South Bronx

I first met Willie at IS 84 in the South Bronx.

It was 1972 and the South Bronx was where a young teacher had to go if they wanted to work in NYC.

I left at 7AM from my Long Island home and arrived in front of a school with bars on the window and dead dogs in the street.

Mail service in the area was sporadic and the police called the zone FORT APACHE.

What did I know?

I was 22 years old and needed to pay the rent to my new digs.

I brought my new bag of teaching tricks into the classroom.

The kids loved it when I "slapped box" another boy in the classroom.

Somewhat skilled in boxing, I moved around easily, making light contact with my younger opponents.

The "teaching" technique made me a hero in an arena lusting for heroes of any variety in their life.

Most of the kids here went to school in between court appearances on their way to a life of felonious behavior.

IS 84 was simply a weigh station.

Everything was going so well.

Then I met the kids real hero.

Willie came to class.

To be Continued..................