Slow

Slow was the logo he had been wearing since he was born. Born into a world of poverty and scorn. They look at you funny when your mom is destroying her fetus and it's not even born yet. 9 months of pain in a bubble of insanity. Slowly fading. She didn't know how much you were going to be. So when the day came and she lied down on the table screaming and breathing. Cussing and fussing. Wondering why she didn't keep her silly legs closed. But then you come around and your eyes were enough to tame her. No more stripping to make a dollar, no more crack pipes she wanted to be the perfect mother. She raised you right, though she made some mistakes she was really trying. Your first day of school she held your hand and cried because you were becoming such a little man. She didn't yet know the hardships that were to come. The boat was solid now but the waves were sure to crash it. The little boy strutted to school he wanted to make his mother proud but he didn't yet know he was going to be made a fool. First day of class and he could barely read. Teacher's crucified him because he didn't know his ABC's. From then on he was labeled slow. Got left back in the 3rd grade for him their seemed no hope. He went from being so determined to blaming his mother, the stress so enormous she started the pipe again. The boy couldn't imagine how much he had hurt her. But he knew hurt as well and for now he felt he deserved to be selfish. Kids teased him every day, stole his lunch money, called him " slow" and a dummy. He had no friends and one day he turned to his mother. He said mom why is that every day I go to school and they tease me and I come home and I tease you. But you’re silent, you don't ever belittle me. Why is that mommy? He stared at her with intelligence in his eyes. The mother was silent for a second and then she looked into her baby's eyes and said " Because to me you are golden and even though they might not see it I surely know it".The boy looked at his mother and said but how can I be golden that's not what anyone says they all say that I’m slow. The mother looked at her son and reached out for his hand and slapped it. Didn’t I tell you never to listen to what other people say it only matters what you think? What do you think? The boy gazed into his mother's eyes and said " I think I’m really bright, if you can see it and I can see it than that's all I need to know. The mother smiled as he left her that day the future seemed bright.