A New Beginning

A New Beginning(Regina Mazur) A New Beginning

There it was the same problem again, trying to figure out how to make his black and blue look invisible and if that didn’t work then at least have an explanation as to how he got this one. When the bruises were on the parts of the body that could be concealed by clothing Andy was not paranoid about going to school on those days, after all who would want to lift up his shirt or ask him to roll up his sleeves? Andy was a very shy and quiet kid, definitely not the kind to be the center of attention, but more of a standing to the side on his own kind. He actually preferred to keep to himself and he never shared much. Andy lived in the world of his own thoughts and wasn’t really used to discussing his problems or sharing them with anyone. Not so much because he didn’t want to, but because he didn’t have anyone to share them with. Deep inside Andy was always looking for an outlet to let out his feelings but he just never dared to express himself. The reason that Andy never dared to express himself was because he could not put out of his mind the words that his stepfather said last night, as a matter a fact he said those words many times before so they were imbedded in Andy’s head “You little piece of ….., you breathe a word of this to anyone and I will kill you, you dare tell someone that I even laid a finger on you and it will be the last day you live, Got it”?.
Of course he got it; Andy was petrified of his stepfather. Since the moment the he moved in 2 years ago Andy’s life became a nightmare. At first there was no physical beating just some rough grips on his forearm, but so rough that it would leave a black and blue trace, then one morning Andy remembers it distinctly because it was on a Saturday, his mom left the house to go work a Saturday shift and Andy didn’t hear anyone calling his name or an alarm clock he was deep asleep, the next thing he remembered was his stepfather pulling him out of bed by his hair and dragging him all the way down the steps. After that Andy could hardly walk for the next week, that was also the time that he received his first threat from his stepfather about killing him if he mentions anything to anyone.
So that is how it went. Andy’s life got worse and worse now the beatings happened more and more frequently. He was actually not sure anymore what is better to continue keeping it all quiet or take a risk of telling somebody and just let his stepfather kill him.
What Andy was also sure of that if he chose to tell his mother about this, she would most likely not believe him anyway and probably accuse him of lying and then he would have two people to be afraid of instead of one? Those were the grim thoughts of a 13 year old Andy whose main problem became trying to conceal as much as possible so that no one suspects.
This day he couldn’t because he had a huge black and blue under his eye as a result of a fist punch from his stepfather, however he was naïve enough to think that if he comes up with a good story of how it happened (something to the effect of him falling face down) it would be believable enough for people to leave him alone. Andy came to school and stuck to his imaginary story. What he didn’t notice was that the school’s guidance counselor Ms. Hastings has been very attentive in observing Andy for some period of time now. Andy didn’t realize that what he thought was well hidden wasn’t after all and the fact that he could raise some concerns didn’t even occur to him.
Ms. Hastings was indeed watching Andy carefully for quite some time now, she was very concerned about him without having any concrete explanation, she didn’t seem to have any proof that anything was wrong but on a few occasions she saw him limping quite heavily, another day someone accidentally pushed him in the hallway and Andy grabbed his arm and screamed as if he has a live wound under his shirt. Now today was the black and blue.
Ms. Hastings saw a lot during her work with children and knew that by making the wrong approach or being too pushy one can trigger the child who may want to talk to shut down, but with patience and care there will be a moment that may be appropriate for the kid to open up. She knew however that she had to get Andy to trust her at first so that when the moment does come he would feel comfortable enough to confide in her, if there is indeed something going on.
Ms. Hastings tried to talk to Andy in a friendly manner if she had an opportunity in the hallway or during recess and she could see that Andy was warming up to her and smiling when he saw her actually eager to exchange a few words. “Not yet, not today she said to herself” but soon I will find a way to get that kid to open up.
Couple of days later as she walked into the cafeteria during a lunch break she spotted Andy getting lunch from the buffet and she noticed something weird, he was trying to hold the tray and pick everything up with one hand. This really looked odd, and she came up to him and asked if he needed help. Andy looked terrified and tried to decline her assistance but as he did he dropped a plate with vegetables on the floor and Ms. Hastings saw another hand at the wrist hanging down limp, she immediately knew what was going on. She quietly told Andy hey looks like you many need a bandage there before it really swells up badly come with me she offered and then noticing his hesitation she said, “don’t worry I will just take you to the nurse and bandage you up and put some ice there” I will be there so that you don’t have to answer too many questions if you don’t want to. She saw the relief on his face as he followed her. After taking care of the hand Andy immediately wanted to leave but Ms. Hastings said: “Okay young man when I said you wouldn’t have to answer too many questions I meant to the nurse” but I sure have some for you myself.
She said it in a smiling and friendly way that Andy felt at ease and followed her into her office” Once there Ms. Hastings said: “Andy you are a wonderful and intelligent young man, we have two choices I can sit here and pull the words out of you or you can share with me whatever you want to share with me. So take your pick.
Andy sat there moving his stare from the wall to the ceiling to the floor; he didn’t want to look at Ms. Hastings because he felt a lump in his throat and knew that if he looks at her he will start to cry.
Andy: “Listen I don’t have much to say, I just broke my wrist that’s all”
Ms. Hastings: Can I ask you where and how?
Andy: I was running the other day tripped and fell on my arm
Ms. Hastings: How about the black and blue under your eye?
Andy: I was running the other day tripped and fell on my face
Ms. Hastings: How about the shoulder that was hurting you so much last week that you screamed with pain when another student
Bumped into you?
Andy: I was running the other day and fell on my shoulder
Ms. Hastings: Andy you seem to be repeating the same thing to me just listing different body parts, it seems that you are doing a whole lot of running, a whole lot of falling and a whole lot of hurting yourself. You really don’t seem very clumsy to me.

