Making the Sweet, Bitter [SOLO-Flashback]

My father had always given me pep talks, talk about how I had needed to be tougher, harder.

When my dad was in the military, he always took me to his base. The base was a huge facility with all of the finest and latest equipment and software. My eyes always lite up and had a smile from ear to ear with amazement at everything. I would wonder the base, getting into things I shouldn't have and even starting a fire once. It was once, and only once, I never went to that bathroom again.

But one day after my dad was done with some paperwork and we were going home, he gave me a little talk for once I get older. He said to me, "Ana, you can't let people get the better of you, especially not in war." Now, I never wanted to actually be in the war myself, but if called upon, I would be ready. I was as handy with a gun as I was with my fists. "I know that daddy." I said in return to him, my voice still as high and innocent as a babies cries.

"I'm serious Ana, the only way to get things through to people in this world is to be tougher than them, you've got to be tough." he said as he stared at me. My dad had always seen my happiness and niceness as a weakness. In his mind, he felt that people would take advantage of me because I was so nice to people. I need to be tougher.

I hope I didn't hurt you, but you deserved that.

My hand still raised, kids still shocked and looking back and forth. My classmate still crying but now realizing what I've done. Here comes the sound of ours teachers heels clacking on the concrete. I lowered my hand and my ice began to crack off and shatter on the ground, disappearing almost instantly. "Oh my lord," Mrs. Peterson had said putting her hand over her mouth. "Anavitelli, what did you do?" she said to be with worried eyes. "I did what was right Mrs. Peterson, he needed help and no-one would help him." I said in return to her and she turned away from me.

What had happened after that, made me a little worried, I was sent to the principles office and they called my father. My father was at work and when he's at work, he does not like to be bothered, good thing is, is that the base was just down the street. He walked up, walked in and saw me sitting there with my head down. "Ana, what did you do?" He said to me in a hush-hush tone. My teacher walked in, "She did this to a student General Bisclowe." Mrs. Peterson said as she wheeled in that bully on a dolly. He was still frozen of course. "My word, Anavitelli, did you do this to him?!" He said as he quickly turned and looked at me. "Yes sir," I said in return to him, I didn't vocalize my voice as much as I should have.

"Why Ana, why did you do this?" He questioned me, I could see the shock in his eyes. "He was bullying a classmate of mine, he made him bleed, so I let out my anger and that happened." I said to him, I looked him dead in his eyes. My eyes began to water. "Oh Ana, you did the right thing--" He said but was interrupted by my teacher. "How can you condone something like this General?!" Mrs. Peterson said as she threw her arms in the air. "Excuse me ma'am, but I fight for my country, my nation and if I had seen this done to my fellow soldiers, I would have done the same thing. You're going to tell me that you wouldn't?" He said as he stood and rose up to her. "You'll see Anavitelli tomorrow in class, she's taking an early dismissal. You have a good day." My dad said as he grabbed my hand and we walked out back to the base.