Jordan is one of those 7th graders that still looks like a 5th grader, a short 5th grader. He comes up to about the bottom of my ribs at most, is tiny, blond, and always has a smile on his face. He's been late to school more than most and has missed more days than most but always had a pretty simple explanation. His story today felt a little off. So I asked more.
I am so glad I never jumped down Jordan's throat or gave him a lecture about responsibility or how important school is. I wish I never had to mark him tardy again.
Jordan deserves a lot of things, my finger wagging would not be one of them.
Jordan deserves a bedroom, not the couch in the front living room where he sleeps because his house is now also home to two other uncles and their families. (How is it that he lost his room, it was his house to start with...) Jordan deserves a parent who wakes him up gently with a kiss every morning. Instead his step dad wakes up late and runs out the door to his work mad at the world and making sure Jordan knows about it. Angry that he has been assigned the horrible job of waking up the kid sleeping on the couch. Which he doesn't do. Which is why Jordan is late sometimes.
Jordan doesn't deserve transient uncles who beat him up because he is an easy target. He shouldn't have to stay home to recover when they hurt him too bad to go to school. His old broken collar bone wound shouldn't become the place to hit him to cause him the most pain. His little legs shouldn't be the favorite spot to kick him and hit him. He didn't deserve the uncle who sexually molested him last year. He doesn't deserve being made fun of in his own home because his birth father was a sperm donor and never part of his life.
I felt he deserved my small hug, damn the rules. He deserves school administration and counseling offices in his corner. He deserved my full attention as the next class bell rang. He deserves his home room teacher following up on him and his case. He's brave for opening up. I told him so. He deserved that too.
5 comments:
He sounds like a great kid; one that won't let the world break him... Even if the big bad world is not only at his doorstep, but invades his home. High five to him.
Wow, I feel strongly for him. Way to go Calvin. May the scum on the earth rot in hell forever.
My heart goes out to him. From your comments, it sounds like he's already "in the system" when it comes to having authorities aware of the abuse and taking action. That comes with its own challenges as well. So glad he has a friend in you.
DIVISION OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES!
He's lucky to have you. Thanks for sharing and putting things into perspective!
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