She insisted that it was a phase that he would grow out of. All he needed was for them to bear with him.
She believed whatever demons that were driving him to harm himself he would eventually conquer.
But, despite the old lady’s fondest wishes, the young man would not change; didn’t seem concerned by his family’s concern.
Wasn’t interested in being better.
Bullying is all too common, pervasive and dangerous and many young people, broken from being bullied, have either killed themselves or turned the gun on others.
Having a cat in a house full of pigeons wasn’t going to be a very smart idea and I doubt Junior would have looked kindly on his little ones being on the lunch menu.
I find as women we are the most judgemental to our own.
We smile haughtily, shake our heads and tut tut at our sisters for not being ‘up to standard’.
Aisha knew better than to disrespect elders even when they were as annoying as their old neighbor. But she would not know how to stand up for herself even if she was a child without good manners.
She always wished that she was brave like they were; they spoke their minds and were not afraid to disagree with others.
The mother in me- but mostly the teenage me- wants to shield them all from the disappointments that they will definitely face, the heartache, the rude awakenings.