You Once Belittled Me

Summary

My stutter kept me in a car repair shop for five years.

The only person who truly listened to me was my girlfriend of five years, Anna, who lived with me in the run-down city block.

To deliver a smooth speech at our wedding,

I practiced talking every day with a pebble under my tongue.

The day I finally stopped stuttering,

I was waxing a car,

my mind consumed with images of my wedding to Anna.

Suddenly, an arrogant male voice cut through my thoughts:

"Hey Stutter Boy, is my car fixed?"

It was the owner, here to pick up his car.

I gave a strained smile and handed him the keys.