CHILD ABUSE( CONT’ D) non-fiction,.
BOOK SIGNING AT THE MOB MUSEUM, LAS VEGAS
ON THE AIR VEGAS UNWRAPPED SHOW
telling me to get out, he was continuing to drink. When I hung up, he yelled at me to go clean the kitchen spotless. He followed me into the kitchen and pulled his foot back to kick me again.
Even though my body was beyond feeling pain by then, I just knew I couldn’ t take another hit, another kick. I picked up a knife from the counter and whispered to myself,“ One more time mother-f @# ker— just one more time.”
He didn’ t deliver the kick. Instead he staggered off and passed out on the couch. I know now that I was wrong for having the party. But at eleven and raising myself, I was making my own decisions. And many of them were bad.
The next morning I got ready to go to the airport and covered up as many of the facial and body bruises from the beating as I could.
My father stood by the car and shouted,“ Give me the key to the house!” His face was like stone. I stood there frozen with my heart racing because I had lost the key. An image popped into my head. I did have another silver key that looked similar. Maybe he would think that was the right one, so I took a chance and gave it to him. Then I prayed. Thank goodness he didn’ t try it in the door.
While we were in the car driving to the airport, out of nowhere he punched me in the face with his closed fist and shouted,“ I hate you and I never want to see you again.” And then he put $ 500 in my pocket. To him, money could fix anything. He must have thought it would take away the physical and emotional trauma he’ d inflicted on me.
My mom’ s rehab facility in Pasadena, California, had given permission for me to stay for a while. When I got there I saw my mom sober for the first time in my memory. What she saw was a bunch of bruises all over her daughter. She put me in the car and took me to the police station. They stripped me and took pictures from head to toe. I really didn’ t need that.
When they finished taking the photos, my mother told me my father would be punished for what he’ d done and I’ d never have to go back to him. I’ m sure she was sincere when she said that and I believed her. But things don’ t always work out the way we hope.
Bella Capo founded the online movement La Bella Mafia on Facebook to give abuse victims / survivors a forum to support each other and provide whatever help they can. She and her Bellas and Bellos have helped so many through the years.
SPRING 2017
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