Clutching Poochie

Book excerpt: This is a record of how I dealt with sexual abuse before I was old enough to have words to talk about it. I have always known Poochie's name, but I did not understand who she was. It turns out she was the defining presence in my life. From the moment I jumped out of my skin on to the wall when I was three, I was eager to talk about it with someone. Those around me focused on the legal definition of rape. I did not know about rape, but I wondered why I jumped out of my skin.