Wrestling with Childhood (Patreon)

     I have dyslexia. It's been something I've struggled with for years. Growing up with my 2 older brothers and a twin sister, I always felt like I was the inferior child. I could barely read at the age of 10, I couldn't fully recite the alphabet until I was 12. I was very ashamed of my reading and writing level, compared to my brothers and sister who were all honor students. I was held back in school and went to special classes for reading and comprehension. I studied so hard as a child, but nothing came easily.

     I remember in 5th grade silently staring at books and daydreaming in class when it was suppose to be reading time. Once the teacher asked me to stand up afterwards and tell the class what I read for the 15mins. The book in my hand was called “20000 leagues under the sea.” I remember standing there and coming up with a story on the spot from one look at the chapter’s picture. After I was finished the teacher and all my classmates who read the book knew I was lying but didn’t say a word.  I sat down and he didn’t call on me again. 

   I’m really curious of what he thought. He was a very strick, no nonsense teacher with a military background. And there I was, a little girl telling a bold face lie to the whole class without skipping a beat. No punishments or after school talks were given. I think he knew I had reading problems and didn’t want to embarrass me in front of my peers. I was a very well behaved girl otherwise so I’m sure he was in a bit of shock when I was telling my imaginary story.