This is another repost from an occasional series by my dear Aunt Doris, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 94.
Aunt Doris’ wedding photo. (c. 1946)
When I was in my early teens, Mum and I moved from Kensington to Notting Hill in London. (Yes, the same Notting Hill as the Julia Roberts movie.) Mum had bought a small sweet shop in a residential area; aside from a nearby corner pub, there were few other businesses in the area.
It turns out our new neighborhood also came with its very own local bully. Everyone moved out of his way quickly and the shop owners dreaded seeing him. He’d poke his head in their doorway, throw eggs or garbage, yell a few obscenities, and then run.
His name was Billy ‘Obbs and he was maybe ten-years-old.
There was no use complaining to his parents — they’d just as soon spit in your eye than talk to you. Even the local police were wary of him. In those days they patrolled the streets on bicycles. Billy would suddenly appear, yell a few curse words at them, and then hurl sticks at the wheels. Well, by the time the bobby had recovered, Billy was long gone.
Billy would often stow away on delivery vans, drop himself off in a different neighborhood and then pretend to be a lost child so he could get ice cream and candy until the police were notified and took him back home.
One day my mum (a little Irish lady) said, I’ve had it with Billy ‘Obbs!
Knowing he was around she hid in her shop, behind the door. When he poked his head in she grabbed him by the collar and said, Billy, if you treat me right, I’ll treat you right. But if you pull a trick I’ll come after you and knock the crap out of you! (There was no such thing as political correctness in those days.)
Well, Billy knew he had met his match. From then on he treated my mum with respect even running a few errands and bringing back the change!
He still bullied the rest of the neighborhood though.
Eventually, after setting a few fires, Billy was finally arrested and sent to a borstal — a correctional facility for wayward boys — and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Not for long though. That’s because we were soon faced with a far more evil bully: Adolf Hitler. (My daughter-in-law once told me it was a pity my mum didn’t meet Hitler!)
Anyway, a few years later when I was living in the US, Mum wrote to tell me that Billy ‘Obbs came by to visit her and that he had turned into a nice young man!
Today, when I watch The Simpsons on television and see Bart I think of Billy Hobbs.
When it came to raising kids, my mum would always say, “You don’t have to be cruel, you just have to be firm.”
She also used to say, “Never break a promise, whether it’s a slap or a gift.”
Actually, I was a little scared of my mum!
Love you all,
Aunt Doris
it seems that every neighborhood has its Billy Hobbs and that every neighborhood needs someone like your mum, Miss Doris.
I agree with you, Griper.
As we all know, there are plenty of them in the adult world too (some more subtle than others). I’ve encountered a few over the years.
Experience has taught me that bullies make their living off of easy marks who won’t stand up for themselves.
That’s why the only solution is to confront them and make it clear you won’t be pushed around!
Best story ever! Your mum was a firecracker, I love it! Thank you, Miss Doris.
That was great! The next time my kid act up, I’ll put him in a headlock.
haha amusing story. Glad to hear that Billy turned out good in the end. I wonder if he would’ve ended up the same way if it wasn’t for your mom. Some people just get off on being disrespectful and don’t really think their actions through. Sometimes they need someone to set them straight.
I love all of the posts from Aunt Doris! Keep them coming!
Good old Aunt Doris, always makes me smile.
Hello
Would you mind getting in touch. I have shared your story with some groups I belong to. the groups have over 2,000 members combined and are for people who have roots in the area you mention.
There are people in the group with the last name Hobbs and loads of pictures of the area you talk about.
Doris is why I subscribe to this blog.
I love reading your post.It actually resembles of one of our neighbor bully named Oscar. He met also his match and then behaved properly. Thanks for your Aunt Doris, she was so firm and brave to faced Billy, and she’s pretty too.
That was actually a nice read. Quite amusing, for a bit, in all honesty. Thanks for sharing by the way.
Back when I was a kid, we were able to take care of bullies ourselves. Now if we touched them, we’d be hauled off to jail instead of them. You have to speak their language.
Yes, you do,, Kathy. Otherwise they’ll walk all over you.
Your Aunt and my mother must have had some of the same DNA. My mom was 5′ tall and no man or woman would dare cross her. She held true to her word (good or bad). She was so well respected and I am thankful for having learned that from her. She passes on 10 years ago and I still hear from her friends how much they miss her and admired her.
My Aunt Doris was a very special lady., L.
Thank you for your comment.