Summer is the rainy season. It’s always raining, or if the weather is great, dark clouds may gather in just one second, and in the next second, it begins to rain heavily as if I am crying.

One afternoon, I was playing with toys at home. My grandma was also there taking care of me. Suddenly it became dark outside, raining as if someone was using a giant bucket to pull water on your head. Rain was falling onto the windows and the building outside, making a really big noise. It was lightning and thunder. The first time I was so scared of the bad weather. Then came a really bright light, and my grandma quickly covered my ear using her hands. Several seconds later, even though my ears were covered, the loud crack of the thunder still penetrated my eardrum. It must be the end of the world, I thought.

The same feeling happened when once my dad beat me in his bedroom. I did not quite remember why he did this—it must be only some small reasons, always. My dad had a broom rod (no idea how he got this), especially used for beating me when I was naughty.

That day, he commanded me to go to his bedroom. The door was close, no light, only a whole piece of black. He raised his broom rod, asking me “Would you do that again” angrily and loudly. However, it was so dark that I could not see his face but felt so painful when the rod hit my skin. Of course, I cried loudly. My grandma was also in the dark room, though no idea when and how she came in. Grandma asked my dad to stop with a shaking and rushing voice, and I could feel that she was also about to cry. Where is my mom at that time? What was she doing? Cannot remember, but my mom was also standing on the same side as my dad.