I decided to read "Debbie Land" by Amy Bender. In this story, a school bully picks on Debbie maliciously. The group of bullies humiliate her and beat her for their own sick amusement. After the bullying, they return home to watch or take part in violent activities, like being a witness to domestic violence or watching Wrestling. Debbie wants to fit in with the kids at school, but winds up wearing "in" clothes from two months ago. This triggers the torment from her peers.
In college, the bully that picked on Debbie gets to know what it feels like to be a muse. The bully enters a relationship, one lasting about a year. This girl was unafraid to show affection in public, was confident, and also normal. This girl did not like having her lover pull strings to control her. While speaking in front of an audience, her lover realizes that they can embarrass her by making her cry. She had a nightmare and cried, therefore making her vulnerable. Her lover seems to take advantage of this, but gets left, my guess is because of the need for control.
The lover and former bully of Debbie then realizes what it feels like to be stringed along and dumped. The bullies elected one of them to make Debbie feel special in school, then torn her down once they knew she was buying into their act. Now the bully was being torn down by their exgirlfriend. While running into Debbie, she questioned her former bully about why they did that to her and she got a phony apology.
This story, to me, represents vulnerability and how some people take advantage of us when we are down. The bully notes that they go looking for people are crying in this world full of possibilities because comforting them means you "own" them. I think this is completely crazy, but true in a way. Some people think that being comforted by someone means you owe them something. But really, if they are comforting you, they should be doing it out of the goodness in their heart and not because they expect anything in return. Unfortunately, the bully (bullies) fail to grow up and are stuck with an immature mentality, while Debbie, or Anne, has moved past the bullies and made something out of herself.
Pam Kawalerski
Extra Credit Blog
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