I was only five years old, but I could remember this day like it was yesterday. Not the exact date, but the events. I don't remember if it was Spring or Summer, but it was a nice sunny day and I was with my mother. We had just left from my grandmother's house, on my father's side; going home and we noticed that some people were arguing.
It was a woman and a man. The man was inside the building that my parents and I lived in, and the woman was outside. She was across the street from the building throwing rocks at a car. I guess it was the man's car. Next thing I know the man started shooting and my mother tried to protect me, but it was too late. I had already been shot. I didn't feel it, but at that moment, something told me to look down at my shoes and I did. That's when I noticed that I was bleeding from my right foot.
I yelled out to my mother, telling her that I had been shot. She picked me up and ran across the street to some people who were getting out of their car. I can't remember what my mother said to them; all I remember is that they drove us to my uncle's house and then to the hospital. I never knew why we went to my uncle's house first, instead of the hospital, and I never even bothered asking, but I'm sure it was a good reason.
When we got to the hospital my mother called my father, my aunt, and both my grandmothers. My mother was very shaken up about the situation. In fact, she was more scared than I was. I can't remember how the bullet got out of my foot or exactly what the doctors did, but I do know that I left the hospital with a cast that ran from my foot up to my knee.
Since my parents were very shaken up about the whole situation, I stayed by my aunt's house. Since my aunt didn't have any kids and I was the only niece at the time, she spoiled me, like I was her own daughter.
While at my aunt's house recuperating, I had to sleep on the couch with my foot elevated, so that the swelling could go down, and heal properly. I was taken some kind of medicine too, which was very nasty. Anyway, I stayed over my aunt's for a few days, with my parents coming over to check on me, and then I went home.
I was out of school for about two weeks, but when I went back, it was like I was famous or something. Everybody surrounded me and was asking all kinds of questions. It was annoying, but it was also good to know that they cared or at least they seemed like they did. I still had the cast on and had to walk with crutches. The cast came off about three weeks after I went back to school.
Although the cast came off, I still had to wear a bandage around my foot. That lasted for about another two weeks, and then I was back to normal. I just have the scar where I was shot at.
I don't know what happened to the guy that shot me. I never even bothered asking. Whatever happened, I hope he learned his lesson because I could have been killed or even paralyzed if the bullet went somewhere else. But anyway, I'm glad that I am here because life is good, now that I have my own little girl to share it with.
This incident was quiet an experience for me. Although I was a young child, this has affected my life now that I am grown. I see myself being very protective of my daughter, who is nine (9) year's old. I am very cautious of her surroundings. She can't cross the street by herself, she can't spend the night out, if there is a fight, we definitely do not stand around. And there are many other things that I don't allow her to do. I might be over protective, but as the saying goes, better safe than sorry. I know that this can't stop a bullet from hitting her, but I do feel that the actions I take in protecting her, can help prevent any harm done to her.
B