My co-worker and her husband are going back to England and so they invited us all to go drinking with them.  I was drinking with my co-worker’s husband at the bar, and he was telling me of the time he got in a scuffle:

“We came out of the pub, totally drunk. Saw a cab pull up and got inside. We took it from some poor chaps, and they were getting really pissed. So for laughs, we started taunting them through the windows (holds up middle fingers), ha ha we got the taxi now. Now they were getting really pissed and they were like, oh why don’t you come out and do that to our face. And we go, all right we will. Got out, taunted them and cursed at them. The cab then just drove off, probably a smart move. Then we started walking the away, but as we were walking we saw them coming towards us from both sides, about 10 of them. And there was only 3 of us! I turned around and the first thing I saw was Brian flying through the air. They started coming after us! I get grabbed from behind, this guy got me in a bear hug. He was trying to throw me down but he couldn’t because I was grabbing him by the leg. I started punching this guy in the balls until he let me go. And I started swinging at everyone. I wasn’t going to let up. But they still came at me, punching me, and then threw me down, and started kicking me. Then I reached for a brick, holding it high and swinging it around. All right who wants a piece of this! No one dared to come near and they just left. We picked ourselves up and went home shortly after that.

But I felt terrible the next morning. I mean not from the injuries. I just got a cut on the chin and a black eye. It was nothing. I felt terrible for what I did, taunting the guy and everything. I don’t know why I did it. That wasn’t me. I’m a passive guy. Don’t want any trouble. I would never have done something like that but I did, and I felt horrible because that wasn’t me. I should’ve just let the poor bastard have the taxi. Oh here you go. Sure no problem. And it would’ve been done with. You would’ve done just that Don. I know you for some time now, and you would’ve done the right thing and let em have the taxi. But I didn’t do that. I was being a smart ass! Just wanted to piss people off all in good fun. And for what? What if I actually hit someone with that brick? And really killed someone? I could’ve gone to prison and my life would have been different. You see? It’s unpredictable. What would it have been like if I just let them have the taxi? Or if I didn’t fight back, and just get beat and even killed! Things would’ve been different and it shows you how unpredictable everything is. It’s so easy to have a different life.”

“Well you’re here now Alex.”

“Yeah, I’m here now.”