Her father had always intimidated her. Rarely, he hit her– but just his voice, his eyes and face, could make her feel stupid and do stupid things. She knew he enjoyed himself.
When she said she wanted to take driver’s ed at school, he said, “No. I’ll teach you myself. ”
Every session was an endless commentary on her stupidity, her worthlessness. She began to grow angry instead of fearful.
The day she accidentally hit the gas instead of the brakes ended his litany of abuse.
No one doubted her. She’d always been such a good girl.
Just Writing! 
Meekness has its rewards
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
The question is was that on purpose or just another ‘stupid mistake’?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not so stupid, I’m thinking.
LikeLike
Seems like she taught him a valuable lesson in the end, nasty man! Good story, Linda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She did, indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She saw a chance and took it. Who could possibly suspect anything?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
She couldn’t be expected to put up with all that abuse permanently, could she?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nope. Not many ways out, though, for a girl not of legal age.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, great twist, Linda. I didn’t see that coming.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! It’s always good to surprise a reader 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
She decided to take matters into her hands after all. Great twist!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What that the end of him or just the end of his mouth? Either way, he had it coming!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess that’s up to each reader, Dale. I surely don’t know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s good to do that 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a horrible position to be in to feel like that’s her only way out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it is awful for a girl–or boy–to be in such a situation because it conditions them to think poorly of themselves all the time. It’s very hard to dislodge the abusive words that go back to your earliest memories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicely told, I hope that dad learned to change his ways
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oops. Oh well, it was a quick end…
LikeLiked by 1 person
he thought she was stupid but not this time. i bet she was pleased with herself. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vastly relieved, I think. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh, nice twist after a great build-up of character portrayal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jenne 🙂
LikeLike
Something satisfying about this story. Perhaps, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I hope she watches her temper.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suspect she’s already good at keeping it tightly controlled. Could be a problem, though, as she gains her freedom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It probably ended her drivers lessons too, and any chance of getting a license while under his roof.
Cute story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think she’s going to have to worry about him 🙂
LikeLike
Dear Linda,
This sneaks up on you like a jalapeño. Brava!
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Love that, Rochelle :). Like a jalapeno, indeed 🙂
LikeLike
Good story of poetic justice. The damage done by parents like that is incalculable, and extends for generations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, unless someone makes a decision to stop it. It can be done. Not easy, but so worth it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, “accidentally” 🙂 I expect he wasn’t the sort of person who believed in seatbelts… It’s always the innocent-looking ones you have to watch out for.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point about the seatbelt. I hadn’t thought of that 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The constant trickle of verbal abuse was enough to tip her over. No wonder she kept making mistakes with a father like him.
I like how you made the worm turn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, James. Living with that sort of abuse erodes the spirit, like the constant drip of water on a rock.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Speaking to the converted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh! I like this a lot. You nailed it! That last line is killer. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 🙂
LikeLike
Just (her hand of) karma for the monster, no offense intended towards pops. Happy she was held blameless, and really when you think about it, she was. The books balanced 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup. And none too soon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Linda,
Brilliantly told tale. Very dark but oddly (shall I say?) satisfying.
~🕊Dora
LikeLiked by 1 person
You got it! That’s exactly how I felt as the words leaked out of my fingers 🙂
LikeLike
That was an unexpected twist at the end but even the good people can be pushed to their limits.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice twist, Granonine. I do like those who fight back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: A Good Girl – Mysterious Arts