2019-08-01_Reader_s_Digest_AUNZ

“Notme!”Appearedtobethecollec-
tiveresponseofBob’sgutlessmates.
“Noooo, I haven’tbeen,” Bob,
squirmed,his voice tightening. “I
promise.”

“Youhave,I knowit,andnexttime
ithappens,”Stanthreatened,“I’ll
haveyou!”
Fromthatdayonwards,Inever
heardthename Pumpkin Head
again.
I amforevergrateful to Stan for

toppingthelivinghellthat

adbecomemyhighschool

ife.Intherespitehegave

e,I wasabletorestoremy

ragilesanitybeforeyear’s

nd.Thishelpedmealot.

lthoughI wasnolonger

eingwoundedbybullying,

stillcarrythescars.

GIFTEMERGES

omewhereinallthechaos

f school,andattheripeold

geof15,myvoicebroke.It

appenedoneweekendin

979 justafterI wokefroma

eepteenageslumber.Itwas

Saturdaymorningandfrom

mybedI calledout,“Cupof

teaandtoast,thanks,Mum.”

Mumstoppeddeadinhertracks,

wheeledaroundandstaredatmewith

alookthatsaid,“Whoareyouand

whathaveyoudonewithmyson?”

So,I repeatedmyself,andmywords

cameoutdeepandguttural.Hmmm,

maybeI’mcomingdownwitha cold,

I thought.

Mynewvoicewouldturnoutto

bemyWillyWonkagoldenticket.

My voice box had swollen and my

in Los Angeles in 2010

PHOTOS: FULTON FAMILY COLLECTION

MUMSTOPPED DEAD,WHEELED AROUNDAND

STARED ATME WITHA LOOKTHAT SAID, “WHO ARE

YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY SON?”

124 Augus t 2019

READER’S DIGEST