Footsteps Of A Spider- Adult Education 25

   “The world is a very cruel place, Drayton, and things rarely go the way you want them, so it’s important that you have a plan to survive.” Mother said to me when I was fourteen. “Why do you let us live like this?” I asked. “It’s not that simple. You see, Drayton, I know I am limited because I was so desperate to get out of a bad situation that I jumped at the first chance to escape. Unfortunately, that chance was your father, and when I got pregnant with you my options shrank even further.” “You’re smart, you could get something to support yourself.” I said. “I am supporting myself, Drayton, don’t you see that. I’m not wanting for anything, even though I dreamed of something better, this will do for now.” “But what about Tammy?” “Tammy’s weak, and quite frankly, I see no hope for a girl whose self-esteem is that low.” “But what father is doing to her is wrong?” “But Tammy doesn’t know any better, she thinks that’s love.” Mother replied coldly.

   It was one of many hard lessons my mother imparted on me that I never forgot. Mother was right about Tammy, she was hopelessly weak and unfit to make it in this brutal world, but she always said that I could make it and do well because I had what it took to thrive in a world full of deceit and hardship. “You’ll make it because you see how how pathetic both your father and sister are. They need each other because neither one of them have a backbone of their own.” Mother said. “You don’t need anyone to make you feel strong. I see how you watch Duke and I know you’re taking notes. I just hope you see that you can do better than that because I know you can. The best success is the kind that no one knows you have. As long as your comfortable and can do what you want then you’re a success. People will use you, Drayton, so don’t feel bad when you use them back.”

   I hope I learned my lessons well.