The Other Thing

The look in my dad's eye's was evident. The feeling in my gut was wrenching. I knew what was coming. I felt as if all of the air in my lungs had just been sucked out and my entire body became very warm. I began to shake on the inside. You know that type of fear that grabs hold of your skeleton bones and rattles them throughout your whole body? That's what was happening to me right then and there. He said, "so, you stole some gum huh?" I considered for a fleeting moment lying. It didn't matter, he wouldn't believe me anyways. I looked at my mother who just sat stoically on the couch. She knew all too well what was to happen next. To my bewilderment however, dad said, "I will give you a choice. You can get your ass beat or the other thing." Now, any of you who have kids will find this an easy choice. I did not know what the other thing was, and I didn't care. I had been beaten for years now and knew anything was better then that. Be very careful what you believe to be true. That is what I learned here. I told my dad I wanted the other thing. He told me to go stand in the corner by the door and face him. Wow, ok, I can do this. Then he told me to take off my clothes. How foolish I was to think "the other thing" was going to be easier to take than his belt, or shoe or whatever else he could grab. I took off my clothes and stood in the corner. I tried to put my hands over my lower area, and I will never forget his words, "no, put your hands above your head." I stood there, baring my body and soul and at that moment he owned me. I was completely and utterly defeated. I will always remember my mom's word's as well, "Sonny, close the door." See, I was standing by the front door and people could have easily seen inside. He sat on the couch and stared at me as I stood against the wall, my hands above my head, my heart and soul crushed beneath his cold dirty drunk hand.