Actually, it was less than two pounds of butter, which is more than enough to make a delectable cake, but not the sweet beginning one would hope at the start of life. I was born premature and underweight (31oz). If I were a chicken, you would probably pass me by for one of those oven stuffer birds. In contrast to my tiny beginnings, life laughed at smallness and I now resemble a fairytale giant over Tiny Tim. The Thanksgiving Turkey has replaced the scrawny chicken. But not everything grows and here is where the cull comes into play. This little chicken was also born missing a wing, or claw, if you prefer the lobster reference. I now actually HAVE a claw, or a hook to be precise, today’s answer for an arm that somehow never developed along with the rest of me.
I still remember the moment when I realized – WHOA..wait up, hold on, I seem to be missing my arm. THAT must be why everyone looks at me a little oddly. That’s why the other kids keep touching me. Good grief I'm different! The one thing most young people do not readily admit, is their desire to fit in with their peers. We all want to be accepted and liked. Sure, eventually we develop our confidence and embrace our uniqueness, and some even flaunt it. But the process for many is gradual.
I was young, getting ready for elementary school and all I wanted was to be like everyone else.
When I first started school I felt I stood out like a sore thumb. Think Santa handing out Hanukah gifts. “Are you unhappy with your dradall Bernie”? “Why give Santa such weary stares”? It was apparent right away that blending in with the crowd was not going to be possible. I'm Evan , everybody seems to know my name (even people I don't know, seem to know me). I'm the one-armed kid, thrust on stage, mic in hand, suffering the worst
