My First Experience as a Writer

I always loved to tell Stories. I guess you could say it was in my blood. I remember being only 7Years old when I tried my hands as an Author for the very first time. I have to mention here that I grew up in Germany and that I was raised in a Foster Family with my "Parents" being 60 years older then me. My Foster Dad *Opa* was a the dearest man I ever met and is still up to today the measuring stick by which I measure all men. He died when I was only 8 years old. My Foster Mom *Oma*, on the other hand found me more of an intrusion into her old age and told me more often then not when he was gone that I had no right to be alive.
I would say that it wasn't amazing that I would live for the moments I could spend with my Opa, who saw me as something precious and that I would run into my World of make believe. I decided to sit down one day and write my first Story ever. It was to be a Gift to my Opa. I can still remember the Story as if it was yesterday. It was about a little Fairy that had lost her home and family named Isabella, a little Mouse named Hans whom nobody wanted and a misfit Cat named "Sparkelschwanze" Glitter Tail. Each Character in turn had part of my story. With Isabella having been given away by her family, with Hans being raised by a Mother who did not want him and Sparkelschwanze being the misfit everyone in the Village disliked. My Story unfolded with our 3 Characters going from enemies to friends and finally becoming a Family onto them-selves.
You can imagine that writing such a Story at such a young age was not simple. It took me several tries and days to finish it. The entire Story was only 4 Pages in length when it was finished, but it had been painstakingly written, rewritten and rewritten once again until my little heart and mind saw it as fit.
That evening I carried it behind my back to the table. Each evening at 6pm sharp the table was set and my Opa would come home to a home cooked meal waiting at the table for him, with his women waiting to hear of his day and delight him with fun tales. He was as I said a very good provider and man.
I had planned to set it on his plate before the Meat was placed upon it, which was when my Oma saw the paper in my anxiously clutching hands. She demanded to see it and having brought up to be obedient, I handed it to her. I knew she would make fun of it as she did of so many things I did, but I never imagined her to do what she did next. She read the Story, tore it apart and threw it in the oven. We still had a very old fashioned oven in which an actual fire was lit. I couldn't even scream as I watched the fire lick at the ends of the pieces and then ignite into little fire sheets.
She turned around and with an air of triumph told me that I was never ever to waste my time with such frivolous foolishness again.
I couldn't even tell my Opa, since that would have been tatter telling and not something that was permitted in our house. That night I cried myself to sleep and only told the Story to my Opa a little over a year later on his Grave.
The Story was never rewritten, but stayed deep within my heart. Years later, becoming a Freelance Writer and Author became my dream. Ironically, the guy I was married to in my first marriage would ridicule my Art and Writing as well. I tried to get my freelance career of the ground and as son as I would gain a bit of confidence, he would rip me once again apart with his mean words or doubts. Finally I quit trying and would only tell my Stories to my kids. I had started getting afraid to write them down in case he too would destroy what I would write.

Now years later, in my second marriage I finally am working on my dream and try to write fulltime. I have a couple of children's books which I still try to get published the old fashioned way. Thanks to all the things that have happened to me in the past, I have found my true writing in Articles that are aimed to help relationships, women, couples and most importantly children and parents. But Isabella's Story will always stay within my heart. She was what sparked my interest and I guess she is my personal little good luck fairy. Just like her, I have overcome my background and now have made friends with the other 2 unwanted parts.