I wasn't asking you, I was asking her!

[ailbhe]

A few days ago I heard screaming in the street, in the middle of the day. I looked out; some teenagers were horsing around. The screaming stopped, they moved on.

The screaming started again. The two boys had picked the girl up and were threatening (with their body language) to put her in a wheelie bin. She looked distressed. I raised the curtain and made sure they saw me watching them. They put her down.

The screaming started again and I heard high-heeled running. I looked out; she was running away. I opened the front door and called "Are you ok?" across the road.

The BOYS said - one of them said "She's fine!" and the other said "We're her brothers."

I was livid. I snapped, with my voice raised, "I didn't ask you, I asked her."

She turned and did the it's-all-ok laugh-and-smile thing, which might mean it's all ok or not, and said she was ok.

The screaming didn't start again, anyway.

I'm never going to get over those two boys in the car, am I?

Comments

[ailbhe]

The two boys in a car was something I overheard, not something that happened to me - I called the police that time.

[tiggsybabes.livejournal.com]

I react to that type of thing. We were on holiday when Kate was 2 at a holiday park in Cornwall. Kate & I were at the playground, lots of children were there & was the only adult. A boy of 10 or so was picking on the younger children. He then got too rough in my opinion, so I went over & told him off. His excuse was "It's ok, he's my brother" directed at the boy who was crying. I shouted at him to go & get his parents & tell them to come over to me for a word. They all slunk off.

I make teenagers pick up rubbish when they drop it in the street. Andy hates it as he says I'll get punched one of these days.

[rmc28]

Good for you! That's inspiring.

Funnily, I'm less worried physically as feeling socially awkward for "poking my nose in". I knew a lot of teenagers (back when I was one!) who would drop litter, but who would be appalled at the idea they'd actually hit someone. And if I did ever get hit, I know what to do (call 999 and take a photo if possible). I don't think I should let my fears stop me pointing out when people are being antisocial though.

[ailbhe]

I wasn't afraid of two teenage boys, I have The Mum Voice and can use it. I would probably be afraid of men - but if it had been men, I'd have called the police, probably.