One day on the train ....

I was sitting there drawing living room designs for my current and maybe a future home, playing with colors and textures and light in my sketchpad when I couldn't help over hearing the conversation of 2 kids seated next to me.

A boy and a girl, middle school I guess with the boy expressing concern that the girl's boyfriend hits her. :(

He tells her she should not put up with it, she says she loves him, he says she could do so much better, she does not think there's anyone else for her and so on.

He sighs and seems to give up. Then he starts to tell about his friends. He jokes that they all rely on him for advice.

The first boy he tells about has a crush on this girl, he's distraught about the situation and wants to beat up the kid who hits her. The young man tells him not to get himself in trouble but that he should talk to the girl. He says he will.

There's another kid, another crush on the girl. This kid vows that he could show the girl how much better things could be with a boy who treats her right. "Don't tell me, show her" the boy says. That boy tells our little therapist that he will.

Lastly a 3rd boy is so sad that the girl he has a crush on (she is cute) is dating an abusive jerk that when he confides to his friend he breaks down in tears. The boy says all he could do was give that guy a pat on the back and a hug. Since this was at school others around teased them but light heartedly it sounds. That boy also vows to talk to the girl.

Our little counselor pauses. Then he looks at my sketchbook and says "I like how you draw".

I smile and say "and I like how you think!"

Turning to the girl I say "I'm sorry I could not help overhearing but your friend is right. You should not put up with any abuse. You deserve better."

We go on and then it's their stop.

And as they get up and turn to leave I said to her "and oh by the way, you should be dating him. He's smart!"

They both grinned.

That was good to read and you never know but your input could make big changes for those youngsters, or at least make them think.

"You should not put up with any abuse, you deserve better" That is so true, where I work I frequently say the same thing to the youngsters. Even in this day and age, many youngsters grow up being abused and know no different, which is very sad.

That brought a tear to my eye...I hope she listens to the "stranger on the train" !!!

I've heard that nothing has a greater chance of changing an abused child's life than the support of even one adult. Here's hoping that your brief encounter was enough for her.

Great story, Trek. Thanks for sharing!

sad, but great story. I hope she heeds your advice. Too young to be dealing with that kind of messed up situation. Sometimes I think they all think we (adults) are full of crap- but sometimes it takes just one sentence, one thought to stick in a kid's mind. I hope she figures out that she *does* deserve better. :(

It makes me sad how difficult is for kids. I teach middle school and see it all the time. One very beautiful (and thin) 7th grader said yesterday
"I got a bag of candy at the gift exchange our class did, but I can't eat it all because I'm chubby (and she grabs at her non-existent love handles and pats her perfectly beautiful thighs)."
Then she turned her face down in sadness. Broke my heart. I put her face in my hands and looked her in the eyes and said "you are the most beautiful young woman I have ever met- don't you ever second guess that for one second. Your body is beautiful, your mind is beautiful and you have the kindest heart and soul of any child here." I hope she believes me (it was all true). I hate that kids put themselves down or feel like they can't do better. So sad. Then again, we do the same as adults, don't we? That's sad, too. :(

Wow.
Thanks for the story.