I’M LEAVIN’ AND I AIN’T NEVER COMIN’ BACK

I was thisclose to being a statistic – a child of the streets – a runaway…wannabee.

As an only child, living in the happiest of households, I felt the need to stir up some drama. Soooooooo after packing up my yellow rain slicker, Mary Janes, and ‘Bunky’ (the monkey) I announced my intentions. I was fed up, “mad as hell and not going to take it anymore“. This 5-year-old was leavin’!

My mom offered to pack me some sustenance and my dad told me he was saddened by my leaving and although they loved me and would miss me…they understood. And they wished me well. HUH??

Living on the first floor of a three-story apartment building, with five steps leading down to the main entrance, I turned to wave a final goodbye. My parents’ stoic demeanor concealed what I perceived as tremendous relief. But I realized I couldn’t go through with it. I dropped that ballerina suitcase and ran full force into their arms; letting bygones be bygones.

I stuck with these people for a couple more years…until I no longer could. And although I don’t remember what triggered this subsequent desire to ‘run’, I’m sure it was something horrible…like no longer tolerating my roller skating up and down the hallway in our apartment. My plan was brilliant. I would high-tail it up to my neighbors on the third floor; waiting for my anguish-filled parents to realize the injustices of their ways. They would beg me to return and tolerate…no…encourage my skating and feed me bologna sandwiches and potato chips. This time I packed my troll dolls and Chinese jump rope.

My mom offered to pack me some sustenance and my dad told me he was saddened by my leaving and although they loved me and would miss me…they understood. And they wished me well. HUH??

Having moved to the second floor of a three-story building I was halfway up the stairway, leading to the Rhodie’s, when I turned to wave my final goodbye. Standing side-by-side in the doorway to our apartment my parents presented a united front.

So once again I ran…I ran straight into their loving arms.

~ me with those people

~ top image via Pinterest