I remember the simpler times, when you would fall flat on your ass and your mom was right there to kiss you and tell you to get the hell up.
I remember game nights and finger food Fridays, followed with a movie we rented from Netflix. BEFORE it was all on a tv, it came in the mail on DVDs, and before Netflix it was the legendary "Blockbuster", we'd set up a game of trouble or monopoly, and put on a movie while we all ate pizza together. It felt like I had a real family.
My sister Jean and I would build the BEST blanket forts of all time with our moms clothespins she had in the basement. We had a fuck ton of blankets, so we would open them up and use the furniture to hold up our different clubhouse areas within the fort. Then we would put different night lights in there with pillows and blankets leading to the tv. We'd fall asleep watching movies together and playing our Gameboy's all night. I loved spending time with my sister, she was the only one that made me feel normal.
That all changed when I went to the hospital..
Mr. Ak asked me a question while I was grabbing my things.
"Do you have any weapons on you?" He asked.
"No?" I questioned suspiciously.. What is he talking about? I didn't even threaten anybody today..
"So you don't have any knives or lighters.. blades of any sort?" He continued.. "Any thumbtacks of any sort?" There it was..
She snitched on me.. That bitch.. I didn't see the big deal, so what I was chewing on thumbtacks? I didn't throw them at anyone or stab anybody. Nobody even knew I had them except for Katie.
"Yea, I got thumbtacks in my locker.. Why?" I asked, most certainly with an attitude.
"Why do you have thumbtacks, Nora?" He persisted.
"I just do." I waited.. Where was he taking this? Am i seriously getting in trouble for having thumbtacks at school? Are they really going to suspend me for having a "weapon"?
"Someone is concerned about you Nora, we all are. They said you may have swallowed a thumbtack, is that true?"
"No I didn't.. I never said that" I lied.
"Have you been chewing on them and putting them in your mouth?"
"Yes.." I admitted guiltily, I mean it literally wasn't a big deal and I was so confused why they were even making it into a thing.
"Do you understand that if you swallowed one you could die, or that you could cut your esophagus?"
"Yes.." I shrugged and laughed a little at the same time. "Its not like it matters anyways." I said boldly. Also - regretted instantly. I could feel the words leaving my mouth as I said them.
"Do you care that you could die or seriously injure yourself, Nora? This is serious. I need to know if you are a threat to yourself or other students." He said so coldly.
"I'm not hurting myself or anybody with them, and it's not like it matters if I die anyways. I'm fine and they're just thumbtacks." I said with my head high so they could know that I meant what I said, and I thought if I stood up straighter they could see that I was fine. Instead I think it sort of pissed him off a little. The guidance counselor looked like she wanted to cry or shit herself. Maybe both, I'm not sure anymore.
They gave each other "The Look", and proceeded to have me lead them out of the locker room. He spoke into his walkie talkie and let Mr. M, the principal, know we were headed his way from the girls locker room.
YOU ARE READING
Broken Girls & Broken Bottles
SpiritualI was an interesting teen to watch flourish. My life could go anywhere and nobody knew exactly what I was capable of but they knew I was powerful. In this recollection of once forgotten memoirs, we take a closer look at what it means to be a broken...
