The stark image of the poorest of the poor, the Appalachian child.
Cold and neglected, he trudges the long and lonely road–uphill both ways–home from school. His daddy’s in jail and his mama’s home drunk, if she’s home at all. He looks forward at the end of his journey to enter his sad little shack, knees bent from exhaustion, to gather crumbs from a cracker box, water from a puddle his only drink. Life for this poor child is hard. He struggles just to survive–
Georgia, on the phone: “15’s walking home again! All he’s wearing is a t-shirt and HE HAS NO HAT!!”
Me: “Okay…….. I’ll go find him on the road.”
(I made up that sob story for him to save him the trouble. Obviously, he had a hoodie, which he had over his head, and he told me the ice he chipped off the road tasted good! He was thirsty….. I brought him home and made him take out the trash and carry in a 55-pound bag of dog food then he played on the computer while I fixed him a big spaghetti dinner. If he was patient enough to wait an hour and a half for me to get him from Georgia’s on my way to pick up Princess from basketball practice, he could have been toasting his feet watching TV instead of walking.)
LatigoLiz says:
TAG!
On December 6, 2008 at 3:37 am
Heidi says:
LOL a bit stubborn huh?!?!? Its the age me thinks! 🙂 Oh and – great story by the way! LOLL
On December 6, 2008 at 6:07 am
Jodie says:
After doing this for awhile he’ll learn, or have some great stories to tell his children about walking home 3 miles in the snow when he was in high school!
(tada, I’m up at the crack of dawn today because we’re driving 4 hours to Houston to celebrate the Princess granddaughter’s 2nd birthday today!)
On December 6, 2008 at 7:14 am
Linda Colbaugh says:
Hey! You may have an E-Bay moment !!!! Check out the reflection in the hood of the vehicle (obviously from where the pic was snapped, which caused the shame to 15) and see if you don’t see an image of Jesus. Reflections can do funny things – even deliver images. Whaddua think????
On December 6, 2008 at 8:05 am
Snapper says:
That boy must really love his momma….wanting to get home to be around her ASAP! LOL.
On December 6, 2008 at 8:09 am
Diane says:
LOL. Too funny. Typical boy. I would of let him walk the rest of the way home. Then still take out the garbage and carry the dog food. lol. He does not look too worse for wear walking home.
Why do oler people worry about teens wearing hats on their heads?? I have up trying to get my teen to wear a hat a long time ago. They either love them or hate them. Same goes for a jacket. If they get cold enough they will figure out what a winter coat if for. 🙂
15 should give you a huge hug for picking him up. You are good mom.
On December 6, 2008 at 8:11 am
Becky says:
I would have let him walk, too. Till I didn’t see him in a few minutes, then I would have went and got him.
When I was his age, I would have walked too! But I loved to walk. And I would have been so thankful for the warm vehicle that picked me up.
You’re a good Momma!
On December 6, 2008 at 8:51 am
sam says:
That poor child just tugs at my heart strings.
On December 6, 2008 at 9:16 am
IowaCowgirl says:
he’s such a po’ lil’ chitlin
On December 6, 2008 at 9:46 am
Mental P Mama says:
Oh the plight of our poor, poor teenagers. :wave:
On December 6, 2008 at 11:22 am
jean says:
Look, you are doing his children and grandchildren a favor. Now he’ll have horror stories of growing up. It will keep them entertained for hours.
On December 6, 2008 at 11:28 am
Leah says:
when I moved the cursor over the phrase Leave a Comment above and saw:comment on poor child pop up, it cracked me up! Does he know about this post? LOL, poor child!
On December 6, 2008 at 1:02 pm
TeresaH says:
LOL kids!!!
On December 6, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Donna says:
LOL I LOVED this…I always laugh at the Princess stories, the 15 and 17 stories…I LOVE kids. They are so funny.
I could write a LONG one about my one nephew that just turned 18 and is really throwing his “18yr. oldness” around, and has a new electric guitar. LOL Kids!
On December 6, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Brandy says:
Aww, you’re a good mom. *G*
On December 6, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Susan says:
15 just can’t wait to get home to be with all of the animals. :catmeow:
On December 6, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Estella says:
Life is hard for teenagers!
On December 6, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Gail says:
HILARIOUS!!! He’s a typical teenage boy, but you are such
an intuitive Mom to know what he is experiencing!
On December 6, 2008 at 9:17 pm
catslady says:
Sorry, Linda, I couldn’t see Jesus lol. And, suzanne, you could make a great story out of anything!!
On December 7, 2008 at 1:59 am
Carolyn A. says:
He’ll be a good man though as walking gives you time to think through things. It will also give him a sense of self reliance he wouldn’t otherwise get if he lived in the big city. Children here think they’re owed the world and contribute nothing to making it better for themselves. He’s got courage that one. xxoo
On December 7, 2008 at 2:09 am
Donna says:
I think you need to set up little roadside things, for 15 (Weston?) to rest on… half mile, such as a little park bench…LOL A little park bench, with a covering over it, in case of rain, sleet or snow…maybe install a water fountain…outhouse (well, he has that all around, in the woods)..LOL
On December 7, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Amy says:
Yeah, who knows from teenage boys?
Mine wanders off to school in below freezing weather in shorts, and t-shirt and a zip-up hoodie. Never mind the winter jacket and umbrella he left sitting AT HOME.
On December 7, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Mechelle says:
I am so glad I’m not the only momma that has to suffer through this, I thought my kids were all permanently lost in some other world. Given we live on the gulf coast, but it still gets cold in the winter for a few days, and my lil heathens want to wear shorts year round.
On July 3, 2011 at 8:17 pm