Thirteen-year-old Fayette “Fay” Marigold was petite for her
age but had the biggest personality and mind. She was fearless, opinionated,
loud, and sometimes a troublemaker with the cockiest grin which seemed to make
her impish attitude stand out even more. Even though she thought that telling
people was as unimportant as knowing the names of the Kardashians, she was also
born with cerebral palsy. She was in a wheelchair and her speech was slightly
garbled but she lived a regular life and never became a poster child for the
pity party. She was actually more of an advocate for the rebellious and the
smart ass.
One brisk, fall evening, she went to a Halloween carnival
with her sixteen-year-old brother Warren. Fun, creepy music and the sound of
children laughing and squealing surrounded them with the smell of buttery
popcorn and sweet cotton candy in the air.
She and Warren were waiting in line to go on a roller-coaster. When they
first arrived at the line, the ride was already going and they were only
letting six people at a time go. Fay saw a lot of spooky things at that
carnival but none were as beastly as the boy that was standing in front of
them. The boy was much younger, around ten or eleven and he was staring a hole
through her. Of course, the boy’s parents were nowhere to be found.
Fay said to the boy sarcastically, “You never saw a person
in a wheelchair before, right? It’s okay, just remember to blink though or your
eyes will burn.”
Warren chuckled in his throat. She didn’t think that the
rude boy understood her but he did and began to pick on her.
“You talk weird,” said the boy wickedly, “Um, this ride is
for normal people…only and you ain’t normal.”
“You think so,” exclaimed Fay with fake excitement,
“Really?” Thanks!”
“Man, I bet that it ain’t no fun having a wheelchair girl
for a sister,” said the boy to Warren, acting like she wasn’t there, “Sorry
that she is like that.”
“Whatever kid,” said Warren dryly, glaring at him.
“Sorry?” Fay laughed, “Why are you sorry? Did you create
cerebral palsy?”
Still ignoring her, the boy said, “I bet that she can’t do
nothing on her own.”
“Shut up kid before I---!” began Warren, becoming furious,
his big fists turning white. Fay stopped him with an assuring smile.
“It’s true,” she replied sardonically, “I can’t walk, I’m
just one of the fastest in any wheelchair race. My handwriting is crummy, I can
just type ninety words per minute on the computer. I can’t talk clearly, I’m
just unafraid to speak my mind. You’re sooo right. I can’t do anything at
all.”
The boy looked puzzled. She and Warren just laughed. Then,
the roller-coaster was beginning to stop and the boy gave her an evil smile. He
said mockingly to her, “Uh oh, there’s five people ahead of you and only six is
allowed. Looks like your brother will have to leave his wheelchair sister
behind.”
She just grinned. The
ticket taker then walked by. The boy tried to give his ticket and walked on but
Fay held up a blue pass and the ticket taker stopped him, letting her and
Warren go in front.
“Hey,” he exclaimed, “I was here first!”
“I’m sorry,” said the ticket taker, “She has a disability
pass and he needs to accompany her. You have to wait. We only so much room and
I heard how you were treating this nice, young lady.”’
“But that ain’t fair,” he yelled.
“If only you were abnormal like me…,” she smiled, as Warren
picked her up from her chair and helped her into the ride.
“You are only gettin’ special treatment cause you’re in a
wheelchair,” he bellowed.
“Well, it pays to be the wheelchair girl,” she said
cheekily, winking as the roller-coaster rolled away and leaving the little boy
behind.
(c)Lena Holdman, all rights reserved 2013
This is a funny satire, poking fun at all of the bullies throughout my life and at myself. It was fun to write.
Thanks to my family for always, ALWAYS supporting me, for loving me no matter what. Thanks for making laugh. Thank you Mom, Dad, sister (Amanda, you're the best sissy ever), aunts (you rock!), uncles (the most awesome) , grandparents (love ya!), my trillions of cousins (lol, including Tammy, Chris, and Dave), and my niece Grace. You make me smile constantly. Thanks to my friends, online and in real life. Thank you for listening and caring. Thank you Carl for being a such good friend. Despite what others might say, you're a great person. Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy birthday Steven! I know that you're partying like every birthday. :-) Everyone still thinks about you and misses you. I miss your jokes and goofy songs. A kid on Halloween said the "hallow weenie" joke about the vampire and the witch and it made me smile. :-D I still remember those inappropriate jokes, lol! Have fun today up there. We all love you.
