I was 11-years-old and in Form One at Papakura Intermediate. There was a boy in my class called Karl Blank who was just a friend, but I secretly had a crush on him and enjoyed him teasing me during class.
A new girl had started at our school called, Michelle Brennan. She was English, loud and liked to be the centre of attention. I took an instant disliking to her – mainly because Karl also started to tease her and she used to flick her hair in this really annoying way, which I later learnt was “flirting”.
Karl had unknowingly become the centre of our affections and we started to become a little competitive with one another. Pretty soon our friends and classmates started to take sides and before I knew it, a rumble had been arranged after school between Michelle and I over Karl Blank.
The day came and I was absolutely shitting myself – I was little, I was shy and I was not the fighting type of girl. The 3 PM bell went and there was this rush to the Settlement Road school exit and by the time I got there, a whole bunch of kids were waiting. I remember thinking, “Oh my god, how am I going to get out of this….maybe I can talk to her”. I walk up, encouraged by my friends who are telling me that I can “take her” and not to worry. Within seconds I’m standing, facing Michelle while this huge group of kids had formed a circle around us. She goes to say something to me (I later found it was her wanting to just walk away) when someone pushed me from behind and I fell into her. Michelle figured I was starting the fight and before I know it hands are hitting my head and face and I got so angry and scared that adrenalin took over and I just punched and hit back. The whole thing last less than 30 seconds and we both had scratches and marks on our faces and necks, we’d pulled each others hair, she ripped my coral necklace off me and I tore her shirt before a teacher broke it up.
I walked home feeling a bit sad but slightly triumphant. The next day Michelle and I were both legends at school, no one had been declared the winner, but her and I become friendly after that and even laughed about the stupid fight. As for Karl Blank – neither of us ever told him what that fight was about, and the following week we found out he’d been going around with Jennifer Brimming for a month anyway.
Lessons learnt: Fighting is downright stupid; don’t get pushed into something you don’t want too do and no man is worth physically fighting over. Ever.
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