Nobody Knows The Problems They Have

Jillian was crying last week. When I went to comfort her, she told me her mom had moved out and left her with rent and utility bills to be paid and with no food to eat. She went to her counselor who called child abuse but, Jillian is over 18 so there was nothing the city could do for her. Luckily, her uncle showed up and brought some food and squared things with the landlord.

I gave her $20 and told her to hold onto it for an emergency. I told her to return it one day in the future to someone who needed it as much as she needed it now.

Things looked a little better for her. She seemed happy. She was talking about graduation, college (she made a few good ones), and getting a job and her own apartment.

This week her electricity was turned off. She had no choice but to go stay with a disfunctional brother and his girl friend. They are leaving the state soon, so that was only a temporary stop over. Her mom did manage to get the lights turned on.

Today, she was crying again. She had no money and nothing to eat, again. She had a job interview and did not know how she was going to make it there. I gave her a little more money.

Jillian will make it. She is bright and industrious. It breaks my heart to see her suffering like this. Senior year in high school should be fun. The biggest problem she should be having is choosing her prom dress. I told her not to worry about today's test. I can give her a make up at some other time.

My AP will have a fit when he sees that I am passing her, in spite of all her absences. I don't care. She needs something in her life to feel good about now and the passing grade might help. (She has done all homeworks and has done well on all the exams taken.)