Friday, April 23, 2010

Apparently I was a violent child

Alternate post title: Authentic Teenage Voice

So my older sister Rebecca sent me this little gem from her 8th grade diary, and I wanted to share it with you. Becca was 13 when she wrote this, and my twin sister and I were 10.


"I'm so angry. I can't believe how violent the twins are. Instead of saying be quiet or stop it, they lunge out in viciousness. In the past 12 hours I have received 4 bloody scars and several welts. All from the Twins!! My parents just say its too bad. They never listen. I dread each day. What new problems will remain unattended? On a happier note, I realized how much I am falling in love with Michael. I can't wait for school. I get to see him."


I'm not sure which amuses me more: the supremely dramatic prose, or the abrupt shift at the end to talk of romance. :)

12 comments:

Jill Wheeler said...

That's awesome! I should get out my teenage diaries for research purposes!

Aubrie said...

I'd cringe if I had to read my teen diary! You are so brave for putting this up here! It is very funny how she chnages mood so quickly. Maybe she put her pen down int he middle to reflect?

Kasie West said...

LOL That is hilarious. I love how she said the word "scars" instead of "scratches" as though the wounds were already deep and permanent. And I wish I would've kept a journal at 13, I can only imagine how dramatic mine would've sounded. So funny.

Candyland said...

HA! Too funny! I love how fleeting the teenage mind is, switching gears so fast.

Natalie Whipple said...

I can see you being violent:)

Renee Collins said...

Jill-No kidding. :)

Aubrie-Well, not so brave, since it's my sister's diary. :) I cringe when I read mine too.

Kasie-It's funny because she still shows the "scars" from our cat fights as kids. To be fair, I have a few of my own.

Candy-Seriously. :) We were all so bipolar once.

Natalie-Oh, I was. In a house with six girls, you quickly learned to hone your skills with the fingernails. :)

JaneyV said...

I'm one of 5 girls and casual violence was how we showed affection and kept the pecking order. My signature move was the hair pull (grab, twist, yank). It did have a massive downside though if the sister you're fighting with also managed to get a hold of yours.

"LET GO!"

"NO!! YOU LET GO!"

"I'LL LET GO IF YOU LET GO!"

"OK BUT YOU LET GO FIRST"

"ON THREE THEN. ONE … TWO … THREE…"

Then almost simultaneously we'd both yank hard on the other's hair and pull some out by the root. Then there'd be crying and shouting and kicking... until we'd hear our mother coming up the stairs, at which point we'd instantly pretend to be great friends because we knew she wouldn't listen to whose fault it was (always hers) - she'd spank us both!

Ah memories....

storyqueen said...

Ah, young teen angst!!!

I love the terribly over-dramatic tone to her entry....

Good Stuff!

Shelley

Renee Collins said...

Janey-That made me laugh out loud! I'm pretty sure we found ourselves in similar scenarios many times. Ah, sisterhood. :)

Shelly-Yes, the dramas. :) They seemed so important at the time. And now it's just amusing to look back on.

Michelle D. Argyle said...

This just made me giggle and laugh! Wow, you were MEAN! Although I'm sure it was mostly POV. :)

Wendy Sparrow said...

That was so full of awesome. LOL. I'm torn on the best part also. Does she even remember who Michael is?

KA said...

If you don't beat up your siblings once in a while, how else are you supposed to make your parents crazy?