Dear Confess, Hi my name is Joan and I was abused by other children I went to school with. My home life was fine by my parents and brother but school life or in the neighborhood was terrible. I grew up in a nice middle class neighborhood in St. Louis Missouri. The abuse started as early as 5 and continued through out 12 grade. When I was 5 almost 6 my brother and I were riding our bikes home from putting a letter in a mailbox. One of my brothers classmates stopped me on my bike and took out a pocket knife and put it to my throat, my brother at the time was 8 and told me to go home and not tell Mom. I did.

Later many other things happened like ice balls thrown at my face cutting me under the eye, kicked, hit, chairs pulled from under me, told someone was going to find me and kill me. I slept in different rooms of the house for years because of that. I was held by a few boys by force and told if I didn't do what they said I would be put into a box on school property during school hours in 90 degree weather. So I did what they said. I was almost handcuffed to the chain at school. I had my hair pulled, glitter put in my hair, gum, perfume dumped down my back, hand slammed in locker, tripped everyday for months, I never found peace at school or around the neighborhood. I felt always scared to go to school, I didn't feel like I could tell anyone for the fear of things getting worse. I believed just about everything. I felt that a dog was treated better than I was. I could go on but I believe you get the picture.

Sincerely, Joan a survivor of pier abuse more than just typical teasing.