One day on the train ....

[Trek420]

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.