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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WRITERS ’ TRICKS OF THE TRADE