Kick 'em in the Shins

On the playground in elementary school, I was always the smallest, "short people in front" in our class pictures, trying to keep up with the boys. They used to tease me "how's life treating you down there?", "hey, shortstuff", "what's up Maile Mouse?" - so I turned around and kicked them in the shins, and they bent over in pain (it's a good thing I didn't know back then that there was a better place to kick them - ha!). Subsequently, I was sent to the principal's office because I did it one too many times and the boys who teased me were black and blue, couldn't wear shorts, couldn't walk straight anymore - hee hee. The principal tried to be stern with me, gave me a strong enough lecture that it wasn't a good idea to hurt the boys even though they teased me relentlessly. But she was a small woman too, and even as young as I was, I could see that she could feel me and I saw that glint of a you-go-girl smile in her eyes. I let her know that I understood what she said, won't do it again, but walked out of her office knowing better. The boys left me alone after that.