My Childhood Memories

• Brittani Josiah, Grade 9
• Short Story
• 2016

Have you ever had those dreams were you wake up screaming covered in sweat well that’s what happens to me every night since I was 7. I am now 15 so 8 years ago since my life changed forever. It was a warm Monday morning in July I woke up happy wishing I just went back to sleep I woke up to the sound of fighting. I walk down the hallway and slowing open the door just enough for me to see what’s going on. I see my dad talking to my mother but I can tell something isn’t right I see my mother on the couch crying. They must have been the ones yelling my dad ends up leaving I haven’t seen him since then. To this day I have not seen my Dad I’ve lived with my mother for 4 years the other 4 years I’ve lived with my Grandmother and Grandfather who have had to look after me while mother went away to sort herself out I think she just left me behind I didn’t think she was coming back. I found out last year she was missing for 3 months and was found dead after those 3 months. I lost everyone I ever cared about so I never had a very good childhood. I’m now in grade 9 and when people have asked me for my life story I never know what to say I hate to bum people out so I had to make up a story. Last year I said my parents were in America to visit family and this year I said my parents were in for 15 years learning the French culture people thought it was pretty cool my parents were in Paris. For most of my life I haven’t even been with my mother and dad but yet I made them sound like amazing people I wish they were here with me. My second day in grade 9 wasn’t the best start my Drama teacher told us to portray a childhood memory of us and our parents. Since everyone thought I had my whole life with them they thought oh hers will be good. I walked up in front of my whole drama class and say I remember a Christmas with my family gathered around our Christmas tree ( keep in mind I had no idea what the hell I was going on about ) we hand out our presents and as the last present is handed out the family laughs and giggles. We pass around the egg nog and sing of Christmas cheer that’s a memory I will never forget…

My whole class stands up and cheers that has always been my dream Christmas my normal Christmas is full of crying, screaming, more crying and a mess everywhere. Sounds like a fun day doesn’t it?