I was a classic bully magnet: shy, uncertain and a tad inept. Soft spoken, conflict avoiding and nerdy. On my way home from school one day, a couple dogs from opposite sides of the street teamed up and joyfully bark-chased me till they lost interest. Even animals knew a victim when they spotted one. Every school has its collection of thugs who find their fun in teasing and torment. Mine was typical. The memories of what actually was said or happened have faded, but the smug faces of my tormentors are easily recalled all these years later. My early school years were not much fun. High school changed all that.