February 11, 2004

The Bridge

On our daily walking routine with my mother, we get to this narrow pedestrian suspension bridge near my home. My mother is somewhat timid about crossing it but I insist and we start walking. If you've ever been on one of these, you know those first few steps when you feel the boards under your feet moving is a bit unnerving. We keep at it with me playing the brave guide (faking is more like it) and my mother behind me as walking side-by-side would get us way too close to those intimidating edges.

There are a couple of teenagers making out right upfront as we start and a few more kids can be seen further down, near the middle of the bridge. As we get closer to the center, a bit of wind picks up and the bridge starts to sway even more and I can tell my mother is now really nervous. I tell her to stop looking down and stare at my back instead and just keep walking.

We are almost at the dead center when the kids a bit further up grab the wires on one side and start to deliberately swing this whole bridge! I don't know if to grab the sides or help my mom stand, as she has a bad knee and mainatining balance is not her best skill. I grab her hand and try to not look or sound nervous and keep walking 'till we make it to the kids a few steps ahead and they timidly stop. I decide to not make a big scene, as it would both scare mom and it is also obvious the kids were just being mischievous. Four rather straight looking 12 to 15 year old boys of various ethnicities, killing an afternoon in the neighborhood and having fun at the expense of innocent passersby.

I kept thinking about this afterwards and specifically what makes kids of that age group work so hard on pissing off other people. This is pretty universal and in one way or another, most teens try it even if temporarily. Maybe dominating of a couple of adults even for a few minutes is a way for them to temporarily take control in a world where they see themselves having none. Maybe it's another form of rebelling. Maybe they are pushing boundaries of what this new world they are adjusting to tells them is acceptable or not. Maybe I'm thinking too much about what a few kids did in Southern California this evening.

Posted by Pedram at February 11, 2004 11:40 PM
Comments

No, senseless bullying of an older, weaker, more fagile person in a vulnerable position is not normal boyish mischief. It does say something sad about American families, and the general lack of respect for self and others in the White Trash Nation. Lack of empathy is a symptom of psychosis, just another manifestation of the breakdown of civilization. I wish you had asked those boys for an apology. It would have reminded them that everyone there was a human being, and it might have lessened you mother's fear.

Posted by: winterwife at February 12, 2004 07:35 PM

Just excessive hormones playing havoc.

Posted by: Haleh at February 12, 2004 10:59 PM

I used to live quite near this same bridge and I can understand Pedram and his mother's nerves. This bridge crosses over a small canyon with about a 50 foot drop! Rocking it is a thrill, but you should have called these boys on their poor behavior. If their parents haven't taught them manners by age 12, you should have reminded them that others have feelings too. I hope you at least gave them a disapproving frown as you passed :)

Posted by: Kristen at February 13, 2004 04:33 PM