"Freedom" Can Sometimes Be A Private Thing

~ Welcome to Stories of Heart! ~

If you are not a subscriber and this has been passed on to you, join
us by sending a blank e-mail to [email protected]
with "subscribe" in the subject line. And get the love direct!

Tour our web site: http://www.geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001
________________________________________________________

Folks, give an e-hug to Roger Dean Kiser, Sr., whose heartbreaking
journey as an orphan in his book "Orphan," has touched lives all
over the world. To find out how to purchase his book, read the
footnote after yet another powerful story he is generously sharing
with all of us today. He teaches us a lesson in valuing the freedoms
we have. Thank you, Roger!
________________________________________________________
"FREEDOM" CAN SOMETIMES BE A PRIVATE THING

"Where is Kiser?" yelled the matron to one of the boys who lived in
the orphanage with me.

"I don't know, Ma'am. He was just here a minute ago," he told her.

"KISER!" screamed the matron at the top of her voice.

I felt a little sick that day after we kids had eaten our breakfast.
I was sitting on the toilet because my stomach was not right, and it
was hurting me real bad like.

"KISER!" yelled the matron again.

"I'M RIGHT HERE, MRS. MA'AM, IN THE BATHROOM!" I hollered out to her.

Within several seconds the matron entered the bathroom and stood
directly in front of me.

I looked down at the floor because I was embarrassed that someone was
seeing me sit on the toilet. I never did like to have anyone see me
sitting on the toilet. To me there was always something real
personal about having to use the bathroom.

The matron just stood there, her arms up on her hips, towering above
me like a large city skyscraper.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, that I didn't ask to use the bathroom this time.
But I was hurting real bad in my stomach, and I didn't know if I
could really use it for sure or not."

I placed my hand in front of me so that nothing private would
show 'cause she was a lady.

"Get up. Right now," she demanded, gritting her teeth at me.

"I'm really sorry that I didn't ask permission. I really am," I told
her.

She reached out and grabbed me by the arm and jerked me off the
toilet. I tried, as best I could, to cover myself. My little short
pants fell all the way down to the floor. About that time the worst
thing that could happen did. I had a little accident on myself.

"DON'T YOU MOVE YOUNG MAN!" she yelled out in a slow drawn-out manner
as she headed out the door.

I will never forget how embarrassed I was that day. I just stood
there afraid to move a muscle. Very slowly I reached over and I
pulled off a line of toilet paper and covered myself in the front. I
did not try and clean myself for I was afraid to move. I looked up
and saw my naked self in the large bathroom mirror and started to
cry.

When she returned, she beat the holy hell out of me with a polo
paddle. I spent the entire day cleaning up the terrible mess that
was made in the bathroom because of that beating.

Fifty years later, I have never forgotten what I saw that day in the
mirror. A little seven-year-old boy, almost totally naked, his pants
down around his ankles, afraid to move a muscle.

I will never forget what it felt like for an innocent little child to
have to ask permission to use the bathroom or get a drink of water.
Many people associate freedom with different types of things.

But there are those of us, many are orphans and abused children, who
appreciate "freedom" because they have been given something that most
people take for granted every single day.

Something as simple as having the right to use the bathroom without
having to ask permission.

Roger Dean Kiser, Sr.
[email protected]
Copyright © 2002 by Roger Dean Kiser, Sr. All rights reserved.
*******
About the author: Roger Kiser is the author of the book "ORPHAN, A
true story of Abandonment, Abuse and Redemption." Roger writes short
stories for Heartwarmers4u.com, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Reader's
Digest, ToTheHeart.com, and several other magazines around the world.

He is also one of the co-authors of "Heartwarmers," "Heartwarmers of
Love," and the Petwarmers CD Collection.

He is honored to have had his story "Elvis Died at the Florida Barber
College" published in "A Cool Collection," a school workbook for
teenage school children in the country of Israel. That same story is
also being made into a short film at Surrey University in England, by
Freddie Francis, the Cinematographer of the movie "The Elephant Man."

