A Child Called "It" by Landon Bordewick https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w Made with fortitude en-us 2020-10-31 02:16:19 UTC 2020-12-01 16:02:09 UTC hello@padlet.com "The substitute teacher, a younger woman, waves her hands in front of her face. She's not used to my smell." 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/878230933 Page 9]]> 2020-10-31 02:27:41 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/878230933 I act timid nodding to her threats. "Please," I say to myself, "just let me eat. Hit me again but I have to eat." 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/878235586 Page 4]]> 2020-10-31 02:34:19 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/878235586 I lean back against the seat. A reflection from the sun bits my eyes. I turn away from the rays as a single tear runs down my cheek. "Im free?" 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/878240713 Page 14]]> 2020-10-31 02:41:44 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/878240713 Another blow pushes my head against the tile counter top. I let the tears of mock defeat stream down my face as she storms out of the kitchen, seemingly satisfied with herself. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/878243019 Page 4]]> 2020-10-31 02:45:04 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/878243019 Becasue I am so late, I have to report to the administratives office. The gray haired secretary greets me with a smile. Moments later, the school nurse comes out and leads me into her office where we go through the normal routine. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/878245415 Page 5]]> 2020-10-31 02:48:25 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/878245415 March 5, 1973, Daly City, California. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/878247132 Page 3]]> 2020-10-31 02:50:58 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/878247132 SMACK! Mother hits me in the face and I topple to the floor. I know better then to stand there and take the hit. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/878248151 Page 3]]> 2020-10-31 02:52:24 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/878248151 That summer the family vacationn at the Russian River. Although I got along better with mother, th magical feeling had disappeared. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/882987478 Page 54]]> 2020-11-02 16:36:15 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/882987478 At school I was a total outcast. No other kid would have anything to do with me. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/971885773 Page 58]]> 2020-11-30 15:59:55 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/971885773 "David the food thief" and "Pelzer Smellzer" were two of the playground favorites. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/971892354 Page 58]]> 2020-11-30 16:01:07 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/971892354 Finally, I devised a plan that might work. Students were not allowed to leave the playground during lunch recess, so nobody would expect me to leave. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/971908982 Page 58]]> 2020-11-30 16:03:59 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/971908982 I imagined I was the prince in the story The Prince and the Pauper. As the prince I knew I could end the charade of acting like a servant anytime I wanted. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/971929905 Page 59]]> 2020-11-30 16:07:34 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/971929905 All though the argument with myself my stomagch growled, calling me a chicken. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/971960831 Page 60]]> 2020-11-30 16:12:48 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/971960831 The manager called Mother. At the house, I was thrashed relentlessly. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/972009226 Page 62]]> 2020-11-30 16:21:26 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/972009226 She dragged me into the bathroom and slugged me in the stomage so hard that I bent over. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/976098333 Page 64]]> 2020-12-01 15:44:59 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/976098333 "One Two" I never made it to three. Mother remmend her finger into my mouth as if she wanted to pull my stomach up through my throat. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/976106030 Page 64]]> 2020-12-01 15:46:23 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/976106030 The Boy to eat Stephen? Well The Boys is going to EAT! He can eat this! Mother yelled at the top of her lungs, shoving the bowl towards me and stomping off to the bedroom. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/976125913 Page 66]]> 2020-12-01 15:50:11 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/976125913 I sat on a chair and picked the clumps of hot dogs out of the bowl with my hand. Globs of thick saliva slipped through my fingers. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/976145194 Page 66]]> 2020-12-01 15:53:40 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/976145194 At that moment I hated Mother to no end, but I hated Father even more.The man who had helped me in the past, just stood like a statue wile his son ate somthing even a dog wouldnt touch. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/976165071 Page 67]]> 2020-12-01 15:57:22 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/976165071 Forcing my self not to cry in front of them, I crawled completely dressed under the table and covered myself with the newspapers. 2109889 https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/976178692 Page 67]]> 2020-12-01 15:59:59 UTC https://padlet.com/2109889/4d8cr8earylo2g2w/wish/976178692