-That was a strike.
-No it wasn’t
-Was too.
-Mikey, was that a strike?
-I don’t know. You won’t let me pitch. I’m not tellin’ anyway.
-Richie, that was a strike, wasn’t it?
-Look, it’s my ball and bat and I’m just standing here. I’m not sayin’ either.
-Look, you idiots, if I don’t pitch it’ll never be a strike and we’ll just be fishin’ the balls out of the grass over and over.
-Dad says if we fight, he’ll make me mow the lawn instead of playin’. I’m gonna lie and tell him you’re pick’n a fight with me.
-He couldn’t beat up your sister, never mind you.
-Could so.
-You tried once. No you can’t.
-Well, then, he’ll have to mow the lawn. He won’t say so.
-Beats standin’here listenin’ to you call a ball a strike.
-See!
-Was too.
One Response
An important set of developmental tasks you touch on here. Boys will spend much more time arguing about a game than actually playing it until they get their wolfpack order arranged. And even then, the wolfpack is renegotiated every season. You learn the wide variety of strategies for dealing with people encroaching on your rights and how well they work. Some boys will fight on every hill. Others will stay quiet but go ballistic once a month. Others will take quiet revenge. Some will withdraw and start their own cohort. Some will be funnier or verbally dominant to get their way. Each has advantages and disadvantages, and it’s called Real Life.