punctuation
"i am sure that i don't have to
warn you about this...but you know",
i said, cautiously,
after we talked about
the new chapter in her life,
"now that you get your period,
you could get pregnant if
you were intimate with a boy."
i know.
but i am not like that, ms. k."
"i believe you",
i say as i think about all the boys
she talks about with her friends
and the unsupervised afternoons
after school and no parent is
wondering where she is.
plus. if i WERE to get pregnant,
i know he better give me $600 for an abortion."
she says,
hands on her hips,
eyebrows raised in all seriousness.
silence.
not what i was expecting from
the mouth of a ten-year-old.
(sigh)
ReplyDeletegulp.
ReplyDeleteDoes she really know what that means? I don't know which is worse, a yes or no answer...
ReplyDeleteand there's not much left to say...you just cross your fingers and hope those brains get her through...
ReplyDeletesuch irony, those of us trying to get pregnant and ready and who are pregnant... and those who are trying desperately to stay away from the burden it could be...
ReplyDeleteI echo the, sigh & gulp..
oh my. on so many levels, oh my.
ReplyDeleteWow...her answer is surprising, especially for someone so young...but more than that, I applaud the effort that you've clearly displayed to have a discussion with her that most likely no one else will ever consider, that you care about your student's WHOLE well being is inspiring. I don't think I ever had a teacher that cared as much.
ReplyDeletewow...scary that this is a reality for your students. Where I live it's more of a reality for 14 year olds but it's sad nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the work you do. You so make a difference in the lives of these children.
aaaaaaaaah, this post. i managed to read it a couple of days ago, didn't get a chance to comment. and i have to tell you, i've revisited it MANY a time in my mind over the past couple of days. even though i feel like it's stating the obvious, this post had a profound effect on me...i still can't shake it.
ReplyDeleteit's so special that you have the shorties and the shorties have you.
oh, holy cow, dude. what do you say to that?
ReplyDeleteThank goodness she's got you, though, Ms. K.
ReplyDeletesuzie...yes. unfortunately, she knows way too much about this...
ReplyDeleteher world is open wide and she sees all.
WOW. Unfortunatly I can see it happening.
ReplyDeleteThat breaks my heart.
ReplyDeleteI weep for our future. I don't really know what to say, this is so dang sad to me!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletewow...not what i would expect from a 10 year old either but i have a feeling, all of your students are deep thinkers and wiser people in general under your tutalidge.
ReplyDeletevery cool picture.
i miss your posts and your self portraits, beautiful you!!
xxoxox