Haunting

When I was about five years old, I became aware of what cruelty looks like. My older sister, who is developmentally disabled, had gone up the street with me to play with the neighborhood friends. One girl named Marilyn took a keen interest in laughing at my sister. My sister was somewhat unaware of the nuances of this girl and the origins of her pleasure. Marilyn, out of the blue, told my sister to pull down her pants. My sister looked at her funny, but started to pull up her dress. Everyone stopped playing and the front yard grew very quiet. Marilyn was standing with one arm folded across her chest and the other holding her hand across her mouth as she tried to cover her giggles and pleasure at demeaning my sister. I ran between them and told my sister to run home. Simultaneously, I picked up a rock and sent it sailing into the air towards Marilyn. It landed with a thud on her forehead. Her giggles turned to tears, and she ran for home. With my own tears falling down my cheeks, I took off after my sister. My mother met me at the door wondering what happened. I spilled out the story as I was gasping for air while sobbing. My mom took me in her arms and told me how proud she was of me for standing up for my sister, Janie. She then explained that I would have to learn not to choose rocks, but to choose words instead the next time something like this happened. I told her in a quivering voice that I would. I had to go to Marilyn’s house to apologize while her mother glared at me. Marilyn stood there gloating, feeling quite the winner, but I knew she wasn’t. I also realized for maybe the very first time that there are people in this world who, for whatever reason, are not very nice, and I would have to learn how to navigate around them.

Several years later, my beloved cat, Doozer, was hit by a car. A neighbor called us early one morning to give us the news. My dad drove down the street to gather Doozer up. He carefully wrapped his limp body into a blanket, and drove him home to me. My dad’s eyes were full of tears as he opened the door. He carried Doozer to his favorite spot on the side of the house and assured me that when he returned from work, Doozer would be given a proper burial. I looked at my little soulmate, and tears could not be held back. I sat down beside him and hugged his lifeless body. I told him everything. I was almost begging him to wake up. With a very heavy heart, I got ready for school. It…