The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXX

Michael Little
Carolyn Westgate, Teacher
Roosevelt Middle School, New Bedford, MA
Courage to me is being able to do something, or try, even if it frightens you.
I grew up with two brothers, ages sixteen and twelve, my mom, and my dad.
My mom was always the stronger one. My dad had some mental health issues.
I always had a happy life. Both parents worked. I went to fun things with my
family often. It was hard with my dad because he tried to be a good dad, but
he would get stressed out. He would just stay away when he was stressed. I tried
to overcome this by not arguing or fighting with my brothers. I would try to be
on my best behavior always. One day my dad snapped and hurt our family. He
went to jail and we never got to see him again. I had so much courage that day,
three years ago.
One morning my brothers and I were fighting over a speaker. My dad came
home and saw us fighting. He got really angry, because he was sick of us
fighting over everything. My mom tried to calm him down by telling him
she would deal with this and he should go to work. My dad didn’t listen. He
pushed us all around and was breaking things. My mother told us kids to run
to the car and she would come out as fast as she could. I was so scared. My
mom was trying to distract him so that we could run and be safe. I didn’t want
to leave her. I knew I had to run with my middle brother or we could be in
more danger. So I got the courage to do as I was told even though it was so
hard! I had fear for my mom and fear for us. I couldn’t understand why this
was happening. My dad had never acted this way.
My older brother would not leave my mom alone with him. My middle brother
and I ran and waited near the car for my mom, like she said to do. My dad
ended up hurting my mom and brother. My brother’s nose was shattered by
my dad, while my brother was trying to protect my mom. My mom was able
to get away with my older brother and run to the car to meet us there. My
heart was beating so fast. I still didn’t feel safe. I felt that I was too young to do
anything to help. I was only eight. My mom took us all and went to the police,
and my dad was arrested.
My family had to go through so much. My older brother had to have plastic
surgery on his face. His nose was broken in three places. I didn’t sleep for so
long. I was afraid to be on a separate floor in the house by myself. I thought at
any time something was going to happen again. The hardest thing was trying
to understand why and how this happened. My dad was never this person.
What had he become? I knew he was in jail, but I didn’t feel safe. My brothers
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