All Kids Kept Behind

Wow....

I might be dead....

What was I ev...oh right....maaannnn.....

I just feel like...like a bowl of oatmeal...on a bed...Well...actually oatmeal outside the bowl...tipped over....whole mess...I don't even know what I meant with that...

There’s just no way I’m...I’m not getting out of bed.

Wait. Maybe.....no. That leg is dead. Why am I even trying?

Going through 5 chapters like that...I'd be surprised if school isn't already over. Probably even the next day...

And those 3 cans of soda. Fuck man...but it was good. It was a good...A very good night.

.........................................But I gotta get up. Come on...come on left arm...you got this...you got th-nope. Failed me again lefty...

Whelp.....Excuses....excuses.... Maybe I can just say I have sleep paralysis?

Yeah..... Sleep paralysis..... Perfect excuse. Ohhh man...hopefully my lips are still there once I finish saying it.

You know what...I might as well accept it...getting hit with the 10,000 year solution for laziness....but you know what...that’s crazy...10,000 years of kids gettin’ beatin’. And I’m still here...only minutes away from facing my 30th attempt on my life by my Mom...

Guess that old saying...‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it...’ ain’t the idea for parenting...probably...like...‘if it’s broke...don’t...do...sh-’...........................................................................................................................................................................

*TAP* *TAP*

Hmph!? Oh fuck. The door. May god have mercy on me.

“We got 20 minutes before we go! I better see a boy almost fully dressed in here or...”

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come...

It’s over. The door’s opening. HERE WE GO...HERE WE GO...

I opened my eyes as I could feel my right shoulder being gripped with strength that can only come from a beast in rage. I could only see my desk before my face kissed the mattress, making everything dark again.

It’s over. My rear flank is exposed. I’m gone....I’m gone...It’s only a matter of ti-

***SPRSH***

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

The belt hit me with the combined strength of all parental beatings across history in one go, shattering any hope I had for Holy Intervention but...I think I got the energy of all those kids who got hit too! THANK YOU!!!!

I fled towards the right end of my bed, feeling the ener-

**SPRSH** “AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH DANGIT!“But it only left my rear exposed to another devastating hit to my glutes.

Fuck it. I gotta pull the card even if it doesn’t work. “Wait! I-I had sleep paralysis! I was trying! I swear!” I yelled it out desperately, hoping for mercy.

“Honey...honey. Honey. Honey. Honeeey...C’mon. You’re making me feel bad here.” Oh my god...“How desperate you look...so unprepared ...even despite the cans of soda...and the controller...” Why is she doing this?”...and oohhh.The alarm too is joining in!” Mom moved towards my alarm and picked it up...showing how much of an idiot I was not to set it.“Everyone’s just exposing your whole defense, and here you are still making a stand. How pitiful. Honey,I think we both know what this is. Right? DECEPTION!” She then threw back the belt again and...

“GAAHHHHHHHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!“...tore into my back!!

“I can’t lose!!!” WE GOTTA MOVE! I slipped the shoulder grip of my mother, stumbling out of my bed into the side. But fuck, all I could feel was many pricks hitting me simultaneously like I was being shotgunned by the belt.

AGHHHHHH...I can’t.

I can’t....there’s no way. I'm....I'm giving in.

I collapsed on my knees, only getting about an inch away from my bed. Every sense was just pain: hearing, sight, smell, touch...and taste?

My mother stepped in front of me, her belt hanging but gripped, clearly ready to end my life if it came to that.

Fine then. I ain't a bitch!“Go on. DO IT! Finish what was started,” I said, pulling all my energy to straighten my spine to at least go out right.

But she wouldn’t at least give me that. She just shook her head and slipped the belt through the holes of her pants. “Nah...you must show mercy to your opponent at their lowest point.”

I sighed, letting go of every part of my body and probably a little bit hope in life.“Yeah...and no mercy when in battle.”

“Of course! Some of your scars already starting to heal back. There’s no way I'll allow you to get the slip on me,” Mom spat back, slipping her belt in and stepping out of sight.

