A traumatic and humiliating childhood experience

At age ten, he kicked a younger schoolmate’s shoe jokingly; the boy’s older brother approached carrying a baseball bat. After running home crying, he avoided the park; learning the boy defended his brother later reframed encounter as mutual bullying. At work, he criticized customers abandoning small purchases instead of meeting the £3 card minimum or choosing available cigarette alternatives.

He recognizes intent and impact diverge, complicating his earlier view of himself as solely victim.