Craig

"December 31st, 1978
Was the date that sealed her and her mother’s fate
Her mother said, “Don’t wait up baby, because I’ll be out late.”
She was mad at her mother because she decided to break their date
They were suppose to stay up and bring in the New Year with Dick Clark
But instead the thirty something diva wanted to go and party like the freaks do when it’s dark
Even though the girl was only twelve, her instincts sensed something was wrong
That this innocent night of clubbing would lead to pain prolonged

Same old thing
But then something new
Instead of being abused by children
It would now be a grown man causing a family feud

Sure enough the girls’ instincts were right on the money
Her mother could not see it at the time since she had found a new honey
But he was into specials, two for the price of one
He had the mother and now he wanted her daughter
He subjected the girl to things that you would not believe
That after he was done she scrubbed herself until she would bleed
Just trying to get the dirt off her shoulders, but still seeing traces of it on her sleeve

Same old thing
But then something new
Instead of being abused by children
A grown man causing a family feud

Then late one night in February 1979
She felt like she was dying inside
Craig came into her room after he had gotten her mother drunk and passed out
Instead of letting him abuse her she stood up for herself and said, “Leave me alone you louse!”
He pursued again and thought it she was playing a game
But when she repeated her outburst, he realized that she was not lame
She was not a little lamb that would roll over and continue to say, “Bah!”
Even though she was terrified she would have rather died then again let him touch her
He backed off and she realized that she had won
Yet he did not leave her home and this troubled her

Same old thing
But then something new
Instead of being abused by children
She was now fighting off a grown child abuser

Then one school night when they went out for a so called family dinner
She had cauliflower for the first time at the Sizzler
It was a blissful night full of conversation and fun
But when she returned home she felt like scum
Why was Craig still here?
She thought, “I told him no!”
“I don’t understand why he does not pack his duffle bag and go?”
She went into the bathroom where she had tried to scrub his scum off before
And decided that this will never end so I am about to walk through heaven’s door
She took all the pills from her asthma prescription
Then went and sat on her bed with good intentions
After reflecting for a few minutes
She thought, “I don’t want to die!”
So she went and told mother that she had taken the pills while Craig was standing at her mother’s side

Same old thing
But then something new
Instead of being abused by children
The grown man will not give up being a child abuser

At first her mother thought she was joking like it was a game
When she realized she was serious, she rushed her to Harbor General without delay
The doctors induced vomiting to preserve her life
They monitored her and she still remembers them asking her when they saw something white
“Young lady, do you think that is one of the pills?”
She replied, “No, it is cauliflower.” A vegetable till this day still make her feel ill
After the ordeal the nurse suggested that the girl see a psychiatrist, of course Craig was opposed
He had the nerve to say, "This is a family matter that needs to be resolved at home.” The truth is he feared being exposed

Same old thing
But then something new
Instead of being abused by children
A grown man is trying to hide his abuse

She did see a therapist once or twice
But it was not enough to cut or splice
Because on March 1, 1979, her mother gave her life to Jesus Christ
Then her mother told Craig that they were through
He was so outdone his plan had come unglued
He could not leave though without one final blow
He had the nerve to tell her mother, “Your daughter’s not a virgin you know?”
Like a 12 year old girl would actually want a beer belly thirty something year old man
Her mother was outraged and she went to the girl and asked
“Baby, has Craig ever touched you because if so I will call your dad,”
The girl knew that her daddy had a gun
And if her daddy shot Craig, then Craig would become the victim
She was playing the adult like she had so many times before
Because she had enough wisdom to know how things go
That daddy went be sent away to prison
And that she might be taken away by child protective services
So the girl lied and said, “No,” that she was never touched by him
Her mother walked away not completely convinced but figured with her fists wound up tightly in a bundle
That Craig made the accusations because he was disgruntled

Same old thing
But then something new
Instead of being abused by children
It was a grown man causing a family feud

That was the end
The girl never saw him again
After that her mother never had another boyfriend
Her mother and father are now both in heaven
They both died without knowing the truth about what happened
The girl found out years later that her mother told a close family friend
That Craig had destroyed her and that she never recovered from him
She divulged that life was never the same after that vulture
He preyed upon a lonely innocent female pretending to have morals and culture
And then there is that once 12 year old girl who never told a soul until now
Who would have thought that the winter of 1979 could create such havoc?
Now perhaps her peers may understand why she was so odd at times, it was a mask of deception
She was trying to cope during the day; while fearing the night because Craig was waiting at home for his reception
But this story was not at all told for sympathy
It was purposely told so that you mothers and fathers listen to me
Please think again before you so easily allow a strange man or woman around your kids or any children
Make sure that you know them fully because the world does not need another child abuse victim
Because I am that 12 year old girl now stuck in a grown woman’s body
When all I really long for is my deceased daddy and mommy

Same old thing
But then something new
I was abused by children
And a grown man that is still causing a family feud"

Copyright 2009 by Veniece Wesson. All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.