“Didn’t know I was constantly at war...”

“And that’s why you failed today...remeber this lesson while you get dressed.Here...”

A pair of clothes suddenly dropped upon my back while I still felt hollow inside. I see why people die over shame...God, what is the purpose of life? Is it just being beaten? Like...is it all just being merciselly assaulted by those you trust both physically...

“Only a couple minutes until school...and looking at the time there will be no showering for you buddy. But that’s’ ok, right? You’re’ only there for school. Girls come second...Or maybe boys?”

...and emotionally?!

“Hey! If my stories are just gonna be manipulated for your propoganda campaigns then from here on out, I’m silent’.”

“Awww, honey. It’s a joke,” Mom said, showing where I learned my deception skills from. “But no more talking. I already spent five minutes getting you up. Time for dressing!” My mother said as she stepped out of the room. “15 minutes!” That was five minutes? Forget it. Forget it...

I lifted myself up from the hill of clothes, twitching with every stab of pain and shame that wanted to drop me. Alright. Not much time. Gotta aim for the noticeable stuff.

I’m wearing long pants...and I don’t think I have gym today so all I need is to cake up my arms, face, and hands. Definitely no time to shower so better just layer on the deoderant hard this time and that should leave me with enough time to carefully take care of my hair and brush my teeth.

Let’s go.

I slipped on my clothes as quickly as I could and then ran over to my desk. Digging through the top, I gripped the lotion and squirted out enough of it to cover all the exposed spots in my clothes. Getting that done, I threw it off to the side and grabbed the deoderant. I popped the cap off and fucking digged into my arm pits. By the end of it, all I knew was that it felt like I stuck a piece of cake in my arm pits. Then, with proper care and soft touch needed for such a delicate piece of the body, I pulled out all my hair care products and romanced my hair with passion, grace, and respect. And god damn, let me just adjust my mirror on my desk...ohhh...that’s...that’s not too bad for a quick touch up. You know...I could go a littlle.

“5 MINUTES!!!”

SHIT! My breath...! Wait. Forget it. I think I got some flavored gum somewhere in my backpack or locker. And, even then, as long as I don’t face someone while talking I should get through the day. I grabbed my backpack near the side of my desk and slide all my books, pencils, and papers from my desk into it. Accomplishing what was probably a mistake,I sealed it and ran downstairs with it into the kitchen.

Ok. Ok. Cereal is my best bet here.

I threw open one of the cabinet doors, grabbed a bowl, and then looked at the top of the refrigerator. Alright, what cereal, what cereal?

Frisk em franks...Popo Cuffs...Honey’s Not Legalios. Uhhh....uhm.....

*STRSHHH* *VHROOOOOOOMM*

*VHROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

Oh no. Screw it. Popo Cuffs has never failed me. I yanked the box from the top and ripped open the refrigerator, pulling out the milk. With the liquid in hand, I did God’s work by pouring the milk first then the cereal in like a proper, sustainable, human being.

Santicyfing that cereal with a sign of the cross, and a dab of holy water from the kitchen table, I rushed outside with the bowl and spoon in hand with enough ti-

Is what I thought but the vehicle speeding out of the driveway, conducting a perfect 60 degree turn onto the road and GRADUALLY GOING OUT OF SIGHT IS MAKING ME FEEL LIKE HAVING A HEART ATTACK!!!!!!!

“NO! NO! NO! NOOOOOOOOO!,” I screamed, sprinting as my Popo Cuffs were flying and latching onto anything it could get into contact with.

Should’ve seen this shit a mile away. AGHHHHHH!!!! COME ON. COME ON!!!!! I CAN'T BACK DOWN!

My legs were already burning pretty quickly while my stomach was wondering why the fuck I was busy running a marathon and not putting my energy into getting it food. But inevitably, with some primadorial energy or whatever hyper energy I had left over from my childhood, I reached the car, yanked open a door, and threw myself inside.

