Ever notice how you can look at some kids and know exactly what kind of adults they'll turn into? That jerk tailgating you while flashing his high-beams didn't just wake up one morning in his late 20s with an ax to grind and an exaggerated sense of self-importance—he was that way on the playground too.
You always knew the kid with the receding hairline was someone to steer clear of. Yes, he's a fifth-grader and you're only in second. Yes, he's been held back…twice. And yes, that "glandular" condition adds a serious weight advantage to the one he already has in height.
Yet somehow, in the glow of adoration you were enjoying from your buddies, you failed to notice him stalking up behind you as you made that clever observation about his lisp. You wonder why the laughter seems to have died (after all, you were killing like Chris Rock). It's then that the ominous shadow falls over you like a hobbit in Mordor.
You turn to face him and notice he's actually 10 feet tall. He sticks a menacing finger in your face and sneers, "Meet me by the bike rackth after thchool. We'll thee who hath a lithp then."
Your young life has now come down to two choices: call mom and have her pick you up immediately after school with the car roof bike rack, or stand up and take your chances. Your buddies are looking at you like they're already dividing up your things. But, there comes a point in every man's life when he has to stand and fight. And, after all, what could he really do to you? That rips it: no mom and no bike carrier for you today!
THREE AGONIZING HOURS LATER…
It's 2:55 and you're at the bike racks, waiting. Your friends are there supporting you (though from a safe distance). You check your watch, as though bullies abide by a schedule (late—how typical). And, then you think to yourself, maybe HE chickened out. Maybe he's all talk. You start to ease a little, your heart no longer threatening to break through your chest. The sound of birds, traffic and the rustle of the trees replaces the pounding in your ears as the sun shines on your face. If he does actually show up, you may even apologize. After all, you were the one talking smack. Your nervous grin gives way to a relieved smile and you close your eyes and breathe deeply, filling your lungs with the exhilarating air of righteous defiance.
"Thtill think I talk funny, jerk?"
And like a bubble, the fantasy bursts. You open your eyes with him looming in front of you, consider the question, and say, "Yep."
As his knuckles fill your vision, immediately followed by a close-up view of the pavement, you realize you probably could have been spared all this with a little groveling. You spy one of your own teeth lying on the ground and know it would still be in your mouth had you loaded your bike onto a hitch bike rack or spare tire bike rack and run for cover. At what cost though?
Bullies get a bad rap. Sure, they go out of their way to inflict misery on others. Sure, they take what's not theirs and often create an environment where anxiety is the norm. But, bullies also teach a valuable life-lesson: a little courage goes a long way. And, long before there were therapists, support groups and programs to "socialize" kids, there were bullies out by the bike racks…keeping us all in line.
Knowing when to fight and when to walk away is wisdom that comes with age. For those still learning, bike racks, like a hitch bike rack and spare tire bike rack, provide a reliable backup plan.
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