Hugo had long considered himself the king of the street.
At the same time, he felt a sense of impunity in everything he did.
He had managed to intimidate all the kids in the neighborhood with a stolen knife and utter contempt for his peers.
Whenever he went out onto the street, he would ostentatiously stick a cigar butt—found near the tavern—into his mouth and, with his hands in his pants pockets, stride proudly down “his” street.
This went on for quite a while, and Hugo no longer even noticed how he had begun to cross the line.
It cost him nothing to just kick little Pedro for no reason or spit on the hair of the impressionable Constanza.
But there’s a limit to everything.
One day, as Hugo walked past Conchita, who was looking after her little brother, he kicked over a pitcher of milk that Conchita was about to take home.
Constanza immediately burst into tears, while little Pedro clenched his fists in helpless rage.
The commotion drew the attention of Arturo, the local baker’s son, and his sister.
Arturo, who had been used to hauling sacks of flour since childhood, had grown into a strong and brave boy.
He had been outraged by Hugo’s antics more than once, but each time his sister would stop him and ask him not to get involved with the bully.
And now, finally, Arturo’s patience had run out.
He walked up to Hugo and, with a flick of his finger, knocked the cigarette butt out of his mouth.
Stunned, Hugo immediately reached into his pocket, where he had stashed his stolen knife.
But he didn’t have time to pull it out.
Arturo pulled a cobbler’s hammer from his belt and slammed it down hard on Hugo’s palm.
Hugo howled in pain and pressed his injured hand to his chest.
“If you show up near our house one more time, I’ll break your other hand too,” Arturo said.
“And we’ll help you do it!” the children exclaimed almost in unison.
Hugo hobbled away, and the kids jeered after him.