"Parent" isn't just a noun, you know.
Alicia. That's her name. I overheard it as she spoke on her cell phone.
I was riding the train, and she was across the aisle, sitting with a couple of boys. She was fourteen, maximum. She might have been as young as twelve.
She's from the Sunshine Coast. She's never been in Vancouver before. Her family has ditched her, or at least actively separated from her and left her to roam with a boy she vaguely knows.
She was unsure what to do. You see, her mom had just been arrested. For fraud. At Money Mart. Again.
She was fielding two calls at once, and as soon as one was done she'd have another or she'd make one.
She didn't where she was going to sleep that night. One of the boys she was with thought that maybe his friend's (whom she didn't know) mom would let her stay there.
The mom declined.
Eventually, one of the calls to the police netted her the information that her mom was going to be released in about thirty minutes, and she would meet the girl at Metrotown.
The boys she was with gave her the instructions on how to get there: "Keep on the train until you get to Commercial, then go up an escalator and take a left and you'll see all sort of people selling stuff. Go up to Broadway and get on a train going to Metrotown. You can't miss it - bye!"
And with that, they got off the train and left her.
Remember, first time in Vancouver, never been on the SkyTrain, mom's been arrested, nobody to turn to.
She was upset. Angry at first, but as the phone calls continued she started to crack. She was upset, she was crying, she was afraid.
She was alone.
Lame.
I'd gone in to work extra early to deal with Cafeteria Lady. I had the time.
I took her to Commercial and got her on her train to Metrotown. I hope she made it okay and found her mom.
I hope she does okay, despite what seems to be a less than ideal home life.
I wish I'd given her ten bucks so she could get something to eat.
Sigh.
I still made it to work early. Cafeteria Lady had lit out of there extra early. I was disappointed.
Maybe today.
I was riding the train, and she was across the aisle, sitting with a couple of boys. She was fourteen, maximum. She might have been as young as twelve.
She's from the Sunshine Coast. She's never been in Vancouver before. Her family has ditched her, or at least actively separated from her and left her to roam with a boy she vaguely knows.
She was unsure what to do. You see, her mom had just been arrested. For fraud. At Money Mart. Again.
She was fielding two calls at once, and as soon as one was done she'd have another or she'd make one.
She didn't where she was going to sleep that night. One of the boys she was with thought that maybe his friend's (whom she didn't know) mom would let her stay there.
The mom declined.
Eventually, one of the calls to the police netted her the information that her mom was going to be released in about thirty minutes, and she would meet the girl at Metrotown.
The boys she was with gave her the instructions on how to get there: "Keep on the train until you get to Commercial, then go up an escalator and take a left and you'll see all sort of people selling stuff. Go up to Broadway and get on a train going to Metrotown. You can't miss it - bye!"
And with that, they got off the train and left her.
Remember, first time in Vancouver, never been on the SkyTrain, mom's been arrested, nobody to turn to.
She was upset. Angry at first, but as the phone calls continued she started to crack. She was upset, she was crying, she was afraid.
She was alone.
Lame.
I'd gone in to work extra early to deal with Cafeteria Lady. I had the time.
I took her to Commercial and got her on her train to Metrotown. I hope she made it okay and found her mom.
I hope she does okay, despite what seems to be a less than ideal home life.
I wish I'd given her ten bucks so she could get something to eat.
Sigh.
I still made it to work early. Cafeteria Lady had lit out of there extra early. I was disappointed.
Maybe today.
posted by Rimmy at 13:56
3 Comments:
Yet another example of how good you are for people. When I was up there last year, all the little things you did to help people out blew me away. :)
Speaking of which, I'd like to drop by again this year. Whether it's close to XMas or after it depends on whether my grandmother in the hospital lives.
-Tursi
Defenetly a good thing man. Every little bit helps, and it is a good holiday gesture.
Bah. It's just what you're supposed to do.
Besides, if I didn't help her someone else would have, I'm sure.
Tursi - yes, drop by! Although on Dec 26 and 27, as well as Jan 2 I'm working from 0800-0000, so those days are probably out.
Kibilz - some way to determine "good" parents ahead of time has to be developed first, and is bound to be bent by competing ideals of religion, culture, and ethics.
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