When I was about 9 years old, our classroom became a surreal place, with the arrival of two sisters, Betty and Katie Cole. Even though they lived on my street, they lived way down near the end; anything on the other side of 13th Street may as well have been the moon. On that side [...]
Where do you go when you’re not in a good place…where do you keep your sanity, your will to live…I try to stay within my head, where I know things even if I don’t understand others. I apply salve to my torn psyche as well as my burned skin. The pain subsides but the anger [...]
I started my period early. I have no clean jeans. I only have two pairs, and with this unforeseen incident, they’re both in the wash. I’m wearing a skirt and pantyhose. It’s awkward, and uncomfortable in the cold. It’s shopping day. He now gives me twenty-five dollars but the food list pretty well remains the [...]
I’m rummaging in the hated basement. I’m going through those same boxes again. I’ve realized that when I leave, I can’t take everything with me, so I’m salvaging the things I can’t bear to part with. I do know that I’ll have to take the bus and walk to the train station. I have a [...]
I’m not in the basement…I’m half way under Boo’s bed…like I was trying to hide from something hideous. I don’t know how I go here. I slide out and sit up. Everything hurts…My body is telling me it cannot take this anymore. I stand up and everything shifts. I grab the dresser so I don’t [...]
Did I ever tell you that we had a car? A nice one too. But he cracked it up, one night, when we were visiting back home. Best part was, he had his brother’s wife with him. We called her Queenie because she was such a snob. We all wanted to know what she was [...]
I call the police…I march my ass upstairs to Jenkins’ and use his phone. I paced all morning, angry and not knowing what to do. Linus has a bruise on her face and I feel guilty. I should have let him pound me and be done with it. It would have stayed in the front [...]
So begins the dance of violence. Unfortunately, when he lunges at me, some instinct kicks in and I step aside. He crashes to the floor. Needless to say that pisses him off royally. I feel like laughing. What’s wrong with you? The more you fight him the worse it gets…don’t laugh either… I can’t help [...]
Photo courtesy of Valeer Vandenbosch
I’m cleaning up after dinner when I hear him say to Linus “Tell Mommy she’s a hooker.” Linus runs into the kitchen and says “Mom a cooker!” and runs back laughing, thinking it’s some kind of game. I’m stung and I grit my teeth. Here we go…She runs in again and [...]