Father's Teachings

Jenny Eden grew up in a cabin on the flatlands of Kansas where neighbors were scarce. That made it easy for her grandmother and mother to both physically and mentally abuse her, which they did often. She was daddy's girl but daddy was never around that much except on those times when he would take her out in the woods and teach her to hunt and track game and occasionally take her fishing with him. Jenny didn't dare tell her father what they were doing to her for fear the next time would be worse, but the older she got the worse it became. Her grandmother was a Satan worshipper and kept threatening to send Jenny to hell. As Jenny got older she got her revenge and showed both of them what hell could really be like. She was able to do this mostly because of her father's survival training. And survive she did in a way that is both horrifying and mysterious.

She then turned to leave and my lips were quivering as I listened to her hideous laughter when she slammed the door shut. I fought back the flow of tears I knew were waiting to rush forward. From past experiences I knew crying would do no good. It would only give her satisfaction, and that was one thing I was never going to do.

Suddenly, I was aware of movement in the far corner of the room behind me. I kicked just enough to make myself spin around on the hook. My eyes strained to see what had caused the sound of something scraping on the ground. At first, I could see nothing. The movement had stopped. Perhaps it was just in my head. But then, I heard it again and knew I wasn't in there alone. Something else was alive and in there with me. Perhaps the spirits of the dead hogs...no, that was just plain stupid, I thought. Still, I could see nothing. I could only wait until whatever it was came close enough to identify. I didn't have to wait long before making out the long figure slithering on the ground just below me.

As long as I could survive and get big enough, I would make Father see what she was really like one of these days. I'd make him see, then he'd get rid of her and maybe Grandma too and love me even more.

Suddenly, I became aware of the crunching noise of footsteps just outside the door. Mother swung the door open and came inside.

Mother went over to the bench and untied the rope causing me to drop to the ground. After untying my wrists, Mother very neatly looped the rope and returned it back to where she had found it. My arms were numb all over. I couldn't put them down at first. My arms almost seemed to float upwards by themselves. Then they felt like lead weights. Even with the dim light provided by the doorway, I could see the red rings around my wrists. Some areas were made even darker where the rope had cut into my skin causing blood to seep to the surface. I tried to rub my wrists but my fingers wouldn't respond. The flesh was there but it felt like dead pigskin. This new sensation amazed me. Numbness could work to my advantage. All the while, Mother ranted on about how I'd never ever do that again to her precious David. She was right. Next time I'd do worse.

I had my little ways of getting back at David. Of course, every time there was a small ruckus, it was always my fault. I was stuck playing with him most of the time and I was really beginning to hate that little brat.