“HAAAAAA....HAAAAAAAA.....HAAAAAA.....” Oh my god...my heart...and my Popo Cuffs...not them...ohhh...what was...thepoint...ofgettingit...

“Not bad honey...Not bad...especially while carrying a bowl of cereal. Well, trying.” Mom said as I vacuumed the air in the car, my body contemplating a full shutdown. “But baton pass can come last. For now, we have good progress here with your running. I think 15 might be soon be possible. And with that...ohohoho... any reason to not do track is out the window!”

This...child abuser....“I...HUFF...WILL….HEEF...NOT…forgetit...” It’s not....worth it.

Ok.... Ok. I picked up my spoon and dug into what barely remained of my Popo Cuffs.

And...ughh....Y’know, they really could go international with this if they didn’t keep having such a weird and awful aftertaste with most of their cereal products.

Whatever, I got some Iron Bars. They're always decent enough. I ripped open my bag and pulled out some Iron Bars, stuffing them into my mouth to hopefully remove the after taste only to get slapped again with the fastest consequences for eating a sweet I have ever felt with a brand.

Why did I forg-oh right. I ran a mile with no food in my stomach. God, this has to be intentional. There’s no other way they could keep getting this wrong this way on accident.

Blah. Let me distract myself before I start gagging. I stuck my hand in my phone out and scrolled through anything that I could possibly find to look at.

And..ahhh, here we go. My favorite ongoing trainwreck. Let's see what Yonta and Pollo are up to:

"Hey guys :D, does anyone know how to solve #3? I've been trying since last night and don't know what to do at all. :c If anyone helps, I got you next time ;3," Yonta put out there. And...yep. Quite a few responses...and I bet some of them aren't even in the class.

But of course, Pollo has to say something about this:

"Trying? Wow...guys I think we really need to stop and appreciate this moment here cause this is a medical miracle. I was fairly sure Yonta was gonna lose enough brain cells to become a potato by the end of the year ,but, by some miracle,the decline has stopped. Not only that, she can now actually attempt assignments. This is just...I might actually cry."

"OH wow....I also might cry as well. Looks like Polio hasn't been eradicated yet. So sad :C :C :C :CCCCCCCCCCCCCC"

"I might cry because you still somehow think a joke you've used what... 50 times so far, still has any kick to it. I'm guessing you and your 5 brain cells....wait, 15 since you seem to be growing some now, must really like the tingle of that one."

":o Am I really hearing this shit from a bitch who only gets light when someone turns it on in the room their in? If anyone wants to talk about 15, your ass should probably see about getting more than 15 minutes of sunlight in a day! ;OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

"Don't worry, I already do girl. Just for your info since you love to watch me, I always sun bathe around lunch time and really early in the morning. But you know, if you want, you can always ask for my number up front instead of going through all the signals. ;D"

Oh my go-oh shit we're already here. As we pulled up, I could already see students stumbling out of the car, their heads like yo-yos hanging down and swinging all over the place and their legs looking as if they were on one of those dance arcade machines.

Some collided with each other, the entrance...

“And there goes another in a body hole...man, I guess you making me run every morning has some use. Likely wouldn’t make the door if I was running on my schedule,” I said, seeing another soul lost to the failures of another.

“Not the point of it...but whatever makes you feel better.” Mom sighed with the weight of 10 disappoints pushing it out. “All I want is something you know...like why can’t you take whippings as an encouragement to wake up on time? I did when I was partying in high school.”

And college...but I probably shouldn’t say it that way since she still got good grades. Somehow. “Guess God didn’t give me your abilities to live a dual life. Really holding back on those type of miracles for me.” I replied, tightening up my shoulder straps.

“He really is...” The way she just casually takes these shots...

Eventually, we approached the entrance and Mom stopped the vehicle.

“Either way, have a good day honey and stay out of trouble. I’ll always love you, even if you don’t check every box on my list.” Mom said as I slipped my phone in my pocket and opened the car door.

“Still means I need to check some though.” I said as I stepped out, seeing my Mom nod her head while I shut the door. OF course.