I’VE NEVER BEEN ON OF THE “POPULAR”PEOPLE. I WAS NOT ON OF THOSE DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS TYPE GIRLS YOU SEE ON T.V. I’VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO SO CALLED “TURN HEADS” UNLESS I WORE SOMETHING THAT SHOW WAY TO MUCH SKIN.
NOPE. I WAS, HOW YOU SAY, AN AVERAGE 16-YEAR-OLD TEENAGE LOSER. BUT, THANKS TO MY PARENTS,I WAS BLESSED WITH A DOUBLE-D CUP AND THE CURVES A MOTHER OF THREE WOULD ONLY DREAM OF.
NONE OF THAT MATTERS IN THE SMALL TOWN OF WINTERFALLS, MAINE ABOUT 30 MILES AWAY FOR PORTLAND. THE TOWN WAS, AT MOST, 12 MILES WIDE AND 20 MILES LONG WITH THE POPULATION OF 1, 000. THAT MENT EVERYONE KNEW EVERYONE AND WORD TRAVELED FAST.
WHEN MY PARENTS DIED, I WAS AT A BASKETBALL TOURNEY WITH MY BEST FRIEND AT THE TIME ROBYN, WHO IS NOW QUEEN B OF ROSE E. LEE HIGH SCHOOL. I WAS SHOCKED. AFTER THE GAME MY COACH PULLED MY ASIDE AND TOLD ME. ALL I REMEMBER WAS WAKING UP, AND SEEING MY GRANDMA CRYING AND REALITY HIT.
AFTER THAT, I WAS NEVER THE SAME. I CRIED FOR DAYS AT A TIME AND QUIT BASKETBALL.ROBYN AND I STOPPED TALKING AND I MOVED INTO MY AUNT ANDROMADA’S HOUSE. SEEING HOW I WAS NOW A SOCIAL OUTCAST, ROBYN MADE FUN OF ME EVERY CHANCE SHE GOT.SHE MOCKED MY EVERY MOVE AND FORGOT ABOUT THE PAIN OF LOSING MY WHOLE FAMILY.
I DIDN’T CARE THOUGH. I FOUND PEACE AND COMFORT IN BEING ALONE WITH NATURE. I OFTEN THINK OF HOW I SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR INSTEAD OF MY 6-YEAR-OLD LITTLE BROTHER RONNIE.I FOUND MYSELF MISSING HIS CONSTANT NAGGING ABOUT WHY I’D ALWAYS BE PISSED OFF.I TOLD HIM THE RED-MONSTER FOUND OUT WHERE I LIVED.
“I WANNA MET THIS MONSTER I COULD BE LIKE GHOST BUSTERS,” HE HAD SAID ONE TIME. “I WOULD BEAT HIM UP.”
“OH YEAH,” I SAID. “EVENTUALLY, YOUR WIFE WILL MEET THE RED-MONSTER.”
“EWWWW,” HE SAID. “GIRLS HAVE KOOTIES.” HE WOULD SING THEN RUN AWAY.
YEAH.
I WOULD MISS HIM.
