If one day I were bashed up

I am strict person when it comes to maintaining order within the library. I do not allow for any misbehaviour.

There are times where I have told youngsters off and have gotten threats and being called bad names (like "Bodoh" and "gundu", which both loosely translates to "stupid").

I would not be surprised, if I continue to work in this line, that one day, I will get bashed up while I am walking on the streets, minding my own business. Sad to say that while we are carrying out our duty of maintaining silence and order within the library, we have had to cope with threats and scares. I have had colleagues who, after verbal abuses were hurled at her, had to wait for her husband to come to escort her home.

You might not believe it but these people sometimes belong to youth gangs and their threat is not for fun. While we have to put on a brave front to show that we are not afraid, we sometimes still have to prepare for worst case scenarios.

I pity these youngsters too for they are often the neglected bunch or latch-key kids, who feel that they only belong in groups like that. Or that the way to get attention is to threaten other people.