One of the first big concerts I ever went to on my own (actually with several friends who were sort of a band, kinda) was at age 14 (maybe 15? not gonna check) at the Honolulu International Center arena: the Young Rascals. They were enormous in Hawaii.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) February 2, 2022

After the concert my friends and I were hanging out at a spot in the arena facility where there were benches, just wasting time, not wanting to go home yet, and suddenly noticed we were surrounded by some kind of gang.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) February 2, 2022

They had a leader who went around to each of my friends and got up in their faces, yelled some incomprehensible stuff at them, then punched them hard in the face.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) February 2, 2022

I happened to be last in this little torture circle he created, and when he got to me I knew what he was gonna do because I’d seen all my friends go down — one of whom tried to make a break for it and ended up beaten even worse by several others in the gang.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) February 2, 2022

So when he went to punch me, I ducked enough that he only landed a glancing blow. He knew he hadn’t got that satisfying crunch he wanted so he followed up with his other hand, but it was weak.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) February 2, 2022

I got hit anyway and fell down and acted like I was out because I wasn’t stupid even then, I guess.

Cops got involved, it was a mess, there’s probably a police report still sitting in some microfiche library somewhere.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) February 2, 2022