text: It was some time in December or January, I cannot recollect exactly as those days blend together for the most part. I was getting around the city enjoying the days and atmostphere. They say there's no bad weather only bad clothing. It's true, with good layering you can withstand winds and chill. And that allowed me to walk all over the city like some lost person but no less curious than a tourist. I was born here but I never really spent time hanging out in Manhattan like the norm used to be in the late sixties and seventies. Manhattan was small enough back then.. I made my way to the downtown area to admire the Statue of Liberty from the very tip of the island since it's expensive to get to Liberty island, or so I hear. I never much cared to ask since I'm alone a lot. Kids all getting out of school making me anxious so I take a hike North to take a chill pill at Bryant Park. It's so cold and it's all I can think about. Made it to Twenty-something Street and Second avenue. I walk closer to a roudiness that I hear in the distance. As if I had just snapped back to my senses and guttural talking and swearing is all I hear. Knocked out of this trance in which I was walking eternally just staring down at my boots. I raise my head to three strong men. They appear to be construction workers because they wear backpacks with hardhats and wear Carhartt coats. The brand may appear irrelavent but it appears it's a trusted brand among construction workers. One leans over and blows a fart noise with his tongue and the other two guys begin swearing at me. Naturally I keep walking as confrontation is too dramatic. It was too late when I hear foot steps rushing behind me. One of them ran up and pushed me to the ground from behind. My mobility is limited as i have too many layers and can't do much with my arms. He starts stomping on me yelling "s*** my ***k"! I kick back while laying on my back for as long as I could. I know I got him in the face. I felt something land on my heel. I manage to grab a hold of his foot and the other two men caught up and began beating my head. I tried keeping my face low so that I can still try to see and be aware of my surroundings but every thing moved so fast. In the blur of it all I see his ankle exposed and I bite it. He forces me off with a kick that sent me flying away. Strong men. In that moment I try standing but they push me back down. I hear a cop in the distance. "Hey! Knock it off! What's the matter with you guys". They ease off. Without fear. They tell the cop how much of a punk I was, while walking away. Nobody was detained. I was not questioned. My guess, they went back to the bar. I continued on my way. Everyone staring. Some smile. Some don't. Maybe they might not have killed me. But if their police friends never showed up, I may have had some worse scars to prove it.