Angry butch

As a kid, I wasn’t allowed to show anger. When I was angry, I was supposed to express it in some silent way far removed from my parents. Even a raised voice was considered talking back.

#1 in moping and sulking

I became an excellent moper and sulker. Like Olympic gold medal moper and sulker.

I learned how to punish people with silence.

It was polite. It didn’t violate our family’s code of conduct. And I soon learned that it cut deeper than a string of cross words shouted in anger or a clenche...