topic: children or animals or birthdays or unfortunate incidents. I don't care.
When forums member Iceglow and I were children, our families were good friends, and we would frequently attend the other's birthday events - outings, parties, whatever. We had some good times, some good memories. But the one birthday that sticks out in my mind was Steve's in 1992.
We were going on a trip to what you Americans might term a "petting zoo" I believe. It was me, Steve, his mum and his big sister Emma. Now, Steve had got his heart set, absolutely set, on a donkey ride. He was so excited about it and wouldn't stop babbling away happily about donkeys and how great it was going to be to ride one.
Anyway, we got to the farm/zoo/whatever and had a lovely day out, as best as I can remember. I do remember being pecked by a turkey named Norman when I attempted to feed him some grain and we all called him "Naughty Norman". I don't think it really upset me that much at the time, but looking back on it I am filled with rage that a turkey would dare strike me. Whatever. He probably got made into Christmas dinner by now.
When we got to the donkey pen, things took a turn for the unfortunate. The donkeys had all contracted a virus and therefore there were to be no donkey rides. Steve lost it. Just absolutely and completely snapped. His mum tried to placate him, encouraging him to look at this nearby pig. Steve marched over to this pig and started ranting and screaming right in its ear, calling it stupid and saying he wanted a donkey ride now. The pig, for its part, did not seem to give much of a damn and was just casually stood there.
At this point his mum stepped in and sternly told him that if he did not leave that poor pig alone he would not be allowed to have any jelly (gelatin to Americans? I think?) at his party that afternoon. Incidentally it was a lovely strawberry flavoured train-shaped jelly, and it tasted great, but I digress. Steve stopped bellowing at the pig, slowly turned around, and gave her one of the darkest looks I have ever seen another human being give. He then slowly raised his arm right back, and promptly slapped the pig right in the face.