The survivor

Chapter 4: Painful Repetitions

When I got home a few hours later, I waited for Marco and tried to contemplate how I would warn him about the dangers of school or if I would tell him since I felt I was overreacting. I decided to not say anything because I was overreacting and luckily I received a call from the orphanage. The lady told me the paperwork went through successfully and that I now had full custody of Marco but the social worker would be checking periodically as per law. When Marco arrived home, I asked him how his day of school was and he said it went amazing as I faked a worried look on my face. Marco looked at me and said "what's wrong?" and I said "the orphanage called and they said you're officially adopted, you never have to see that awful place again" as I smiled. Marco ran towards me all happy, hugged me, and said "thank you, I love you Dad" and I said your welcome son". I told him to do his homework before he watches television.

Over the next several months, Marco excelled in school and even made a few friends; Tye, Carla, Jeremiah, and Dalton. There were a few behavioral incidents with Marco from time to time but that was to be expected of kids but besides that, I honestly couldn't figure out what happened between his parents and why they would give him up. When school ended, I ended up having a trusted friend babysit Marco during the daytime, her name was Megan and she was amazing at her job and Marco absolutely loved her. I even changed my work schedule so I went into work early and got off around 2 pm so we could spend time together. The first place I took him was my favorite place; kart country. I bought him a bike and I rode with him and even dropped him off at his friend's house so they could hang out, but sadly all good things have to end.

It was now August and time for my little tiger to start 5th grade. I was a little nervous for a while until I saw Marco was doing well and staying out of trouble but just as I let my guard down trouble hit. Marco's teacher Ms. Wendell called me in for a parent-teacher conference and told me she was getting concerned about Marco's behavior. I asked her what type of behavior and she told me he was being hostile to other students and started showing antisocial behavior so I told her I would talk to him and figure out what's going on. When Marco got home, I told him to take a seat and I said "Marco what's been happening to you at school?" and Marco said "nothing " as his eyes darted left and right and I said, "mhmm well your teachers told me different, in fact they said you've been mean to the other students and keeping to yourself".

Marco looked at me with a hateful grin and said "so that's my business yall needa back off me" and I said, "you better lose the attitude before you lose the feeling in your ass cheeks...matter oh fact go to your room". Marco went into his room and slammed the door and I yelled "JUST FOR THAT IM TAKING THAT PLAYSTATION FROM YOU". Later on, I called him out to eat and I took his game console and sent him to bed early. Marco's foul behavior continued to worsen until I got called up to school and told that he was suspended for fighting.

After I picked him up and we got in the car, I looked at him and said "what's wrong with you?" and he said 'nothing", and I said "don't sit there and lie, now why did you hit that boy? Did he hit you first?" And Marco said "yea" and I said that's funny cuz the teacher, 10 kids and the janitor said you pushed the boy and started punching him viciously in the face yelling something about your mother". Marco looked at me and I said "you got one more chance to tell me the truth before you catch this belt ".He still refused to speak so When we got home I sent him into his room and came in with the belt a few minutes later. I was hoping he wouldn't call my bluff because I knew I wasn't gonna whoop him.

When I walked in, he was pouting and when I sat next to him I said" I already know about your mom and dad Marco" and he said, "I don't know what you're talking about and I said Mrs. Crenshaw showed me your file and your parents before I finished the paperwork". Marco yelled, "ugh I can't have a simple life without everyone bringing up my past". I left Marco's room and decided to give him a moment. As I went into the living room and sat at my desk the flashbacks of middle school began to hit me.

[FLASHBACK] November 2013, I was sitting in Ms. Sherick's class doing math work which I was horrible at while trying to stay to myself. Every day this Hispanic girl Joanna would come ask me for a pencil and I always had one because secretly I liked her but like every other girl, she gave me no chance so I never said anything. These 2 kids Devin hill and Daniyah Duncan always made fun of my eye as well as Julian bell; they were popular kids. Every girl I tried to talk to stared at my eye and ran away because they felt uncomfortable so I always stayed to myself except when I hung with my friend Michael Robertson. Everyone found love and friends except me, I was the school freak and the pushover that girls like Morgan, Joanna, and Marybeth would use and manipulate me into getting them stuff when they know they didn't give a fuck about me.

All I wanted was to be accepted and loved but no...instead, one single difference made me a freak. Everyone who saw me kept staring and laughing and that made my anxiety act up so I sweated a lot and because of that, I'd smell by the middle of the day. The school didn't allow students to wear heavily scented body spray to the liability of harming allergenic students so most kids laughed at me because of that as well and it hurt.

I barely said anything to anybody and yet everybody's just whipping up on me, treating me like an alien to the point where I went home and cried in my pillow silently every night and contemplated suicide multiple times and did have the heart to tell the people who brought me life, that I didn't want it anymore.[end flashback]. After experiencing a few more flashbacks, I decided I would do everything in my power to keep him from going through the pain I went through. I got up and went into Marco's room to check on him but what I found was horrifying.