With her flip-flop….. (50/73)

I was relieved when school started in September. I would no longer have to be stuck in the house with Jack. I could now leave while my Mother was at work. It was not much but it was something. Hours each day, I could just be a normal grade six student. A place I could be someone else. I could be someone who was not be sexually abused at home. There was a certain right of passage to your last year in elementary before you move onto junior high. I was determined to enjoy this right of passage. Even though my life was falling apart at home. I began to enjoy school and actually started to make friends with in my class. Something was different this year. Everybody seemed to get along better. Maybe it was because we were the seniors of the school. My class was large with many new students that had not been there the year before.

The school year passed rather quickly. During which I had become a pro at separating home and school life. It was almost as if I was two different people. Learning to endure gave me an alter ego of a warrior. Someone who could face anything no matter how bad. Someone who could take all that darkness and keep it in a safe place far away from the other part of me. A place where I could leave all the bad behind and just be there in the moment. I felt stronger when my warrior was with me. She was the side of me that was strong enough to bear the burden.

The year ended with a camping trip to Camp Caroline, an annual tradition for Rio Terrace Students. The grade six class ended the year with this annual trip. The camp was a hotel style building with suite’s all around an in-door pool and cafeteria. We were in the woods not far from an old army obstacle course. One of the main reason we came up here was to go to the army obstacle course. Our class would be there for 3 days. Each of them filled with different activities. Mostly out-door activities. Hills and canyons to adventure off into during the day surrounded us and at night, we took to the pool and campfire. On the last night, we all went to go and try are way through the army obstacle course. I was a little nervous. I was not good at this kind of stuff. I was mostly worried that I would fall flat on my face in front of the entire class. I did not want to embarrass myself in front of them all.

Once we reached the Obstacle course and I saw what was before us. I was no longer worried about falling on my face. We were all about to fall on our faces. It truly was an army obstacle course. I took a deep breath as we entered the area and gathered for instructions from the guide. Interestingly enough we all helped and cheered each other on as we made our way through the course. At one point, we all had to cross on two ropes about 12 feet from the ground. One under our feet and the other above our head. I was about mid way down the line and was able to watch quite a few of my classmates go across the high wire. Everyone was making it across but very slowly. Sometime their feet slipped from the rope but their hands never did.

When it was finally my turn to step out above the class I got nervous. My breathing started to quicken as I looked down over the area I could fall on. It seemed like a long way down. I would surely break something on the way down. Or as I hit the ground! A few of my friends in the class started to notice that I was getting nervous. As they did, they collectively started to cheer me on. The others in the group joined in as well. Hearing this I knew I could do it. I would have to hang on tight and not let go not matter what. So I took a deep breath reached up grabbed the rope and steeped out on the wire. One-step at a time I slowly glided across the rope. It was a struggle to hang on but I managed to make my way across to the other side. I felt triumph when I did. My arms felt like I had been lifting cars but it was worth it. My class cheered as I stepped down to where they were gathered. One of my favorite memories of a trip that came and went to fast.

Once again, summer was upon us. However, this year I was looking forward to summer. I was going to be away for most of it. Therefore, Jack would not have the opportunity to trap me this year as he did the two years before. It was going to be an exciting summer. First up was Disney Land with my cousins Dallas and Devon. Grandma Lois was taking us. Something she had wanted to do for sometime. For years, she would say that when we were all old enough she would take us one day. Finally, that day had arrived. We were going to Disney Land in Anaheim California. Moreover, the best part Jack was not coming with us! He could not ruin this for me. I would be free for two whole weeks to just be a kid and enjoy life. It was like a dream come true. I could not wait to hit the road.

School had been out for week when my Mother and I headed out to the farm with Grandma Lois to get everything ready for the trip. The five of us; Grandma Lois, Dallas, Devon, my Mother and myself we going to drive across country to California. We were going to be travelling in her red ½-ton truck with a camper on the back that she borrowed from the neighbours. We would be camping out as we traveled to all of our destinations along the way. You could feel the excitement as we all helped to put all of our supplies in the camper.

The three of us kids were a bit hyper and wound up to say the least. Therefore, we started to antagonise each other. Which ended badly. The three of us ended up being sent to our room to cool down after we were all talking back and picking on each other. I was especially rude during our interaction. I even got rather mouthy with my Mother as she told me to go into the house. I went as far as to tell her to go ‘fuck herself’ from the porch. My anger towards her at times was hard to contain. This was one of those times. Unfortunately, she heard what I say and started to quickly walk towards the house after me. Upon seeing her pick up her pace, I ran in through the front door of the house and into my Grandma’s bedroom to hide. Slamming the door behind me. For a split second, I thought I got away but before I knew it, my Mother was storming in through the door while removing her flip-flop from her foot.

I knew I was in for it. Once she reached the bed, she flipped me over her knee and started to paddle my ass with her flip-flop. After good four or five smacks, she flips me back over to tell me that she will not tolerate that behaviour from me. Especially during the trip. We were leaving in the morning so she decided that I could stay in the bedroom until we left. I could only come out for dinner and for a bath. I was mad at my punishment but I understandably needed it. I was being a little brat. We all were acting out but I took it too far. I knew better. So I took my punishment and went to sleep early that night in anticipation of leaving in the morning.