Los Angeles, it’s been a helluva week…

I attended PS 11 in Brooklyn when I was in the 5th grade. I remember that year because of our class photos. For my picture day, I wore a crème crewneck sweater and green skirt and my hair was done in two pigtail braids. I am smiling with these big round happy eyes. My mother had chosen the two-image format with a black glossy background, so there were two images of me on the page: one centered and one slightly upper left. It was a more expensive option, but my mom wanted to try something slightly more dramatic. The photos arrived at the school and we were each given our envelope. I pulled out my photos with excitement and was thinking how pleased my mom would be to see them when my teacher, Ms. Murray, walked by, stooped over to see them and said, “You look like a two-headed monkey.” She stood up and walked on to look at the photo of the next child. I just sat there, sad, confused and embarrassed. What had I done wrong? Why was I not pretty? The joy in that moment disappeared quicker than a breath. Of course, I went home and told my mother. Of course, she came to school the next day and handled that teacher. But, I never forgot what was said or how I felt. It still hurts. <a href="https://medium.com/@skamlager/los-angeles-its-been-a-helluva-week-c93fbd6d3e5a">Website</a>