Remembering What I Wanted To Forget

I was forty something years old when this happened to me, Yet, when I think of it the feelings engulf and overwhelm me like no others. I think this is how it is when the feelings are sad and bad, and you have been victimized. Especially at the hands of a teacher. I was in a great mood that day, in a hardware store, buying supplies to play with in my yard. Maybe humming, in such a great mood. I felt someone watching me in line. I turned. There was an elderly woman there, smiling. I started to tremble. All over. Even my face shook. I was an immediate mess, I put down all of the items I had been planning to purchase, Walked out of the store on auto-pilot, and got into my car. Trying to remember what I had forgotten for over thirty-five years. Trying to remember where I had seen this diabolical smile before. Her name came to me immediately. The meanest teacher I had ever had. So horribly mean to me, I had never forgotten it, or gotten over it apparently. Written 10-03-2018 Poetry Contest: Remembering What I Wanted to Forget Sponsor: Kim Rodrigues