The Time Uncool Took a Beating and Smirked

High school, I was always on the outside of the "cool". One year I pledged for a fraternity to see if "cool" would let me in. My future "brothers" lined up and one by one. Taking a wooden paddle to my soul-paying a dollar for every blow... It was all part of the fraternity fun. One "brother" paid for three blows-thought he could humiliate me. but I was prepared-countless times mother had tested my hide. Never once did she break me- After he was done, I gave him another dollar. Asked him to give it another try. After the final blow I smirked and said... "my brother you don't hit half as hard as mother". All the fraternity brothers laughed - I was finally "in." but not one fraternity "brothers" ever became a friend.