From: (MikeyChild) Subject: Re: Repost "Tommy's Problem" Date: 3 Nov 1995 14:49:51 -0500 TOMMY'S PROBLEM a true story It was said to be an accident, but Tommy knew better. His father said he fell, not so. Tommy knew. His father had come home drunk again, and started to beat Tommy. Dragging him up the stairs toward his bedroom, slapping him on the way. When they reached the top of the stairs Tommy got scared and tried to get away. His drunken father caught him slapping him in the face. "You want to run, HUH? you want to try to get away from me, well go on then!" with those words Tommy was thrown down the stairs, tumbling to the bottom. Tommy didn't remember how he had gotten to the hospital but he knew he was there. His father wasn't there, but a kind, young nurse kneeled down next to Tommy's bed. "Where is my dad" Tommy managed to say, even though he was in a lot of pain. 'Your father went to jail honey, he can't hurt you again" Tommy was relieved but felt lonely. He had lost his mother only six months ago, and now he knew he would not see his father again either. Tommy was taken from the hospital by an older woman, who introduced herself as Mrs. Carter. Tommy was tired and sore, and didn't speak much. His mind was working overtime trying to figure out what was going on. Where are we going? Who is this lady? Why am I wearing a diaper? The last question stayed in his mind, he didn't mind the feel of the diaper between his legs, but he wanted to know why he was wearing it. "Excuse me?" "yes honey?" Replied Mrs. Carter. "Where are we going?" "We are going to the home you will be staying at until we find you a new family" "OH, um....Who are you?" "I thought I told you, My name is Mrs. Carter?" "yeah, but what am I doing with you?" "Sorry, I am with Children's services. You can't stay with your daddy any more, because he hurts you." "Why am I wearing a diaper" Mrs. Carter was clearly shaken as he asked that last question, the car slowed and She pulled off the road into a parking lot, She shifted in her seat until she was looking him in the eye. "Well, Do you remember your accident, when you fell down the stairs?" Tears started to form in Tommy's eyes as he recalled the events of the night before. "YES" "Well honey, Your daddy hurt you, and when you fell you hurt your bladder and you can't hold pee in you anymore" "How long will I have to wear diapers?" Again she was shaken, although she had dealt with many troubled boys before, this one was different, he was being taken to a boys home, through no fault of his own, all he did was try to be a normal 7 year old boy, but now she had to find a way to tell him, but how. She decided that the only way was to just flat out tell him. "Tommy, I'm sorry but you will always have to wear diapers." Tommy started really crying now, and Mrs. Carter reached across the car and held him, hugging him, trying to make him feel better. She knew it was against the rules to hug a "CLIENT" but again, this boy had done nothing wrong. Across town, in a jail cell, Tommy's father was crying also, he couldn't believe what he had done to his little boy. He knew Tommy didn't belong in a home, and he had to find a way to help him. He got to make his one phone call, but he didn't call lawyer or his family, no he had a more important call to make. "Hello?" "Hi, is Christine in?" "Yes, who wants to know?" "it's important, could you get her please" "Yes sir" Mikey said as he laid the phone down. "MMMMOOOOMMMMM!!!!! TELEPHONE" Mike would have actually gone and gotten his mother, but he was confined to bed at the time, he was very sick and had been to weak to walk. Christine picked up the phone "Hello?" "Hi Christine, It's me John" "Hi John, how's Tommy?" Christine could hear John start to cry at her question, and he quickly told the story of how he had landed in jail, and what he had done to his poor baby. "I don't want him to sit in a home, could you take him please, just until I make bail" "of course I will John" Christine hung up the phone and started to cry herself. Without wasting any time, Christine arranged for her mother to stay with Mike while she went to see about getting Tommy out of the home. When she got to the home, she first insisted on seeing Tommy. She was allowed to see him and she was not happy about his condition at all. Not his physical condition, but the way he was being treated at home. Tommy who was glad to see a familiar face, jumped into Christine's arms, even though it did cause him some pain. And he was soon telling the story of his mistreatment at the home. "I have to wear a diaper cause I got hurt, but they won't let me use the potty at all, they said I had to poop in my diaper too, and then they left me in the messy diaper." Tommy was weak, and sobbed as he talked, and this was more than Christy could stand. She found the clean diapers and got Tommy cleaned up and into a fresh diaper. Then she went back to talk to the Children's service rep. who was in charge of Tommy's case. Christy registered her complaint about Tommy's treatment, and explained her position, and why she should be allowed to keep Tommy until everything was sorted out. "Mrs. Carter, I understand that the "Rules" say he has to stay here for a week, but I was a good friend of His mothers before she died, and I am a good friend of his father's. Plus Tommy is comfortable with me, and it would make all this much easier for him." Christine explained. "Yes, but Tommy has problems, that I don't think you really understand." Christine was getting mad now. "Let me tell you what I understand, I understand that there is a scared seven year old boy, who recently lost his mother, and was abused by his father. But he still loves his father and now he's gone too. I understand he has a bladder problem that he needs help with, and that he will have for the rest of his life. I also understand that at some point in the near future he is going to need help sorting out his feeling about the abuse. That's what I understand" "yes, but why can you handle his problems better than us?" "Because, I have been through it all before. My son was abused by his father and has emotional problems of his own, he is also a bedwetter and I have been forced to keep him in diapers for years. No one knows how to support, love, and guide Tommy than I do." "well, I have to tell you, I still don't like it, but I can see your point. I will grant TEMPORARY (she made sure to get that point across) custody to you, until the hearing to decide his permanent placement status." Having won this battle, Christine got Tommy's things and took him to her home. Tommy was welcomed into her home, and almost immediately felt like a member of the family. The next day Christine again called on her mother to watch both boys, as she had to go out. She drove the long trip to the county jail so that she could talk to John. "John, you beat your son, they aren't going to give him back to you" She told him trying to be as supportive as she could be. "I'm trying to help you here John, It's your choice, you can either sign the paper and let me adopt Tommy, or they will put him in foster care and we will never see him again. Not to mention it will look better for you, when you go up on child abuse charges." John didn't want to loose his son, but he did see her point. No judge would ever allow Tommy to go back to him. Shaking slightly he signed the paper as a tear streamed down his face. Christine took his hand and said "It's for the best John, you know it is."