By: Roving Reporter, Iam A. Survivor for SNN (Survivor Network News)
The peace of this seemingly quiet country street was broken early Saturday morning by the restless barks of the five collies and demented sounding shrieks from within this gray and white, two-storied house.
Reports indicate child sexual abuse survivor and author Tenna Perry, allegedly attacked her sleeping husband and attempted to strangle him. The snores emanating from the back of this home indicate Mr. David Perry has moved on from the incident and is fast asleep while the lighted windows in the other parts of the house show Mrs. Perry up and once again opening each closet door and checking in bathrooms for intruders.
When we spoke earlier to Tenna about the incident, she was visibly shaken and seemed to be having difficulty breathing. The following footage was shot at the Perry home.
(Camera pans to Tenna in her flannel gown with a bad case of bed head)
SNN – Tenna, could you tell us what happened?
Tenna (takes a huff of her inhaler) – I can try Iam but it is so embarrassing. I thought I was through with all this abuse stuff and now I find out there is more that is insisting I dig up. Tonight was like most nights. I did a little writing and then decided to take a hot bath and read a while. The only thing different was in the romance novel I was reading; it had a rape scene in it and all I could think of was this writer had obviously never lived through such a thing. I suppose the scene being totally unexpected in the book triggered a memory from my childhood.
I became a little anxious but as I was about to go to bed, took my evening meds. Truth to tell, I actually fell asleep very easily but then the nightmares came.
SNN – Nightmares? Could you describe them for us?
Tenna – Well, they were my usual type, dreams of my abusers stalking me, and my inability to get away. In the dream I tried shooting them but the gun wouldn’t work. I tried stabbing but it had no affect. I did fly away for a while but couldn’t get past the treetops. I kept getting tangled and they still found me. Finally they caught me and I began to fight back. It’s strange, this was the first time I have ever used my karate training in a dream.
SNN – You have taken karate?
Tenna – Yes, I have a black belt. Dave and I actually teach self-defense seminars to women and children. Awake, the training has been a great boost for my self-esteem and self-confidence. Asleep, it has done little before tonight in fighting the demons.
SNN – So, what was different about tonight?
Tenna – Well, I remember seeing my cousin reaching out to grab me and I executed a simple evasion technique and block. Then I placed my right foot behind him as he was moving past and brought a right ridgehand strike to his throat. In the dream, it tripped him and for once I was the one on top and pinning him to the ground. I had my hands around his throat and decided it was time to put an end to his abuse. The dogs barking and the, well, the yells from Dave are what woke me up.
SNN – I am sure this is difficult but could you describe what was going on at that point?
Tenna – Well, I was straddling David and had my hands around HIS throat. Maddie, Dave’s collie was jumping on the bed and barking in my ear while the others were circled around barking as well.
SNN – What was Mr. Perry doing?
Tenna – Trying to break my hold without hurting me. For the first couple of minutes, even though I think I was awake, I didn’t actually see HIM. It was still my cousin. It took Maddie raking her claws down my back to make me realize what I was doing. First thing in the morning, her claws are going to be trimmed.
(Camera pans to where Tenna is pulling the collar of her gown away from the back of her neck to show the obvious claw marks that reach from her neck to her waist.)
SNN – So what was Mr. Perry’s reaction?
Tenna – His usual, “Another bad dream, huh?” I told him yeah and he yelled at the dogs to shut up and Maddie to get down from the bed. Then he held me while I had another crying jag. I tried apologizing but he wouldn’t let me. I guess I’m going to have to bake him a German chocolate cake tomorrow.
SNN – You said, “His usual.” Do you often wake him up in the middle of the night?
Tenna – More times than I can count. Sometimes he catches me sleepwalking. Other times I am yelling about fires in the walls, rats, our kids being kidnapped or something like that.
SNN – Have you ever gotten physically violent with him before?
Tenna – You mean have I ever tried to strangle him before? No, not really. I have beaten him in the face and around the chest and stomach but never really had my hands around his throat. Thankfully he doesn’t bruise very easily.
SNN – Has he ever retaliated with violence?
Tenna – No, he always holds me and tells me he loves me. I know it sounds sappy but he says he would rather be there while I fight it out than let it continue to eat away at me. Best of all, he doesn’t hold a grudge or allow it to interrupt his sleep anymore than necessary.
SNN – What about your sleep?
Tenna – Well it interrupts mine almost every night. I am about to go take one of my pills for panic attacks and will then go around inspecting the house before I attempt to go back to sleep.
SNN – Thank you Tenna, we’ll let you go on and try to relax.
Tenna – You’re welcome Iam. By the way, if the neighbors ask any questions on your way out, would you not tell them about this? I’d rather leave them wondering as to what we were up to.
This piece was originally featured at Survivor Wit
Tenna Perry is the founder/editor of Survivor Haven. She is also the contributing editor at Suite101 on Child Sexual Abuse.
Please send any comments on this piece to Tenna in care of Survivor Haven.
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