“What’s wrong with your kid?” The question startled me. The little girl, about 7 or 8, peered at me behind long blonde bangs. Her wide set blue eyes blinked rapidly in her dirt smudged face. She was thin, and dressed in a Sarah-esque manner… multi-colored polka dotted black ruffled skirt, striped socks, plastic high heels and a stained tee shirt patterned with red and pink hearts. I wanted to scoop her up, take her home, wash her face and feed her something nourishing.
I looked around for her parents, but the waiting room was empty save for the girl, Timothy and me. Timothy, pacing the floor, appeared not to have heard her question.
I cleared my throat. “Why do you ask?”
The girl nibbled her hair. “I’m here because I can’t act right. My behavior, you know. It’s bad. I have Oppositional Defiance Disorder. I have to take pills, but sometimes I don’t swallow them.” She walked over and opened a cabinet holding brochures. ”… And I am too bossy and snoop and ask questions too much. Why is he here? Does he have to take pills too?”
I could see Timothy was paying attention to the girl now. He tilted his head towards me as he made the loop around the room.
“There is nothing wrong with being curious,” I said to the girl, trying to put a positive spin on what she had said, ”and leadership skills are good to have.”
“My mom says I’m gonna give her the stroke” she replied, shutting the cabinet. “What’s up with that kid anyhow?” she jerked her thumb towards Timothy.
“Nothing.” I said as Timothy took a seat next to me. “There is nothing wrong with this kid. He just looks at the world a little differently.”
A smile flickered over Timothy’s face. The girl looked thoughtful. “Me too.” she announced with a smile. The door to the office opened, and a woman came out. The woman leaned on a cane in the doorway to the waiting room and looked at us. She barked at the little girl to come with her already, she didn’t have all day. The girl grinned at me and patted my hand. “It will be alright.” she said, and dashed out the door after her mother.
2 Comments
August 11, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Jeffrey’s a pacer, too. I’m so glad you made those babies smile. You rock.
August 13, 2009 at 8:06 am
You and that little girl are going to make me weep. The labels placed on these children – Ugh. I just can’t describe how it makes me feel. Thank goodness for those who look at the world differently. We need them, we truly do!