Thursday, September 28, 2006

On the Side...
Besides the interning, etc, I'm also in this tutoring program where I meet up with this kid for twice a week 45 minutes each time. I wanted to get to know him more, so I gave him a notebook, and told him to write down 3 things about him that I don't know.


1. My aunt is blind.


We discussed a little about this, and how she must be quite capable despite this physicality.


2. My dad is in jail.


I was a little surprised that he would reveal this to me. We talked a little about the situation, and my concern was his feeling about his pops. He says he visits him sometimes, along with his dad's girlfriend, although his mom doesn't come along.

Now the third one really took me by surprised.


3. My mom was in jail.


It wasn't so much the fact that she was in jail before that shocked me a little, but the extra stuff he told me about this. I asked him who he was with, his guardian, basically, during this time. He replied that no one else was with him, and he took care of himself... AND his dog. I was in disbelief, and he added, "I'm EIGHT years old!" As if normal 8 year old kids are usually home alone when their parents are incarcerated. I decided that was that.

Now there's two things I'm thinking. 1. He could be lying or exagerating, or 2. He's telling the truth. Either way, that's tough. Is it just me that's running into these kids? Is it the location, where I'm at, East Austin's inner city schools. Or am I just becoming more aware that there are neglected kids everywhere?

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