Age 4

This was probably the worst day of my school life. Ever. It was my first day of school. Kindergarten, to be exact. I don't know why, but I was so excited. I guess being isolated from other children my age that weren't my cousins can do that to you. And my own cousins didn't even want to play with me. They always kicked me out of their games, calling me stupid and ugly. I've always been the Black Sheep of the family. Doing things that normal kids my age wouldn't. Reading, watching history documentaries, talking politics with adults (when I got older of course). I was so sweet back then. I don't think I had a mean bone in my body. I thought everyone was my friend. But I learned fairly quick, that nice people always finish last. I learned that if I wanted to survive on this planet, I had to watch out for me. But, I think the saddest thing is, that I had to learn it the hard way at the age of four.

I smiled sweetly with childish blue-green eyes filled with wonder as the three older kids approached me. They all had fake and sugary sweet smiles on their face. There were 2 boys and one girl. The girl had long red hair and a freckled sprinkled face, while the boys looked the same. Short red hair, freckles. But one of them was stockier than the other.

"Hi!" I said excitedly, "My name's Chelsea! Wanna be friends?"

The kids smirked at each other deviously, me being oblivious and innocent, I just thought they were normal smiles. I don't know how I didn't see this coming. For four years old, I was pretty stinking smart. I could read at a fifth grade level and can write partially in cursive. But, I was stupid to the cruel world of society.

"Sure friend," The stockier boy gushed, "Wanna learn something new?"

"Yeah, yeah!" I said excitedly as I nodded my head, short brown hair bobbing with it.

"Okay," The boy picked me up and threw me over his shoulder harshly. I screamed as I stared to flail my little arms and legs. The trio seemed to be oblivious to this as they made their way to the garbage can on the other side of the playground. I sobbed as loud as I could, but no one heard my cry for help.

They threw me into the small can harshly and laughed as they spit on me, ruining my new shoes and dress. Spit ran down my face as they delivered painful blows to my body while someone shook the can wildly. The girl then pulled some empty water bottles and chip bags from her book bag and threw the trash into the can with me and laughed as I tried to get unstuck.

"Lesson number one," The girl said with a smirk, "At our school, we put worthless trash in a can."

The three kids walked away laughing loudly and left me to fend for myself in the garbage can. I curled up into a ball and hugged my body tightly as I cried and sobbed loudly. The garbage around me stained my clothes and my wounds bled profusely. The stench was horrible. Eventually, after my sobbing fest, I fell asleep from exhaustion.

No one noticed me until recess.