Chapter 23
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t go to school where my friends from preschool go.”
Imani spoke up, “when she moved in with Royal, she was over an hour away from the other location. We had to switch schools. It’s all been a huge adjustment for her, but it will get better. She just needs to open
her heart to making new friends.”
“I did make new friends. I have Famke and now Bram. The kids in my new school are butts.”
“Butts huh?” Bram sat down opposite her. “I knew some kids in school who were butts. They used to make fun of my scars. Why do they make fun of you?”
“Because I cried!” she exclaimed as if Bram was the only one who understood. “I get sad when I miss my mommy and daddy and cry, and they call me names like cry baby and,” she sniffed furiously, “they started saying if I’m a cry baby I must still poop my pants and they call me Poopy Precious. I hate them so much!”
“Precious, you didn’t tell me this,” Royal interrupted her rant. “When did this start?”
She shrugged embarrassed as if she realized she’d told them what was going on.
Famke felt the strangest desire to go to the school, find the little punks who had made Precious cry and deliver some good old fashioned corporal punishment. Her lips pursed as she struggled to keep her cool and she closed her eyes and kissed Precious’ temple softly. She looked to Royal beseechingly. How could hehappen.is happen?
“I will reach out to the administrator at the school.” Royal said as he rounded the counter and knelt next to them, his eyes profoundly serious as he studied the little girl. “Sweetie, you really need to tell me these things when they’re happening. I can’t help you if you won’t talk to me.”
“But” Precious’ bottom lip trembled, “my mommy said I was never allowed to tattle on anyone. Am I going to be in trouble for telling?” Her big brown eyes blinked back tears and looked back to Famke. “Mommy would get really mad if I told on her. She said nobody likes tattletales.”
Famke felt as if the air in the room was sucked out as both Royal and Imani stiffened with the comment.
Famke stroked her hair off her forehead, “you will never get in trouble for telling the truth, Precious. When someone says or does something which makes you feel bad or scared, it’s important to tell an adult you trust. I don’t know why mommy said you shouldn’t tattle but can we talk about the difference between tattling and telling?”
“What’s that?” Precious frowned, her dark brows touching right above the bridge of her nose as her face scrunched up.
1/3
Bram spoke up, “it’s what my mom and dad used to tell us. Tattling is when you want to get someone else in trouble for things which aren’t serious or if nobody is in danger. Like, if you were in class and one of the kids is making faces at the teacher and she doesn’t see him. It makes the other kids laugh but nobody is getting hurt and it’s not really an important problem which might be dangerous.” He took a breath, “but if the same kid in the class is telling another kid he’s going to beat him up after school and you know the other kid is going to get hurt, then it would be important to talk to a grown-up you trust and let them know what was happening. The first is tattling because you’re only trying to get the kid in trouble but if you’re trying to help someone, then it’s telling.”
“How do you know so much,” she stared at Bram.
He pointed to his head, “when I had my operation, it made the other kids in my class really nervous, and they picked on me a lot. I didn’t want to tell Famke because I didn’t want to be a snitch but then it got so bad, I was in danger, and I had to tell her.”
“You were in danger?”
“Yes. The other kids were taking my lunch and once, they even pushed my wheelchair outside and because I couldn’t talk very well and couldn’t call for help, I was outside a long time before the teachers found me.”
“Did you tell?”
“I did. I told Famke and my teacher.”
“Did they get mad at you for tattling?”
“No because telling isn’t tattling,” Famke insisted. “If someone is at risk of being hurt, that is telling. The people who love you will never be upset at you telling.”
She appeared very confused at the explanation. “But” she started to speak and then shook her head.
Royal turned her to face him, his hand resting on Famke’s thigh as he stared at the little girl on her lap. Famke considered her leg should not be burning as it was, and she should not be even noticing it considering the conversation they were having and yet his big hands engulfing the width of her thigh had her wanting to smack it off.
“Precious,” his voice was gentle and encouraging, “nobody will ever be angry with you for telling us about situations which make you feel uncomfortable, scared, angry or sad. If anyone, whether it’s a grown up or another child, says or does things which makes you nervous or feel like you are not safe, then it’s important you tell us so we can help.”
She sniffed, “the kids in my kindergarten class are mean. One day they locked me in the bathroom and said I had to stay there with the poopy smells. The teacher was mad at me for not coming right back after I went to the bathroom. I wanted to tell but they said if I tattled, they would beat me up. Am I in trouble for telling?”
2/3
“Oh honey,” he wrapped his arms around her, enveloping Famke in the hug and kissed Precious’ forehead as she started to sob. “Hey, you are not in trouble, and I will never be upset with you. I’m going to take care of it. Later you can tell me the names of the kids and if it doesn’t stop, then there are things I can do, as a grown-up to keep you safe. Don’t you worry, okay? I’m going to fix it. But from now on, you need to tell me or Famke or Grandma if you’re in a situation where you’re feeling scared, okay?”
She nodded as she snuggled into Famke’s chest but clutched at him too.
He met Famke’s eyes and shook his head, “now, what can I do to make you feel better right now?”
“Can we have a dance party?”
“A dance party?” He chuckled, “you want to have a dance party?”
“Yes, with Famke and pizza.”
“Sounds like a big party. Maybe I should call your Grandpa and he can be my dance partner!” Imani suggested and Precious clapped her hands excitedly.
“I will call for pizza,” Royal unwrapped his arms, his fingers trailing over Famke’s shoulder as he did so and rose to his feet. He looked to Bram, “any favorite kinds?”
As everyone put their orders in for favorite kinds of pizzas, Famke found herself very confused by the overly protective feeling she had in her chest for the child on her lap and the overt sexual attraction she had for her guardian. She had a feeling this weekend was going to be a hard one.
