Know where to go for revenge tips

link Grant McGee

Local columnist

While at a yard sale the other day, a book titled “When Strangling is Not an Option” caught my eye.

Below the title it said it was about how to get along with difficult people, like difficult co-workers.

“I’ve just got to know,” I said to the yard sale hosts. “Who needed this book and why?”

“Oh, that’s my brother’s book. He works for a school system.”

“Oh,” I said with a smile. “Say no more.”

Over the years I’ve heard many a tale of working stiffs stuck with folks who don’t play well with others in school districts, governments, the military and corporations.

Why, even my brother, whom I thought lived on “Easy Street,” has had troubles with difficult people.

I know this because a few years ago while visiting his home in south Florida I was listening to his hi-fi and perusing his personal library. One book caught my attention: “The Little Book of Revenge.”

I pulled it out.

I flipped through the pages and was amazed at the nasty ideas. I was quite sure a psycho ex-girlfriend of mine had read this book.

“Hey,” I yelled to my brother in the other room. “What are you doing with a book on revenge?”

My brother came in the room and looked at me for a moment.

“I had some trouble with a guy,” he said. Then he turned and left the room.

“That’s it?” I yelled. “You had some trouble with a guy? No story? ‘I had some trouble with a guy.’ Where’s the story, man?”

There was only silence from the other room.

My brother isn’t the storyteller of the family, I am. He’s the businessman.

I don’t have the answer on how to deal with difficult people … try to reason with them, have a meeting with a supervisor or call the cops. I don’t know.

But people write books about this stuff.

And sometimes you’ll find them at yard sales.

Or in a relative’s library.

Grant McGee is a long-time broadcaster and former truck driver who rides bicycles and likes to talk about his many adventures on the road of life. Contact him at his blog:

grantmcgeewrites.com