Andy: Oh I am really very clumsy you just don’t know me that well Ms. Hastings, but I really am; please believe me I really am

Ms. Hastings: Andy, I need to tell you something: “You are safe here with me, no matter what you choose to tell me if anything you are safe, please don’t be afraid of anything, I promise you I will not do anything that you don’t want me to do or talk to anyone you don’t want me to talk to, but I want to make sure that you are safe.
Andy: Oh I am, I am believe me
Ms. Hastings: Andy, this is up to you to share or not, but I will tell you one thing, I want to be able to help you while I still can because if something happens to you tomorrow it may be too late and I will not be able to help you anymore. Do you understand what I am telling you?
Andy: Yes I do. Can I go now?
Ms. Hastings: You sure can, have a great rest of the day and take care of that wrist.

Andy left and as he was walking down the hallway all of a sudden as if losing control he turned around and ran back to Ms. Hasting’s office. After running back and closing the door behind him he started sobbing hard and uncontrollably. He couldn’t stop it. Ms. Hastings just sat there without saying a word just allowing him to let it out. After some time Andy stopped.

Andy: I am scared I am really scared; he said if I say something to someone he will kill me.

Ms. Hastings: Who is he Andy can you tell me?
Andy: My stepdad he will kill me I am scared
Ms. Hasting: Andy, you are safe no one will kill you; I will do everything that I can to keep you safe
Andy: How what can you do? I can’t go home now if he finds out he will kill me
Ms. Hasting: Andy what about your mother?
Andy: She will not believe me if I say that he beats me up. She will take his side I know that.
Ms. Hastings: How do you know that?
Andy: Please don’t tell her, please don’t tell her.
Ms. Hasting: Okay Andy I will not, I promise but you have to tell me from the beginning so that I can take action of some kind. When did things started to happen how long ago, where have you been hurt? As precisely as possible
Andy: I don’t want to list all the details it’s just been happening so many times already, he has been hitting me hard and once he dragged me down the stairs and this is why I always wear long sleeves even in the summer. I am scared I don’t want to go home

The conversation kept going on with Andy giving more and more details. Ms. Hastings took down all the information and said the she will make appropriate phone calls to ensure Andy’s safety. She also said that she will have to get Andy’s mom involved. Andy was terrified at the thought, but Ms. Hasting said that she cannot simply just take matters into her own hands and she promised that if Andy’s mom reaction would not be what they are hoping for she will ensure his safety.
Ms. Hastings called Andy’s mom who came to school right away, to Andy’s shock she believed him not only she believed him but she was crying over him asking why he didn’t tell her sooner. Apparently the stepfather was abusive to her as well but she just didn’t have it in herself to pick up and leave to be on her own with a kid. Now that everything was out in the open Ms. Hastings said that she will see what she can do for the court to issue an immediate order of protection again the stepfather since it’s a life threatening situation. The events took their turn and Andy’s and his moms lives changed.

Several years passed by and it hasn’t been easy for both of them, the stepfather was ordered to stay away and is under investigation for abuse, Andy has been trying as much as he could to help his mom who was working two jobs now to keep them going, but now either one of them was afraid to come home.