Goosebumps

You know that feeling when ypu meet someone and instantly know they're not a good person? Senator Paul Weinschmidt was the first monster I'd I met. My dad dragged my brother and I to a Republican rally to meet the "future president" as he called them. At some point, I was turned loose to go to the bathroom. I'd just finished washing my hands when he'd opened the door. My heart froze and I became a statue instantly.

"My apologies little lady. I thought this was the mens."

The door closed just as quickly as it'd opened and I began to thaw. It was short-lived. When I walked out, he was there again. He was talking to someone, but as soon as I came out, he smiled. I immediately felt an urge to run, so I made a beeline for the auditorium we were shoved into. My parents hadn't noticed my absence, yet I was relieved to be back with them. The rest of the speeches about international evils and the necessity of beating the Democrats dronwd on. I didn't feel anything until I heard the senator introduce himself. Invisible snakes slithered up my spine and my heart sank in my shoes. I coveree my ears, much to my father's dismay.

"What's wrong with you, Abby! Don't you want to hear the future president?"

I started to say no, but the senator caught wind of the skirmish and came over. All of my organs were hot and melting.

"Your daughter doesn't appear to like me very much," he said.

"No, no, she's just sleepy," my mother assured him as she tried to pry my one of my hands off my ears.

"Don't worry. I'll win her over. Here. This is for you."

My eyes were closee but I felt something soft and leathery on my lap. My mother had gasped and my father was thanking him. I'd tried to shake whatever it was off of me but my mother took it. It wasnt until years later that I even knew what it was. They announced that his wife shot him in his home during dinnertime. He was never president but my dad cried like the day Reagan got impeached. My mother was equally upset. No part of me cared. He rubbed me the wrong way for a reason.

"He loved you, Abby," she'd murmured. "He gave you that bow and everything."

I reached up and grazed my favorite hairbow, a big purple one with pooka dots. My mother never told me where aI got it from otherwise it never would've touched me. Now, the thought of it was making me nauseous. I got up, threw it in the trash, and ran to my room.