The Things I Get Told

These are things I hear these days:

Sadnesses:

 l don’t like walking by this house; it makes me sad. My grandpa’s friend died there. And I know for a fact this is true; this grandpa’s friends , very old and very drunk, froze to death right on his own doorstep a few Christmases ago. This story is gruesome  and sad enough to give any child bad daydreams.

Lies:

Look! We found these peppers just lying on the ground in your garden! Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, I had checked my pepper plants only hours before this statement was made and recognized these as the same peppers I had seen hanging on the plants this morning. I didn’t react much; I let her know I knew she was lying with the Tiffany effect; I’m not sure she even noticed. This brings me to a moral dilemma: how should I react to a lie told me by someone else’s child who is just at my house for a short period of time each day? Should I tell her she can never come over again like other people in this town have done? Is that really morally correct? I am open to opinions on this as long as those opinions do not involve ostracizing a child for the behaviours she’s been forced to learn to cope with her life. 

Fears:

I hate Z*******. He scares me. He makes me sad. He says bad things to me. He [stalks] me on Snapchat. Does he hurt you? I ask. But she doesn’t want to reply.

Wishes:

Look, we wrote you a note! And the note begins, “Dear Mom and Dad.”

Trauma: 

[My babysitter] and I fought. We said lots of swear words. I’m really not supposed to tell anyone. You’re    a sweet little 8 year old. I wish you didn’t even have to know any swear words, much less use them to defend yourself against a screaming babysitter.

Insecurities:

 I’m supposed to stay home cos I’m grounded. I cleaned up my room but D***** [mom’s ex boyfriend] got mad Cos there was still stuff on the floor. More yelling by the adults in this girl’s life. And yet, in spite of, or maybe because of, all her caretakers yelling at her, she is so sweet and kind and will always make sure everyone else is happy and has whatever they need before thinking of herself.