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Preschool

Chapter 1 *

 

Being a policeman was the dream of many young kids.  Fighting bad guys and saving innocent people. Being the real life heros. You'll always see a look of relief on my face when a security guard or policeman walks by. It was always good to know they weren't coming after me. 

 

Now before you think I was a five year old mafia member, let me explain. Thanks to my granny, who has caused me to catch policephobia. Instead of doing normal grandparent things, my grandma took joy in scaring me.

 

Our neighborhood had shopping carts you could borrow and use. My grandma would always let me sit in them and push me around. Everytime when security guards walk by, she would freak out and ask me if I did anything wrong. I knew the shopping carts didn't belong to us, so I thought we stole it. Naturally, I tried to get out before the security guards can arrest us. I struggled like a fish out of water, trying to jump out of the shopping cart with my grandma holding me in. Which caught the attention of security guards, which made me struggle harder.

 

My grandma tried explaining to me we borrowed the shopping carts. I didn't believe her because that was the same thing she said for the plants she got by shoveling from gardens and parks.

 

My parents soon noticed my “phobia” and they weren't pleased with my grandma. They made several attempts but to no success in stopping my grandma brainwashing me with police horror stories. She would always reassure me afterwards to just listen to her. Whether this was real advice or just a cruel joke, I took the lessons she taught me by heart. 

 

Like the protagonist in a movie, nobody seemed to think the threat was serious. Some tried explaining to me of how the police are trying to protect us and others laughed at me. But I always remembered my granny's warning. Sure enough, the day I've been waiting for arrived, it was up to me to be the hero, it was up to me to be the protagonist.

 

It was like any other day, I was arguing with Eric/Ethan (I couldn’t recall which one) because he was taking up too much room on the bench. When the teachers summoned all of us to make an announcement.

 

“Somebody peed all over the floor,” the teacher said, “Who is that person?”

There was no answer, we all exchanged curious glances, but nobody confessed.

“Somebody has to have done it,” the teacher said, harsher this time.

Still no answer.

“I’m gonna count to ten, if the person doesn't confess,” the teacher said with a smirk, “I’m gonna call the police.”

Smart, I thought, surely whoever is responsible will confess now.

 

“Ten… Nine… Eight… Seven… ”

 

That was when I realized that whoever done it will not confess. My heartbeat increased, I could almost see the police busting through the door.

 

“Six… Five… Four… “

No! teacher, you don’t know what your doing!

“Three…Two… ”

Please, whoever did it, just confess! 

“One…”

“It was me!”

I felt everyone's eyes converge at me.

“It was me,” I repeated, “please don’t call the police.”

“Very well,” the teacher said, “your gonna wipe the pee yourself.”

 

And so I did, wiping all the piss that someone else let out.

 

When school ended and it's time to go home, I walked out into the sunlight with a smile. Telling myself I did a great thing that day, my sacrifice was not in vain. I fought with honor and courage, I was noble and pure in heart. Then confusing my family for the rest of the day with  the "random" proud smile I had on my face.

 

 

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