| General Non-Fiction posted March 20, 2022 |
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A family event.
Resentment Through the Years
by Shirley McLain
True Story Contest Winner
I have resented my sister my entire life. I am 72 years old, and Sharon is four years my junior. There are no other siblings, just her and I.
I was reminded yesterday of my resentment when I read another's story here on FanStory. It brought everything back to me.
This resentment of my sister began in 1958. I would have been a nine-year-old girl living in Benicia, California. I was an active tomboy at that time, playing football with the boys on Hillcrest Ave. I was also a Brownie, and for those who do not know, a Brownie was the lower level of the girl scouts. I looked forward to the meetings every week. I loved learning new things, and that part of me hasn't changed.
Our dad had a friend who worked at the Benicia Arsenal by the name of Shelby Langston. The best I can remember, they worked together on the loading docks. They were weekend drinking buddies.
My sister and I frequently went to the Langston household with our dad. Daddy and Shelby sat at the kitchen table and drank beer, while Sharon and I played with Shelby's two boys, who were our age. I can't remember their names. I think as often as we were together, I would.
Sharon and I went with Daddy to Shelby's house one Saturday evening. They did their usual thing of sitting at the table drinking beer. Their dad informed us we couldn't play with the boys because they were sick.
That put a big dent in our evening. Since we couldn't play, we asked if we could talk to them. Shelby told us yes, but not to go into the room.
The boys slept on bunk beds in the small room. We talked for about thirty minutes, and Daddy took us home.
The following week was eventful for me. I completed the Brownie program and would soon "fly up" to the Girl Scouts. The ceremony was to be in a few days.
Mama took me shopping and bought my Girl Scout uniform with the hat, scarf, and shoes. I was prepared for my graduation. I practiced the knot for my scarf until I could do it with my eyes closed.
On the day of the ceremony, I got sick. I began running a fever and couldn’t go to my Girl Scouts ceremony.
I lay on the couch, covered by a blanket, and we heard a loud knock at our front door. Mama went to the door and greeted whoever was there. She then returned to me and handed me my Girl Scout Pin with a piece of white cake. I was too sick even to care.
The following morning, when I woke up, and for the week that followed, I broke out in sores that covered my body from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. I had the worst case of chickenpox. It was even in my mouth and the palms of my hands. I was miserable.
I'm sure by now you are wondering what this has to do with my resentment of my sister. I am about to tell you. By the end of the following week, I was well into recovery. The sores were crusting and not itching as badly. Sharon began to get sick, and Mama was sure it was the "pox."
Here's where my lifelong resentment of my sister enters the picture. Sharon had one lousy pox on her forehead, and not another anywhere on her body. That was unfair after what I went through. HOW DARE SHE!!!!
I have resented my sister my entire life. I am 72 years old, and Sharon is four years my junior. There are no other siblings, just her and I.
I was reminded yesterday of my resentment when I read another's story here on FanStory. It brought everything back to me.
This resentment of my sister began in 1958. I would have been a nine-year-old girl living in Benicia, California. I was an active tomboy at that time, playing football with the boys on Hillcrest Ave. I was also a Brownie, and for those who do not know, a Brownie was the lower level of the girl scouts. I looked forward to the meetings every week. I loved learning new things, and that part of me hasn't changed.
Our dad had a friend who worked at the Benicia Arsenal by the name of Shelby Langston. The best I can remember, they worked together on the loading docks. They were weekend drinking buddies.
My sister and I frequently went to the Langston household with our dad. Daddy and Shelby sat at the kitchen table and drank beer, while Sharon and I played with Shelby's two boys, who were our age. I can't remember their names. I think as often as we were together, I would.
Sharon and I went with Daddy to Shelby's house one Saturday evening. They did their usual thing of sitting at the table drinking beer. Their dad informed us we couldn't play with the boys because they were sick.
That put a big dent in our evening. Since we couldn't play, we asked if we could talk to them. Shelby told us yes, but not to go into the room.
The boys slept on bunk beds in the small room. We talked for about thirty minutes, and Daddy took us home.
