SilverSparrow,

I respect you. It was brave to defy the man and call 911. You did right and so many older did wrong. I am so sorry your mom let you down so bad. You needed her comfort and concern and got hurt in words and hands. Life is weird when children act wiser than adults, it's wrong.

I was someplace one night with my brother over to his friends house. The estranged dad called and began making threats. My next memory is my brother telling the parents the abuser was threatening to kill us. My brother said, "Man if he showed up I would have bolted and Leslie could look out for herself." I missed the violence...that nite, but my brother's words did something inside me.

In wartimes soldiers get medals for bravery. I would give you one for that night - bravery in the face of enemy fire. and no I'm not kidding or making fun of you. i mean it.

leslie