by Phillip Matthews
0–1 — I was born prematurely and almost died
2 — diagnosed with autism
3 — Mother married my stepfather
4 — started school
5 — parents adopted a baby girl
6 — started to get in fights and act up in school
7 — see Father on the weekends
8 — played with my German Shepherd, Smokey
9 — learned to ride a bike
10 — rode the Supreme Scream at Knotts Berry Farm
11 — celebrated graduation from elementary school at the pancake factory
11 — felt sad that Smokey the German Shepherd died from food poisoning
12 — gave my little brother a black eye in karate
12 — first time in middle school doing well, having good grades and haven’t been acting up
13 — learning new vocabulary, dictionary, and people cursing, had a lightweight body under 100 pounds
14 — vandalized the bus with a pencil sharpening blade. Father ripped my phone in half and threw it
15 — arrested for assaulting a tall kid who was putting wet paper on my head— my rage grew stronger inside me
16 — first trial for assault\battery
16 — took three to six months to decide if I was free or fined
16 — saw my grandpa in a casket sleeping, never waking up, I cried when I saw his face was stone
17 — saw my mom and my father fighting and had to choose whose side to be on. I chose to be with my mother. Also, I might not get my 30k and a house when I turn 18 and father will pass away eventually
17 — feel like I will never see my father again, but I have everyone else in my family to help me
18 — I will graduate
19 — I
20 — will
21 — survive
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