Where am I going? The principal’s office to talk with someone. Where is my brother? He was taken away from home three days ago. He was at a picnic with his classmates when people came and took him. I miss him. Daddy knows why, but Daddy won’t tell me. He says not to worry because he’ll be home soon and we’ll get to be a family again.Principal opens her doors when I get there. There are two people sitting, waiting for me. They smile softly and motion for me to take a seat. I smile back at them, wanting to know when I’ll get back to class because we’re about to learn addition and subtraction. They said it would only take awhile.
They asked how was my family life? I said fine. They said does my father ever hurt me or my brother? My brother, I missed him. I nodded slightly. I said that he’ll sometimes use a belt, or a paddle, or his hand. That hurts the least. Your bottom turns bright red and sore all over. You can’t sit down for a long time. You can do nothing but cry. But the belt is the worst. It slaps against your skin and burns and you feel it for days after.
They looked at one another and nodded. I never got to go back to class that day. I never got to say good-bye to my friends and teacher. I never got to say good-bye to my father. I was put in a car and headed towards the city. Are we going to a ballgame? I like ballgames. They said no, I was going to a home for children.
But I have home.
They asked do you know what a penis is?
I said yes.
They said could you draw it?
I said yes because I loved to draw.
They wanted to know where it was on a person. I pointed between the legs of a drawing of my father I made for them. I heard them sigh with anger.They said he touched me.
I said no, he didn’t.
They said he did. They said children never lie unless they are scared.
I wasn’t scared. I repeated he never came near me. They said he did.
Were you there?
No.
He never touched me.
You’re lying.
You are. And children never lie.Haven’t seen much of Daddy since then. I miss him.