NSPCA - National Council of SPCAs

Anastasiia Yalanskaya was one of the brave animal warriors who remained behind while all others evacuated Ukraine. Last week, Anastasiia and two volunteers (unnamed) were gunned down en-route from an animal shelter that they had just delivered dog food to. The animal shelter had been without food for almost three days. Anastasiia was only 26 years old.

On behalf of everyone at the Council, may Anastasiia and her colleagues rest in eternal peace.

This is a great analogy comparing school bullies to Putin. It reminded me of a part in Barkley Sound Secrets, where two woman mentor a group of previously homeless teenage girls. On page 217, the girls have just arrived on for their first day of classes, having dropped out before graduating.

Bullies are the same the world over and Putin has already been given too much as did Britain gave to Germany in 1939.

"As the entourage headed to the front doors, a group of boys dressed for their appearance on the cover of GQ magazine, approached speaking loudly, “Well, if it isn’t the group of misfit, drop-out street sluts. What, you gave up on homelessness and being whores?” said the tallest.

Several of the other male teens bellowed equally disdainful epithets as they attempted to surround the girls milling about Rebecca and Penelope’s SUV.

Rebecca hesitated to get involved in solving what might be an ongoing problem with the girls fitting in, but her sense of morality was in overload as she eyed Penelope to gauge her reaction.

In the brief moment the women exchanged looks, another male teen stepped between the jeering crowd and in front of the loudest confronting him with, “Watch your mouth, Reeves.”

Reeves responded as do all bullies by shrugging his shoulders, balling his fists and stepping toward Dominic Laina, a six-foot junior with a reputation as a scholar and outstanding basketball player. “And what are you going to do about it Laina, if I don’t stop calling these street whores what they are?”

“For a guy who has such nice parents, I can’t believe you are this crude Reeves. Look around and see all the phones recording. Maybe you will be the homeless teen once your folks see this on the evening news.”

That was too much for Reeves to channel intellectually. He moved on his left foot, brought his right arm back cocking it to punch Laina when suddenly, his opponent stepped to his left and executed a powerful front kick to Reeves’ groin, dropping the attacker to his knees.

Laina unaffected by the encounter, took one more step with his left foot and drove his right palm into Reeve’s nose, breaking it instantly.

Reeves fell over sideways as blood gushed onto his Persian Gol o Bolbol Print Shirt, while smartphones continued to record.

The crowd had expanded considerably in the short time it took for the physical altercation to run its course, everyone chanting, “Fight, fight, fight”. Several of the jeering boys looked up from Reeves and started to move against Laina but were halted in their quest for revenge by sixteen determined girls stepping in front of Laina and walking slowly toward the now shocked students.

None of the girls spoke, but their facial expressions screamed their intent to take the boys down quickly with skills they learned surviving on the streets.

As the boys quickened their steps to leave, one found the need to have the last word. He turned to yell a final insult but found his forward motion stopped abruptly…his head jerked backward by Vanessa Henderson’s firm grip on his hair. His eyes went wild as he attempted to free himself and relieve the pain. As his hands moved to grab Henderson, she twisted his head and jerked it backwards so he was thrown on his side. Henderson bent down and said, “Is there something you wanted to say prick?”

Last Word kid was speechless and embarrassed. Tears welled in his eyes as Henderson bent close to his ear and said, “Remember this asshole, because any more comments from you and I will put you in the fuckin’ hospital.”

The crowd thinned quickly as students headed for the front door, followed by the newest members of the student body and their first friend, Dominic Laina.

Reeves struggled to rise, receiving help from the few of his group remaining with Penelope and Rebecca watching from beside their SUV.

One of his friends offered encouragement with, “You can sue them Reeves. Get your dad to sue them. They can’t get away with this.”

“Fuckin’ right I am going to sue those bitches, the school and that shit Laina. He will regret hitting me.”

Penelope felt compelled. Casually walking the few steps to stand beside Reeves, speaking loudly so his friends could hear, she said, “Reeves, I suggest you chalk this up to a life experience. Maybe you learned something today. Maybe not. But either way, if you sue, or cause any difficulty for your fellow students, I personally will see to it that the video of your vulgarity will be on every California news channel which will block all roads to an Ivy League school and any hopes of ever being hired by a prestigious firm.”

Rebecca was enjoying herself immensely, watching Penelope back the disgusting, privileged teen into a corner. Wanting to be part of the scene, she walked over to the group, pulled out her identification and flashed the Secret Service logo adding, “And I will be witness number two.”

“Take the day off, get cleaned up and return tomorrow having learned to keep your mouth shut and your bigoted opinions to yourself.”

Reeves’ anger had not dissipated but it was evident he had heard them. It was expected that his friends would remind him that his future would be ruined if he didn’t drop the issue immediately."