Between Love and Hate1993

Matt Templeton:
[on the phone] Yeah, Mom, hi. I just wanted you to know I got here safe and sound. Okay, I'll be home in a couple days. Okay, Mom. [hangs up]

Vivian Conrad:
That was so sweet.

Matt Templeton:
I don't like my Mom to worry.

Vivian Conrad:
Well, all mothers worry about their children.

Matt Templeton:
Yeah, well, this is different.

Vivian Conrad:
It is? How is this different.

Matt Templeton:
I did something a while back that really scared her a lot.

Vivian Conrad:
It sounds like it must've been pretty serious.

Matt Templeton:
It was serious.

Vivian Conrad:
Well, do you wanna tell me about it?

Matt Templeton:
I don't think I really wanna talk about it right now.

Vivian Conrad:
I hope you know that you can tell me anything and it's never gonna change the way I feel about you.

Matt Templeton:
I tried to kill myself.

Vivian Conrad:
Why?

Matt Templeton:
To get away from my Dad.

Vivian Conrad:
What did he do to you?

Matt Templeton:
It started when I was about 6. He used to slap me with his hand. That wasn't so bad. When that didn't work, he used to whip me with a belt. A *thick* *black* *leather* *belt*. Anything would set him off. If I didn't win a swim meet, if I didn't bring home straight A's on my report card.

Vivian Conrad:
Oh, Matt.

Matt Templeton:
He'd just grin at me and then he'd snap that belt. I can still hear it.

Vivian Conrad:
Did your mother ever try to stop it?

Matt Templeton:
She tried, but he'd just slap her down and keep coming at me.

Vivian Conrad:
When did it stop?

Matt Templeton:
It stopped... it never stopped. There were times he beat me so hard, I thought he was gonna kill me. That's when I decided to kill myself and save him the trouble. But my Mom walked in on me.