Hm... [He hadn't really thought of it that way, but it's true enough - these sorts of questions can open up a dialogue. It just depends on how one dealt with them.]
Nah, I don' mind none. [He absently rubs at his nose with the back of his hand, thinking.] I'd watched some matches with my pa, an' Rocky with him my first time - that was a big part a' gettin' this dream in my head an' knowin' what I wanted t'do. I thought it was the coolest thing ever - still do, heh. [He lets out a breathless laugh, but it's not long before his expression sobers.] But I was also thinkin' that boxin' would... it'd, uh, teach me how t'protect m'self 'cause I wanted t'get back at people pickin' on me in school, an' all. I was real mad an' tired a'... tired a' gettin' beat an' bein' pushed around all the time.
[A beat.]
But Doc taught me t'be the better man, y'know? Keep it in the ring an' don' be a bully, he'd say.
[Smiling faintly, he looks to his lap, longing in his eyes.] He always had the right thing t'say... even if I didn't get it all the time or if it'd hurt t'hear it.
no subject
Nah, I don' mind none. [He absently rubs at his nose with the back of his hand, thinking.] I'd watched some matches with my pa, an' Rocky with him my first time - that was a big part a' gettin' this dream in my head an' knowin' what I wanted t'do. I thought it was the coolest thing ever - still do, heh. [He lets out a breathless laugh, but it's not long before his expression sobers.] But I was also thinkin' that boxin' would... it'd, uh, teach me how t'protect m'self 'cause I wanted t'get back at people pickin' on me in school, an' all. I was real mad an' tired a'... tired a' gettin' beat an' bein' pushed around all the time.
[A beat.]
But Doc taught me t'be the better man, y'know? Keep it in the ring an' don' be a bully, he'd say.
[Smiling faintly, he looks to his lap, longing in his eyes.] He always had the right thing t'say... even if I didn't get it all the time or if it'd hurt t'hear it.