The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXXIII

SAMYIA HORSLEY
ERIN HANNON-FOLEY AND LIZMARIE ARGUETA, TEACHERS
Franklin D. Roosevelt K-8 School, Boston, MA
“The girls may have to be separated if we do not find someone to take both of
them,” said the judge. My sister and I hugged each other and cried. We were in
court, a lot had happened, and now, we could possibly be separated because of
someone else’s actions. The “someone else” was my mom. She was neglectful,
but my sister and I showed courage.
It was a regular day after school, and my mom didn’t come to pick up my sister
and me at the bus stop. To get home, my sister and I had to cross a very large
and busy road. It was not safe at all. My big sister and I were only eight and six
at this time, and we were very scared.
When we finally got home and opened the door, we looked down the hallway
and saw her. My mom. She had passed out on the floor. This was not the first
time. Unfortunately, my mom had an addiction to alcohol.
Later that day, Child Protective Services rang our doorbell, but we knew this
was going to happen, because it was Wednesday. Sometimes CPS came on
random days, but they never missed a Wednesday. CPS had already visited us
because there had been times when we did not have food, or when we told the
teachers at our school what was going on at home.
My sister looked out the window. We knew if we opened the door, we would get
taken away, because my mom was drunk on the floor. CPS had a record of our
situation. Sometimes, we would not have any food in the house, or we would
inform our teachers about the many parties held by Mom during the week. At
times, we would find strangers passed out on the floor because she would go out
or throw parties while my sister and I were asleep. I knew the parties were
happening because there was a lot of banging and yelling or slamming doors,
but the people never came to me and my sister’s room.
“Samyia, go in the room,” my sister whispered, so I did as she said. A couple of
minutes later, my sister came into the room with me and called my dad.
My dad came in less than five minutes and said, “Hurry, pack your things,
it’s gonna be okay.”
“COURAGE MEANS
TO NOT BE AFRAID
TO SPEAK UP WHEN
YOU FEEL UNSAFE OR
AFRAID, AND TO TELL
A TRUSTED PERSON.”
had a good relationship with the CPS worker. She made us feel comfortable
and made me feel safe. She would also tell us things like, “I’m here for you,”
or, “You can tell me anything,” or, “I’ll follow girl code.” The girl code is
simple: at times, my mom would tell us not to tell anyone when something
happened, but I knew we needed to tell the case worker.
Going back to that day, when we were done packing, my mom tried to prevent
us from going with our dad, but we ended up with our dad and stayed at his
place. My mom, my dad, my sister, and I went to court, and that’s when they
put me and my sister in a room away from our parents.
The trial started, and we did not know what was going to happen. “The girls
may have to be separated if we do not find someone to take both of them,” said
the judge. We were terrified of being separated into different homes, just like
our other siblings. By the end of the case, my dad received full custody, and my
sister and I were overjoyed! Luckily, my sister and I have been living with my
dad for the past six years, and we are happy, safe, and free.
I know what my mom did was wrong and bad, but I do forgive her. In current
times, we still see our mom, and she’s doing better, but unfortunately, she is still
drinking. Alcoholism is a disease and an addiction that causes families to break
apart. I do love her and just want her to get better in life and to forgive herself
for what she has done. This event forever changed my sister’s and my life for the
better. Courage means to not be afraid to speak up when you feel unsafe or
afraid, and to tell a trusted person.
When my mom woke up, we were packing our things, and my mom asked,
“Where are y’all going?” She saw my dad and knew that CPS had visited. We
THE COURAGE OF CHILDREN: BOSTON AND BEYOND
VOLUME XXXIII
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