{"id":187,"date":"2024-10-16T22:40:47","date_gmt":"2024-10-16T22:40:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trustythetrekker.com\/?page_id=187"},"modified":"2024-10-16T22:40:48","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T22:40:48","slug":"mandy-meandered","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/trustythetrekker.com\/?page_id=187","title":{"rendered":"MANDY MEANDERED"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mandy meandered<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

as she walked<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

down her block.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was upset<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

by that fight that night.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She felt <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

she was<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

in emotional shock.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were the boys<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

there were the girls<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

yet <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

her thoughts <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

had questions <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

had the whirls.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What exactly happened?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did it all start?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She couldn’t recall<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

that specific,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

first part.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She remembered,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

how it <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

began small.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

grew more and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just what was said?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was at the core?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boys and girls<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

jumped into that fight.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They said mean<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

vicious words,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

right beneath<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

the streetlight.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After strong words,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

then,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

people started hitting.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were bitter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

angry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

no one was quitting.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What seemed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

to stop the fight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

that night<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

was because<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

everyone who joined<\/strong> in<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

got hurt.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They grew tired<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

of the pain<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

all the words<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

that were curt.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mandy chose to leave<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

when she saw Randy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

roll up his sleeve.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She did not<\/strong> want<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

to fight that night.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She ran to her home<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

stayed inside<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

not to roam.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was still angry.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her heart,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

still hurt<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

yet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

nothing was gained<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

with the fists<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

the blurt.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of the children<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

yelled about<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

what was on their mind.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

there was nothing fun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

about<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

not being kind.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mandy likes truth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

she knows <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

it is important<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

how she speaks it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She doesn’t like fights.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She thinks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

they are uncouth.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mandy kept pondering<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

for she wanted<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

a different way.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her neighborhood friends<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

used to smile,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

laugh and play.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She didn’t want<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

those good times<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

to ever go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

then<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

decided<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

that<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

she would not fight.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She wouldn’t join in<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

to say mean words<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

in the night.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She believed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

that she could stand<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

on the ground.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She could talk it straight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

without any cruelty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

to confound.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mandy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

designed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

a new strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

in her mind.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She decided<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

to be the first<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

to be lots of fun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

to be kind.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She started<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

by saying hello.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If she received<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

a jeer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

or a sneer,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

she told herself,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s nothing wrong<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

with just being mellow.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She then stated,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s do chalk art<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

on this block.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I like to draw pictures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

to talk<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

then go on a walk.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She started<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

doing this<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

day after day.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

many children<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

joined in<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

to play<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

play<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

play.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mandy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

noticed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

it was more fun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

to get along.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She learned<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

to move through conflict<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

wrote a carefree song,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put down the hatred,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bring up the love,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our hearts are first rate,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s have peace<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

like a dove.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She clapped<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

tapped<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

as some others<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

joined in.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some children still<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

made fun of her<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

yet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

she turned away <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

from them,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

for she had<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

something to do<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

something to begin.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

>>> Mandy meandered >>> as she walked >>> down her block. >>> She was upset >>> by that fight that night. >>> She felt she…<\/p>\n

Continue ReadingMANDY MEANDERED<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-187","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/trustythetrekker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/trustythetrekker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/trustythetrekker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustythetrekker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustythetrekker.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=187"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/trustythetrekker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":190,"href":"https:\/\/trustythetrekker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/187\/revisions\/190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/trustythetrekker.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}