The Mean Man (The Unhappy Man)

In everyone's life, at one time or another, there is a mean person.  The most memorable 'mean' man in my life was someone who I came upon as a child back in the 1960's.  The family had two boys, but I don't remember the wife at all.  Perhaps I never saw her.

We always knew to keep a watch for one of the sons especially after he threw an 'ice ball' that hit just below my eye.  It actually broke the skin into tiny cuts and I donned a black eye to school for a week.  I never made the connection back then, but now I realize where his 'learned' meanness came from. 

One day I was playing catch with my new rubber ball.  It was one of those wonderful rubber balls that had blue, white and red stripes.  I loved that ball.  I don't remember how much such a ball cost, but I suspect it was a birthday present from my parents.   I recall trying to catch a throw from my friend but it sailed easily above my head.  The ball bounced halfway down the block and disappeared out of sight.  I ran after it and came upon a man standing in his front yard and I questioned him whether he had seen my ball.  I recall he had one hand behind his back.  His manner was not pleasant and I suspected he was hiding my ball.  I tried to run around and look, but he was much too fast turning this way and that.  After several minutes of this silly game, he produced the ball and without any warning threw it with all his might down the street so that it crossed one street and went down into the next block.  My friend and I searched for it for a very long time, but to no avail.  We peeked over fences into people's front yards and asked anyone we came across.  I never did find that ball and it was soon replaced by many more lost balls. 

Thinking back now, I realize that he accomplished what he had set out to do. He sent out a strong warning for all neighbourhood children to stay away from his front yard and flowers.  We all understood the message and from that day forth, we always took a wide berth when we walked by his house or place of business.  It was not uncommon to change to the other side of the street.  He was an unhappy man.
 




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