It’s part of my job, you see; talking with kids whose lives are so horrific it would make a sane person curl up into a fetal position.
They say I have the touch. Kids seem to open up to me. They talk about inane things; their pets, their toys, friends at school. Not so much that last. Abused kids don’t tend to make too many friends. They can’t take friends home when they know there’ll be trouble if they do.
They say I’m good at my job. What “they†don’t know is that I’m a frightened kid at heart, too.
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Written for the 100 Word Challenge – word of the week is frightened.
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No, not autobiographical. I do work in the domestic violence field, but not directly with children.
Now, it’s YOUR turn . . . what’s your take on the word? Write away . . . .
Oh, man, can I relate to that. I think a lot of us are that way, truth be told!
Why do we all think we have to put on a brave face? My future daughter-in-law is going to college to be a counselor. She currently works with battered and abused women and wants to continue to do so. Personally, I think she and her ilk are brave folks! Good write!
June – when she’s ready to move to Alaska . . . we would love to have her look us up. It’s a fulfilling life.
Sometimes the best way to get help is to give it, and the best way to be healed is to reach out to others who are in pain. Great piece.
A very tender story. It does take a special kind of courage to work with children like that.
As long as fear doesn’t consume us or prevent us from doing what’s important, its a good thing. Great story.
Terrible, frightening stories to be heard, for sure. They shouldn’t exist to be told but, as they are, at least there are people in the world like this character to hear them. Too bad there weren’t more.
Very real piece.
Abigail is right in so many ways.
There’s a much bigger story here, one that I’d like to read. Thank you!
chilling. It takes a strong person to be in a profession like this. I couldnt even imagine… very well written.
6 years ago or so I read a book called “Another Place at the Table”, written by a foster mother about her experience and the kids they took in. Somehow or another I managed to meet her and interview her.
It’s a tough job, whatever the actual role, to work with abused children. Heartbreaking.