I held my head high as I walked into my high school for the first time in weeks. People stared at me, and I smiled in return. They all have to know what my dad did. I walk into my home room and go to my assigned seat. I was sitting there when Fat Ben approached me and clicked his tongue. “That’s my seat,” he said as he grabbed my arm pulling me up. I flinched and yanked my arm away. My dad gave me bruises on my arms. They must have gotten a new seating chart while I was gone, I was aware of this posibilty, but I didn’t budge. Fat Ben just walked away. I’ve taught him the hard way not to mess with me.
The teacher was late getting to class, nothing had changed with that. She walked in and gasped when she saw I was finally back, don’t know if it’s because she didn’t expect me or if she didn’t expect my bruised up face. She tried her best to play it off cool, but compeltely failed. She kept staring at me, zoning out as she stared at my bruised body. She knew it was my dad again.
The day went by as normal as it possibly could. Of course kids made some snide remarks, they call me Bruised John. They seem so surprised I’m bruised again, but they should be used to it by now. In the middle of fourth period I was called to the office. I walked in, holding my head up, proudly showcasing what my dad did to me. The office sent me back to the counselor’s office. My first intention was to run. Last time I talked to Mr. Philips he tried to take my dad away—no one can take him away completely.
I slowly strode into Mr. Philips’s office, dreading what he was going to tell me. “Come on in, John,” Mr. Philips said when he saw me in his doorway. I walked in and sat in my usual seat, the blue one. The pink one is stupid, pink is for girls. The brown one is hidious; is brown even a color? Mr. Philips sighed. “Your dad again?” he asked with worry in hiseyes. I nodded, not wanting to talk. Whatever words I spoke he could hold against me. “May I see your arms, Johnny?” Mr. Philips has asked this before, and before I have showed him. I voluntarily took off my jacket, which then exposed “Daddy’s Boy” cut cleanly into my forearm. Mr. Philips looked away. He can’t stand my dad.
Mr. Philips made me sit in there for the rest of the day. He didn’t let me leave until I told him all about what my dad does to me. I refused for the longest time, but then I really had to pee. Like really bad. So I said he just beat me up a bit. Mr. Philips kept insisting that I was harming myself. Who does he think I am? I’m not crazy, he’s so stupid. Mr. Philips wouldn’t understand me and my dad’s relationship. Mr. Philips is just a fogey. He finally let me leave after giving as little info as possible. Seriously, I need to be put on antidepressants? He wasn’t hugged enough as a kid, he’s just an old fogey now.
He finally let me go as the final bell rang, dismissing everyone from their last period. “Hey, Johnny, welcome back,” I heard the most beautiful voice. I turned around and was overwhelmed, in a good way, with the sweet smell of Lisa’s perfume. I was in love with Lisa. She had never—and never would be—my girlfriend, but I can dream. She’s so perfect. I love her. I love her. I love her. Her long blonde hair was even brighter than I remembered. Very few girls can bleach their hair bright blonde without looking trashy. Lisa was one of those few. Her blue eyes pierced right through my heart. I didn’t even know eyes could be that…striking. This whole time I was thinking about how much I loved her, I didn’t realize I was just staring at her with my mouth open. That is until Rob and Tony came up behind me.
“Hey, daddy’s boy,” Rob said as he shoved me, “why don’t you go home and let your dad beat on you some more?” Tony laughed as loud and obnoxiously as he could. What’swrong with these kids? Lisa smiled politely at Rob and Tony, she could never stand up for me even if she wanted to. Lisa was head over heels for both of them. She constantly told them both that she really liked them, but would never commit to either. Who does that? I think she just never wanted to hurt either of them. Lisa was too nice to.
