the fight at the pool

When I was 10 my pastors son invited my brother and I to his apartment to go swimming. It was already late in the afternoon but it was really hot. So we went even though there was only an hour left before closing time. As we were swimming and playing in the water, a couple of neighborhood kids came to say hi to Sonki(pastor's son). One of them for some reason did not like my brother. Some words were exchanged and there was some ill feelings. So this kid decided to slap my brothers face as Euge was standing inside the pool near the edge. After slapping Euge the kid tried to run as Euge instantly tried to splash him with water as the kid was dressed in street clothes. The kid slipped and fell in the pool and we all laughed hysterically as he climbed out of the pool. We thought this was the end of it. It was not. The kid was now really pissed. So mad that he now waited outside the pool area to fight my brother. Since we were from a GOOD neighborhood and this was a rough neighborhood we all were a little nervous. Would he get his friends to help? How many would there be? Did my brother have to fight? Sometimes you have to. That is the way it was in 1980. When we came out to the parking lot they were ALL there. A large group of black and white kids had gathered to see this fight. My brother looked morbid. He was not happy and he was in fact scared. I was scared for him. We asked Sonki if the friends of this kid were going to help. He assured us that none of them would jump in. Whew! At least it would be fair. Euge tried to argue his way out of it. But that sparked the kid even more. Now he was even more determined as he smelled the fear in Euge's heart. There was no way out. Euge told him he didn't want to fight. The kid said ," you should have thought of that before you laughed at me!" Euge said," We all laughed at you, not just me!". The kid did not care and wanted to fight him and only him. Euge turned to me almost shaking. Nervous and scared. Unwilling and hesitant. It was time. He slowly took off the glasses that my father and bought for him. Some hideous brown plastic glasses that were definitely the cheapest ones in the store. As he slowly handed them to me, Euge said these words," Here Jerry, Hhhold my glasses..." As he handed me the glasses he curled his lips inside his mouth. I know this look as he did this everytime WE fought each other. I was surprised at the change of emotion. All of a sudden he had a look of determination if ever any existed. His eyes changed from fear to intensity. From hazy to concentration. He slowly turned around and fired. He threw the first punch. The second ...the third....and kept going. The kid started punching too but just because he had to do something. But it was too much. Sure Euge took some blows. But his determination never ceased. One after the other he threw. Connecting and reconnecting. Fast and faster. The kid finally had enough. He was now wearing the fear on his face as he gave up and turned around and ran. My eyes watered as I could not hold back my pride. Every time, every single time I tell this story..I tear up. Many times in my life I didn't show respect or even love for my brother. Many times I have. This moment was one I will never forget. It plays in my head like it just happened. The day my brother took on his fears head on and through determination and relentlessness...he won. Man....I was one proud little brother. Many times in his life he showed the same courage and relentlessness. A warrior within his mind. Back him into a corner ...he will come out swinging...even if he didn't want to. We had some childhood. .....JJ