I doubt that anyone had a perfect childhood...but I am sure that many are better then others. My childhood is not one that I reflect upon with many happy memories. Most of my childhood was just a matter of getting through it and trying to disappear into the woodworks.

Once when I was in the 7th grade I found that I had to stay after school. Sure I messed up and staying after school is nothing new to a child..most are stuck doing it at one time or another.

I never considered calling home for a ride there.....for to call home would mean that I would have to bother my dad in his after work relaxation at his local watering hole ( beer joint). To do this would mean a very hard lesson and wrath to withstand from my father. So I thought I would try and walk my way home. Normally I rode the bus and it was long gone...the walk was a matter of about 5 miles across hills and wooded areas. My school was in a housing area on top of a hill and the housing area I lived in was quite a ways off from there in another housing area on the military base that we lived in.

I knew the general direction of where my home was and started off that way ...as direct as possible which meant going through wooded areas full of branbles...rotting dead leaves.... trees and green scummy creeks. I was not thrilled with the thought. I was growing tired and it was getting dark. In the wooded area that was even darker with the trees shading what little light there was left.

By the time that I got home supper was over and the family was going about their business. My father was watching t.v., my mother was washing the dishes...my brother was playing in his room and my sister was out.

I was so very tired...covered with dirt and scratches from the brambles and from trying to navagate the rough terrain..yet no one noticed...sigh.

I was so worried that I would face some severe punishment for being late and having to explain myself...but the sad thing was that I was not even missed. Not a single word was mentioned about where I was etc.. I do not know what was worse...facing punishment or not being noticed if I was there at all. I was so lost in the thought that I was not even missed...and found that over the years it would have been a pattern of my life in my family....the only time I was noticed was when I was wanted to do something or when I acted up and caused a ripple in the home.