Yesterday collectives: 1

Still vivid in my memory

When I was 3 years old or so

My grandfather would pour tiny drops of beer in my red plastic cup

I would sip it and with a sour look on my face, smile at my grandfather.

My parents and my grandmother wouldn't know till I became an adult.

My grandfather is a legend.

My grandfather came home from the ranch

....All bloodied up

His shirt and pants ripped, smeared with grass stains, mud and blood.

I was drawing colors, and my grandmother was making breakfast

He calmly walked in the kitchen and said

"Hey honey ...a cow tried to kill me"

I was confused and scared

When I was 5 years old

There was a neighbor girl ..also 5

Her name was Charlotte

One time she came over to visit.

My aunts would tease me to her

...I was scared, I hid under a bed

I lost confidence in talking to girls till I turned 20

When I was around 5 years old

My grandmother took me to a funeral

I didn't know who she

I think she was a relative

Curious I wanted to see what's in the casket

My grandmother probably decided it's time I become a man

So she allowed me to take a look what's inside

She looked young

She looked pretty

I thought looking at a pretty young girl made me a man

When I was 5 years old or so

I was left at home with a baby sitter

A stranger knocked at the front door

When the baby sitter went to see who it was

The stranger pointed a gun at her

He smelled like beer and alcohol

I don't know who he was but I remember being scared shitless

I ran to the back in the garage

I panicked

I tried to hide under the stairs but I know i was still exposed

I eventually found of what I thought a clever hiding spot for a 5 year old

....under our old red Mitsubishi Lancer

I was crying trying not to make a sound

I forgot what happened next but all I remember was my grandfather's brother Junior found me and picked me up and I felt safe.

I don't know what happened that day

But I peed my pants

I was about 9 or 10 years old

There was a boy next door

He happened to be my uncle who just also happened to be a kid like me.

About a year older

But he kept bullying me for years

And for years I was scared of him

He was bigger

Had more friends

The other kids would listen to him because he was taller and took command

I remember he would constantly pick on me.

One day

it was his birthday

And he purposely spilled my plate while I was eating

...it was spaghetti

High of his birthday celebration

He wanted to play fight with me

So the other kids gathered around and insisted we should play fight

I was hesitant, I didn't want to do it

I didn't want to get hit

But he hit me right on the lip

Now it just so happened I watched a lot of Jackie chan and Bruce lee movies

So in slow motion

like Bruce lee

I took my hand and wipe my lip

Then looked at my hands as if there was blood just as Bruce lee would

(There was no blood)

And I stared at him with an angry face

And screamed angrily at the top of my lungs

"Aaaaarrrgghhhh"

And just went nuts and clenched his head and kicked him on the stomach with my knees

over and over and over and over again

He never messed with me since.