Mrs. Belden
Honors English 1
15 October 2014
Happy is what I am, Now!
I walk into Ravenswood Middle School with my little brother, Corey by my side.
“If anyone asks you what happened to you, tell them you fell down the stairs while carrying laundry.” I whispered to him while pulling down the sleeve of his shirt to cover up just some of his bruises, that covered him head to toe.
“Jess, how long does this have to go on for?” Corey asked with a fearful look on his face. I look into his beaten up sorrow eyes.
“We just have to stay strong, and keep quiet.” I told Corey and kissed him on the forehead.
We departed from one another going to our classes happy to be away from home. I walked in the hallways flashing everyone a smile. Most people at my school think I am generally a happy girl who is very quiet. What those people do not know is that I am not that girl. I smile, but in reality it’s just to hide a secret.
I walked into the gym and realized we were playing volleyball, and I was wearing old beaten up Toms. That didn’t bother me too much because I just took them off. While I was taking them off I heard people whispering to one another. I looked down. My feet were all black and blue. I quickly slipped my shoes backed on, and went to join the class. We had divided into teams and started playing. This was my first time ever playing volleyball; not going to lie it was pretty fun. In fact, without a doubt playing the game was the greatest time i’ve ever had. I wasn’t terrible at volleyball either! At the end of gym, I was collecting all my school supplies, when Blair from the volleyball team approached me.
“Hey Jess! You were doing really well out there. If you are interested in playing my mom would gladly put you on the Ravenswood volleyball team.” She said to me with two other volleyball girls behind her smiling and nodding as if they were all trying to be insync. I was astonished to be offered to be on the team.
“That would be awesome!” I said only thinking of how fun being on a team would actually be.
“Great, see you at practice after school then.” Blair replied, while hugging me.
As I pulled away from that hug I suddenly saw my sweatshirt had gone up my arms showing my bruises. I quickly got my stuff and left. My stomach grew weak as it seemed to flip inside me. I could not be on the team he would not let me. I can’t disappoint him. Not again. But I need to play volleyball it’s so fun. He does not have to know.
I walked into practiced wearing black leggings that went all the way to my ankles, and a beaten up old Ravenswood sweatshirt I had found in the lost and found. Coach Whitey asked if I was going to be hot, I told her I got cold easily. Even though she let me I could tell from the look on her face I knew she thought my outfit appearance was quite strange. We practiced bumping, serving, spiking and diving. It felt as if I had been playing this sport my whole life. At the end of practice Coach Whitey called me over. I went over to her slowly.
“Jess, here is your uniform we have a game tomorrow home after school; against a really tough team. We could really use your skill to score us a victory.” She calmly said to me, while placing her hand gently on my shoulder.
I left practice fast and sprinted to my house. I got there just in time. Corey was doing last minute cleaning before he got here. I felt bad I had Corey do all the housework that day, but he understood. He just wanted me to be happy for once; actually happy.
The door slams open; then slammed shut. Here comes the yelling. My dad stepped in the house anger filled his eyes as he grabbed Corey firmly by the arm and slammed him on the ground.
“Go upstairs now! Because of you two I did not get to bed last night until late. So work was awful thanks to you two rats!” He screamed into our ears. Corey ran upstairs slightly crying. Repeatedly day after day, seeing Corey cry was the lowest point of my day. I was too caught up into feeling pity for Corey that when I looked up I saw my dad coming straight towards me with a ruler that he had gotten out of his drawer. I tried to run away but he got a hold of me and smacked my leg so hard it started to bleed. The ruler mark was imprinted on my leg. I cried out a booming screech while grasping my thigh. He smacked me across my face and on the back.
“Shhh, the neighbors don’t want to hear you scream. They don’t want to hear you talk after what you and your brother have done.” He yelled into my ear while he closed my mouth tight. I ran upstairs and went to sleep. I didn’t want to make him anymore disappointed then he already was.
The next morning I woke up and gathered all my things in a hurry and scurried out the door with Corey running in front. We like to get out of the house before he wakes up. The school day went by slow but that was okay because it was my safe haven. But finally I got to actually be happy. It was time for my volleyball game. The whole team went to the locker room to change. I waited till everyone was done and warming up to get changed. When I thought everyone was gone I started to undress. Upon my upper thigh there was a twelve inch deep black and blue gash. My leg was weeping with extreme pain. As I Got my sports bra on I heard a voice from behind.
“Jess,the bruise on the back of your calf looks extremely painful, how did you get it?” I turned around it was Blair. I had gotten that bruise from when I forgot to take out the trash. He hit me with his belt.
“I ran into a table.” I explained while turning to her covering up the gash. She nodded.
“How about the bruises on your arms?” She asked with an exquisite look on her face. I could tell she was concerned.
“Oh ha-ha, I’m very clumsy.” I said with a fake smile while laughing.
“You’ve never been hit have you?” She asked.
“No never!” I said quickly and nervous.
“Jess, I see the hand print on your back. Are you being abused at home? Don’t be afraid to say it. They can’t hurt you here. You’re safe here.” Blair said to me crying.
Tears were strolling down my face. I hugged Blair ever so tightly. It felt good to let it out all the tears that were stored up inside of me, but then I remembered it’s my fault why I’m being abused. I pushed Blair away.
“You can’t tell anyone about this. I’m serious. I’m the reason why he is even abusing me. “I said with the most serious look in my life.
“How are you causing this?” She asked.
“Couple years ago my dad, mom, brother and I were in a car. We were on a highway. My dad yelled at us for not giving the directions right. My brother and I got mad because we had trouble reading the map. So we started to fight. My dad kept yelling at us. Shut up he would yell. He would hit us on the leg to be quiet. When my dad reached back to hit us, he bumped into my mom and made her crash into another car. My mom died that day. My father claims it’s because of my brother and me. I believe him. If we weren’t fighting he wouldn’t had too of hit us. It’s our fault. We deserve this.” I explained to Blair looking at my bruises and scars.
“Jess, no one deserves to be hit. No one deserves to be treated the way you and your brother do. The incident that happened to your mom wasn’t your fault, it was an accident. Your dad didn’t need to hit you. In fact he shouldn’t have hit you. If you tell someone about this, this could all change. You could be treated better. Just stand up for yourself and tell someone. I promise it will all be better.” Blair told me looking me straight in the eyes while holding my hand.
Two years later… We were tied 20 to 20 next point scored would win the game. The coach needed someone to spike the ball. I was the best spikier on the team. The coach put me in. When I looked out in the crowd I saw Corey and the person who made me and Corey’s world turn around, Ms.Lia. She was the one who I told about my father too. She called child services for us and got him taken care of. The ball was set up for me to spike, with all my anger that was built inside of me from years before, I smacked the ball as forceful as I could. Things with my dad were finally done.
