Four-year-old Martin opens his dresser drawer, grabbing a clean pair of underwear.
"Stupid dreams," he mutters, rubbing his sore bottom. "Stupid Aunt and Uncle, I mean new Mom and Dad. It's not my fault I peed my bed."
Several months before this, Martin's father shot and killed his mother, then took his own life. Martin had been the first person to find the scene, and the memory haunts him most every night.
Now Martin lives with his new mom and dad, who he used to call Aunt Roberta and Uncle Brian. His three cousins are now to be his sisters, even though one of them is the same age. Roberta says it was difficult to explain to the school, but there's six months between the two, and she made sure that they don't get the same teacher. At least the other school kids won't know.
Today is Martin's first day of kindergarten, and not the last time he'll be spanked for something he had no control over. This time it was a brush. Last time it was a wooden spoon. Next time it will be a leather belt.
Welcome to some of the earliest memories of my new family.
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