the tail. No fucking way was I letting go of this shithead until he was fully under arrest and cuffed.

So I tightened my hold, locked him down.

He kept fighting back, but I had him. The restaurant had called the cops, so I squeezed until he went slack.

And we waited.

So, when I see that video of the NYC subway incident, I can relate to what is going through the minds of the three young men who subdued Neely.

I thought maybe the Fragrant Scholar had gone unconscious, but every time I shifted my hold he would start to fight back again.

Finally, the cops arrived, screeching up with sirens blaring.

With the arrival of Five-O, the fight finally went out of him. He went totally slack.

Then he says, so quiet only I can hear,

"Who da fuck you think you are, bitch?"

I, being young, stupid, and full of adrenaline, lean right next to his ear and whisper:

"I'm Batman." 😄

The cops grab him and I finally let go. He gets cuffed and shoved into the cop car.

Police take witness statements. The tourist family are very grateful. I get hugs and handshakes.

The manager of the McD's gets my name and I ate free there for a month.

I was late back to work.

A few months later, I got a very official package in the mail. It was an official police commendation with a hand-written thank you note from the mayor. This was in a major American city, mind you.

Compare that to our modern race-baiting auto-da-fés and media struggle sessions.

That America is gone, within my lifetime.

Would I hope my son would do the same now? Absolutely not, under any circumstances.

Let the Vibrant Youf go. It's not worth the risk of having your whole life destroyed because of political bullshit and malicious prosecution.

And that's why this country is finished.

A civilization stands on the strength and will to action of pro-social young men who will charge into the breach to protect the innocent, knowing society will stand with them on the side of righteousness.

Not now. Not anymore.

POSTSCRIPT:

I've gotten some DMs about this story. I assure you it is completely true. I've changed around some of the details because NO DOXX PLZ, but it really happened as I describe it.

Did I testify at the Fragrant Junkie Hobo's trial?

No. The county let him walk.

~FIN~