Childhood Memories

by Pita Gay (New York)

As homework assignment, the teacher asks her students to go home,
reflect on a childhood memory and write how that experience effects them in the now...

The student understands the assignment, but how can she say to the teacher, “I don’t recall any good memories from childhood?” The only thing that she can remember is her mom sending her to school and the soles of her shoes were falling off, almost showing her toes. Her mom asking “him” for money to buy school shoes and supplies and he doesn’t have it...Her mom’s last resort is going to the shop by her job where she is friendly with Mr. Chin and he gives her what she needs until she has the money to pay. When she says childhood memory, if she means: when the student was playing with her sister at age six, having a piece of metal cutting her foot…Mom asks, neighbors to go down to the shop where “he” is playing dominoes to come quick because his child is hurt, but never shows up. By childhood memory, does she mean witnessing “him” abuse her constantly?

Countless broken knives at the police station from frequent attempts to take her mom’s life...Does she mean when I was awakened with a belt hitting me in my back for no reason? Does she mean when the only one that loved me ran away to another country for escape and not seeing her for years? Does she mean, moving from house to house because “he” wasn’t taking care of "no pickney?'' Is this student now to relate those memories to the present? Well, teacher, the past is present. This student still knows “he” doesn’t care about anyone but himself. Since then, this student has graduated high school, graduated college and “he” still doesn’t care. Presently, this student has a hard time trusting men. This student has a hard time believing in Love. This student never had a childhood.

Is this what the teacher was looking for?