Porthole

Smothered

PROMPT March 16th

What lesson do you remember most vividly from your childhood?

To never open my mouth (I smiled instead) and to never make a mistake.

I wasn't good at either.

I liked strangers then as much as I do now. Too bad I was afraid around family and neighbors. My smother projected her fears of being blamed and shamed. We were meant to be perfect children.

We were miserable.

As a left-hander I smudged. This was not acceptable. I learned how to do things my way. I practised my penmanship until I had the best writing in the class. My cursive is still fairly good. My lettering is not.

I avoid talking too much about my childhood. There were happy times I'm sure, but monsters lurked behind every stray misspoken word and smiles weren't always returned.