As the town clock strikes midnight in the distance, the Halloween
ball begins in a pitch black graveyard. Wild spirits scream and sing wickedly,
jack-‘o-lanterns chuckle crazily, cackling witches and wizards wear outlandish,
flowing robes that make them look like they are swirling on air, gruesome
looking zombies with oozing, decaying faces groan hungrily, and vampires smile seductively,
baring their sharp fangs. Grinning skeletons start the music and everyone does a
funeral march-like waltz. One…two, one…two, one…two, one…two.
When the clock strikes three and when the moon turns red, an
evil tradition then begins. The spirits chose a child in advance. They call to
the innocent child; usually a girl with the purest heart and long, scarlet hair.
With sing-song, playful voices, they call out: “Come little one, come.” Being
in a deep trance, the girl gets out of bed and walks out into her own death.
The helpless girl enters the graveyard and they all surround
her eagerly, their mouths watering. The wind howls frightfully and they creep
closer…closer…closer. The girl always wakes up just in time for her scream and
see shadows consuming her. Blood is drank, skin is pealed from the bone, and
the soul is sacrificed to the unthinkable. Where’s her body? I don’t think that
you want to know. She becomes another reckless spirit that is invited to the
Halloween ball.
Last weekend I went to Wonderland Camp and I had relaxing,
fun time. I saw my friends: Kortney, Scott, Dustin, Colleen, Chris, Kayla S., Kayla W.,
Mary, Angie, Ashley, Toby, Alena, Austin, and Jason. On Friday night, we had a
campfire. It was very chilly outside but it was nice. The beautiful stars were
out and I was surrounded by great people. Toby told a funny “scary” story and
we ate messy, delicious s’mores. Kortney and I loved it.
Saturday morning, we did crafts. First, we made scarecrow
faces with popsicle sticks. My scarecrow face had three eyes and vampric fangs.
Kayla W. smiled and said: “Well, everyone will know who made this one.” Then we
painted pumpkins with Alena and Jason. I painted a monstrous face on mine. Hey,
it’s Halloween time and it’s me. What do you expect? :) After the pumpkins, we made paper ghosts.
Everyone was making their ghosts with happy faces but I wanted to be different
so I made one with a sad face. It made the other campers laugh. After crafts, I
just relaxed in bed for a while.
Later that afternoon, the hayrides began. It was a brisk day
but it was fun to hang out with friends. When it was finally my cabin’s turn,
Scott went with us and sat by me. Kortney, Scott, Kayla S., Kayla W., and I
were laughing and joking around as the hayride went around camp. It was so
cool.
Later on after dinner, the dance began. I wore a black and
purple, glittery shirt, my favorite pair of skinny jeans, and black shoes. The
multicolored lights were spinning everywhere and the music was blasting. Scott
taking me out of my wheelchair, I slow danced with him. When he does that, it’s
beyond sweet. I love it! I also danced with Chris, Kayla, Dustin, and everyone
else. I was dancing and singing the night away.
On Sunday, everyone was getting ready to go home. When Mom
and Dad came to pick me up, Scott was goofing around and tried to hide me from
them. It was funny. I hugged everyone goodbye and took some pictures. I hate
saying bye to everybody but camp will always be there. I’ll always have memories to smile
about and I’ll constantly have things to write about every summer and fall. I
love Wonderland Camp!
Sixteen-year-old Whitney Krupp at Ogemaw Heights High was elected to her homecoming court as a cruel prank. She thought of suicide but then she stood up for herself. The town rallied behind the teen; a hair salon and a dress shop helping her get ready for the dance. A Facebook page was even launched to support the bullied teen. I still don't understand why people bully others. Bullying is just pathetic and heartless! It makes me smile to see her town supporting her. A friendly hand is sometimes all you need. :)
The damaging and dangerous practice called "conversion
therapy" might soon be at an end in California --- the most populous state
in the U.S. -- if Governor Jerry Brown signs a bill that the state Legislature
has already passed. So-called conversion therapy is based upon the dangerous
and disapproving theory that homosexuality is a form of mental illness and that
through therapy, sexual orientation can be changed.
Thousands of gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth have been subjected
to the humiliating measures of this practice over the past 100 years, including electric shocks
and nausea-inducing medication paired
with homosexual imagery. In many other cases, youth have been forced to undergo
shame-filled therapy sessions with counselors and groups of their peers.
Tell California Gov. Jerry Brown: Sign the bill to ban conversion therapy of minors and affirm the finding of the legislature that being gay or lesbian is not a disease or disorder.