The following week was eventful for me. I completed the Brownie program and would soon "fly up" to the Girl Scouts. The ceremony was to be in a few days.
Mama took me shopping and bought my Girl Scout uniform with the hat, scarf, and shoes. I was prepared for my graduation. I practiced the knot for my scarf until I could do it with my eyes closed.
On the day of the ceremony, I got sick. I began running a fever and couldn’t go to my Girl Scouts ceremony.
I lay on the couch, covered by a blanket, and we heard a loud knock at our front door. Mama went to the door and greeted whoever was there. She then returned to me and handed me my Girl Scout Pin with a piece of white cake. I was too sick even to care.
The following morning, when I woke up, and for the week that followed, I broke out in sores that covered my body from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. I had the worst case of chickenpox. It was even in my mouth and the palms of my hands. I was miserable.
I'm sure by now you are wondering what this has to do with my resentment of my sister. I am about to tell you. By the end of the following week, I was well into recovery. The sores were crusting and not itching as badly. Sharon began to get sick, and Mama was sure it was the "pox."
Here's where my lifelong resentment of my sister enters the picture. Sharon had one lousy pox on her forehead, and not another anywhere on her body. That was unfair after what I went through. HOW DARE SHE!!!!
I was reminded yesterday of my resentment when I read another's story here on FanStory. It brought everything back to me.
This resentment of my sister began in 1958. I would have been a nine-year-old girl living in Benicia, California. I was an active tomboy at that time, playing football with the boys on Hillcrest Ave. I was also a Brownie, and for those who do not know, a Brownie was the lower level of the girl scouts. I looked forward to the meetings every week. I loved learning new things, and that part of me hasn't changed.
Our dad had a friend who worked at the Benicia Arsenal by the name of Shelby Langston. The best I can remember, they worked together on the loading docks. They were weekend drinking buddies.
My sister and I frequently went to the Langston household with our dad. Daddy and Shelby sat at the kitchen table and drank beer, while Sharon and I played with Shelby's two boys, who were our age. I can't remember their names. I think as often as we were together, I would.
Sharon and I went with Daddy to Shelby's house one Saturday evening. They did their usual thing of sitting at the table drinking beer. Their dad informed us we couldn't play with the boys because they were sick.
That put a big dent in our evening. Since we couldn't play, we asked if we could talk to them. Shelby told us yes, but not to go into the room.
The boys slept on bunk beds in the small room. We talked for about thirty minutes, and Daddy took us home.
The following week was eventful for me. I completed the Brownie program and would soon "fly up" to the Girl Scouts. The ceremony was to be in a few days.
Mama took me shopping and bought my Girl Scout uniform with the hat, scarf, and shoes. I was prepared for my graduation. I practiced the knot for my scarf until I could do it with my eyes closed.
On the day of the ceremony, I got sick. I began running a fever and couldn’t go to my Girl Scouts ceremony.
I lay on the couch, covered by a blanket, and we heard a loud knock at our front door. Mama went to the door and greeted whoever was there. She then returned to me and handed me my Girl Scout Pin with a piece of white cake. I was too sick even to care.
The following morning, when I woke up, and for the week that followed, I broke out in sores that covered my body from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. I had the worst case of chickenpox. It was even in my mouth and the palms of my hands. I was miserable.
I'm sure by now you are wondering what this has to do with my resentment of my sister. I am about to tell you. By the end of the following week, I was well into recovery. The sores were crusting and not itching as badly. Sharon began to get sick, and Mama was sure it was the "pox."
Here's where my lifelong resentment of my sister enters the picture. Sharon had one lousy pox on her forehead, and not another anywhere on her body. That was unfair after what I went through. HOW DARE SHE!!!!
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Writing Prompt True Family Story/ must include You and Your Sister(s). Sibling's name(s) will be mentioned in first paragraph Word count 550-600 No vulgar words, profanity, or sex/sexual terms No satire, war stories, or Dear John letters or adoption stories No deathbed stories in hospital, home, or hospice care though death of people may be included |
True Story Contest Winner |
 Recognized |
#62 March 2022 |
599 words
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. 
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