So Now You Know!!

So Now You Know!!

My 3yr old nephew Joshua came to me with a confession. While playing with my old G.I. Joe, a few of them broke in half. His face was so very apologetic…I couldn’t get mad. I told him that it would be okay and just to be careful next time. My G.I. Joe collection used to be a hot button issue in my house. This collection includes many original issue figurines and vehicles. From age 6 until I discovered girls…(13 not 20), my undying passion was the collection of as many Joes as possible. This collection grew to mammoth proportions to a total number of over 300 articles. My brother Wesley simultaneously collected his famed Transformers. His numbers closely match mine as he was also a fanatic.

My brother got a car and discovered girls when I was in 5th grade. He left his trusted collection in my loyal hands. I guarded Optimus Prime more than I guarded my loins!! Together with my new transformer and GI Joe collections, I had enough toys to last an entire year. But….just as any kid…I wanted more!! With a room full of toys my parents were hardly convinced that I needed to purchase any more toys…”but I gotta get the new Duke”…my mom was not haven it. I needed a new strategy. Enter: Robert S*

Robert S*(Rob) was that kid in school. The kid that you always knew would be servin 5 to 10 for something. His list of attributes include; bully, heart throb, liar, trouble maker, etc…. I was only interested in most indulging quality…”Five Finger Discount Champ” Rob had a knack for going into stores, removing the Joes from their packaging, and walking out with them. He would show up to school the next day with three of four newly obtained contraband. Rob was also a savvy businessman. He would unload his product for 1 or 2 bucks depending on the rarity and demand. Special request might garner a higher price, but they were always cheaper than the purchase price and who could beat the service?? Also as a perk, being a “client” of Rob’s also garnered his protection from other bullies!! This was a win win situation. I wasn’t buying stolen goods, I was protecting my own ass’sets!! (I am still convinced of this!!)

My collection doubled from a 100 or so to over 200+. Rob and I became daily associates. My allowance became my drug money, and GI Joes were my crack, and Rob was my pusher. Like any junkie I could not wait to go to school, foaming at the mouth when I would see him. If he shrugged his shoulders with nothing to offer, I would get depressed. Some days I would even buy double characters just for a fix…I knew I could trade them with the kids at my church who were all impressed with my growing collection. This was a business too.

Rob got caught. A panic rushed through my class as we were all connected in his trafficking. Rob was a true thug and never ratted us out. We were all safe as he was just smacked on the hand by Babylon. Sure enough a month later he was back to his small time dealings. I slowly weaned myself off of of this habit and until the end of the year. In sixth grade I discovered the fairer sex and lost my obsession with the collection.

Growing up as a “God Fearing Christian” I felt a bit of guilt about everything at the time. I knew that stealing was wrong, but I wasn’t stealing so that made it okay… right?? No. How often do we as humans try to justify doing something wrong by circumventing it through another person? How could I now get mad at Joshua for breaking something that should not have been mine in the first place?? Karma is a funny thing. Sure enough that each time I would return from college my mom would have given more and more of my Joes away. Slowly but surely a once abundant collection has been dwindled down to less than 100 items, most of which are broken or beyond resale value. Through it all, I have learned a valuable lesson….So now I know!!!
“And Knowing Is Half The Battle”