Roger now spends most of his time writing about child abuse issues
and giving talks in the Georgia School system. He states that he
never forgot how he and 300 other children were treated as though
they were less than human while living in a Jacksonville, Florida,
Orphanage.

You can purchase Roger's book, "ORPHAN" in major book stores or order
from Amazon.com at:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580624480/o/qid=975333679/sr=8
-1/straighfromthe0a/107-5931457-7011735

Check out Roger's interview at HeartTouchers:
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com/roger_dean_kiser_sr_/

Check out Judy Kiser's interview (Roger's wife) at HeartTouchers:
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com/judy_kiser/
_________________________________________________________
QUOTE FROM LESSER KNOWN PEOPLE

One day I waited for my wife in the doctor's reception room. A black
girl of maybe five was with her mother, waiting to see the doctor.
An elderly white woman sat next to them. The little girl stared at
the white woman, then asked innocently, "How come you're white?"

The woman smiled and said, "God forgot to dip me in sweet chocolate,
honey."
- Timothy Conroy
_________________________________________________________
FROM OUR FRIENDLY E-MAIL CARRIER:

Hi, Jennifer, I can't believe this! I'm getting ready to list a very
old book of autographs [in eBay] --from 1873 to be exact--and,
naturally, I had to look through it! There, for all to see, signed
by Nellie L. Wallace and dated June 24, 1873, are the words you use
to end your emails:

"To live that in thy last long sleep, Smiles may be thine wile all
around thee weep."

Did you know? Oh, that's why I love this business so much! All the
best. - Beth Plocar

~ No, Beth, I didn't know! You make a super sleuth! Thanks for
letting us all the true origin of the quote beneath my signature
block. As you can see, it sure has evolved quite a bit! -
Blessings, Jennifer
___________________________________________
In regards to "Sockin' the Loot Away" --
(http://geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/010702.htm)

Hi Jen, I just read this on STARFISH the other day...I thought that
guy's name was a bit familiar! LOL!! Cute story! - Blessings, Diane

Jennifer, thanks for passing on the chuckle from Mr. Crider! I love
his down home humor! - Take care, MaryAnne

I just read Mark's funny story - very cute. I'm pinched for time but
just wanted to send you a congrats on the Chicken Soup for the Soul
deal. That's really awesome news! Keep up the great writes. Also
wondering how WSW is coming along. What chapter are you up to?
Can't wait for that book!! - Take Care, Joy

~ Thanks for the congrats and kind words, Joy! My story "Of Thee We
Sing" will appear in "Chicken Soup for the Soul of America" next
month. As for "Wife Seeking Wife, I plug away on it every chance I
get and am now on chapter six. - Blessings, Jennifer
___________________________________________
In regards to "The Biggest Crush" --
(http://geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/010102.htm)

This one is so much fun, Jennifer. - Beth
___________________________________________
Jennifer, just read your bio and interview on Stories of Heart. What
an amazing person. "Henry" was simply wonderful. You truly have a
gift for words. I plan to travel around the net, when I get the
time, to read more of your work. Thank you for sharing your
beautiful voice! - Pam Patterson
_________________________________________________________
LOVE,
JENNIFER I. OLIVER AND FAMILY
[email protected]
When you are born, you cry and everyone is happy. So live your life
in such a way that when you die, everyone cries and you are happy.

- Unknown

The quote is derived from "To live that in thy last long sleep, Smiles
may be thine wile all around thee weep." - Nellie L. Wallace, June
24, 1873
_________________________________________________________

This E-mail may be forwarded in its entirety, but first ask the
writer for permission before forwarding. Thank you for doing the
decent thing! Ü
________________________________________________________

SUBMIT STORY, QUOTE, OR FAMILY LOVE MOMENT:
http://www.geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/submission.htm

FEEDBACK: [email protected]