Boys or Girls

My oldest son, who is 17, came back from a school basketball game last night and relayed this story to me. He went with two friends of his one a boy and one a girl. His school team was playing away at a rival school. Of course, since the fans are within the same room, it is easy to hear what is being yelled at one another. One of their fans yelled something at my son who responded in like. The fan who yelled at him became agitated and my son laughed at him because what he said wasn't even an insult (unusual for a group of teenaged boys at a game, right?). Anyway, my son decided that this kids was a little hot under the collar and decided it wasn't worth the continued badgering so he ignored him, which further infuriated the boy. When the game at last ended, again we lost, my son and his two friends walked through the hallway (with everyone else) to go to their car. He was stopped by this rival fan and was, in so many words, attempting to fight with my son. My son said something like, the games over and to drop it - it was a game. The rival fan left and my son and his friends continued down the hall to leave. Shortly after, within a few feet of the outside door, my son and his friends were stopped by none other than the rival fan and about 8 or 10 of his buddies. They surrounded and my son who pushed the girl behind him for protection. He and his friend tried to make sure their backs were against the wall so that they couldn't be attached from behind. Meanwhile, the girl was holding on tightly to the back of my son's shirt and was extremely scared. My son raised his voice and told them all to leave. He knew he wouldn't have any trouble fighting the kid who started all this, but he was smart enough to know that no matter how much adrenaline was coursing through his body at that moment, he wasn't going to take them all down. He also knew he had this girl to protect. He yelled everything he said, making enough noise so that someone might hear. They tried to get my son and his friends outside to "settle this". My son laughed in their faces and said...well.....I can't write it down....but you get the message, and that they would have to finish this inside because they weren't going anywhere with them. After a few more pleasantries were exchanged, the principal from our school and a couple of teachers from came running. My son recognized this same rival fan as a baseball player from last year who was warned and later caused their team to forfeit the game to our team after yelling at a referee. The principal and others broke up the incident and the police ushered the rival fans out of the building and escorted them away. My son and his friends were escorted by the principal and some teachers to their car. When he got home and told me about this, I could tell that he was still pumped up. But I was so proud of him. I've always told my boys never to start a fight, but I've also told them that they have the right to protect themselves from harm. He used his brain to get out of a very serious situation, by realizing they should stay in the building rather than go outside, to protect the girl who was with him and stand by his friend all without throwing a punch. It's a crazy world out there. I don't think that when my boys were younger I thought much about this type of situation. Now, you have to be careful because the fight may be the kid you have a disagreement with, his friends and anyone else who wants to join in. Usually several kids against one. It's hardly ever a one on one issue. Then you have to worry about guns in school, etc. Well, enough of this...let it be said that I guess my husband and I have done a good job so far of raising our boys. I'm very proud of them. I think he was even proud of himself.