A Quiet Street

[poliphilo]

A child stands in the middle of the road yowling.

We go out and talk to him gently. He says his mother has left him to go shopping.

He is wearing a school jumper and flimsy blue shorts. Ailz takes his hand. His hand is freezing.

We walk him to his door- a few houses down- where his slightly older brother comes out and talks to us.

(Why aren't either of them in school?)

His Brother takes him in and locks the door.

Peace again. This is a very quiet street. And the BIG question- did we do the right thing?

The mystery of other people's lives.

Comments

[arielstarshadow.livejournal.com]

I'm not really a "lover" of children per se, but ironically enough, I have a *very* strong maternal instinct. I think, were it me, I would have made note of the address, and called the authorities; your question about why the children were not in school is a good one, if indeed school is still in session and it was an appropriate time for them to be there. I presume that neither/both of them did not look ill, and thus there was not the excuse of them being kept at home due to sickness. Of course, if that were the reason, then one would have to wonder why the mother would leave two sick children at home...

I don't know. When it comes to children, I always err on the side of caution.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Ailz asked the child why he wasn't in school and he said "I don't go to school any more."

I did think of calling the authorities but (a) I don't know that I trust them and (b) I'm cautious of sticking my nose into other people's business.

As it is, it looks as though the police may have intervened.

[arielstarshadow.livejournal.com]

Let's hope so - I don't know whether "home-schooling" has caught on in the UK? In which case, the child could have had a good reason for not longer going to school.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Home-schooling? I hadn't thought of that. Unlikely but still a possibility.