How to handle a bully
Alison Barry was the neighbourhood bully. Everyone was terrified of her. Small children would burst into tears if their stroller was wheeled past her. Kids would stop playing and hurry inside if they saw her coming. Grown men would cross the street to avoid passing her. At school she reigned supreme. Kids parted like the Red Sea before her on the playground and handed over their lunch and any money they had without being asked. It was easier that way. Even teachers stayed out of her way. She did whatever she wanted. If a teacher said "the earth is round," and Alison said "No it isn't, it's flat," the teacher would immediately agree for fear that she'd be flattened if she didn't, which made learning geography very confusing. Occasionally a new teacher who wasn't familiar with the routine would attempt to actually teach Alison, with predictably disastrous results. A conversation along these lines would b...