My sister and I are almost exactly
11 years apart, so while growing up we were in completely different age groups.
This meant no bickering over toys, boys or anything in between. In addition to
this, we didn’t live together for many years, and when I moved to China at 9, I
only saw her rarely. So, one would think there was no reason to argue growing
up.
I, for one, have very little
recollection of ever fighting with my sister as a young child. Unfortunately,
she has the proof of wars fought. She’s kept all of my hate mail and apology
letters over the years. Of course, seeing the letters have worked as a sort of
reminder, allowing old memories to come rushing back.
There are some pretty funny
letters. For example, one of the letters I once wrote to her was “sealed with a
booger” (as opposed to with a kiss), which I believed to be a stroke of genius.
The funniest letter, though, is the one I wrote after I bit my sister’s head. I’m
not really sure on the details, but the gist is that my sister said something I
deemed to be “mean.” So, of course, I chose to retaliate.
As a kid I was a biter. Biting was
my go-to move in a fight. But I wasn’t the conventional bite somebody’s arm
type. I mean if that’s all I could get to then fine, but I more preferred
unconventional biting. I remember carefully calculating what would be the most
effective way to bite her head. I decided that a basic “hit her skull with my teeth
and bite down on her scalp” would do the trick.
Obviously I was punished, and told
to write an apology note. I didn’t remember the apology note until I read it
last year. The note read, word for word, “Sorry for biting your head. But now
you know to be careful what you say to me. I love you. Love, Jeanie.” I signed
it and everything.
Real sweet kid I was. “Sorry I got
in trouble but I’m not sorry I did it.” The funny part though is that I usually
was a sweet kid. I was quiet and shy and
I usually did what my mom told me. I guess I just had an evil side.
