Poor Child | Chickens in the Road

Dec
6

The stark image of the poorest of the poor, the Appalachian child.

Cold and neglected, he trudges the long and lonely road–uphill both ways–home from school. His daddy’s in jail and his mama’s home drunk, if she’s home at all. He looks forward at the end of his journey to enter his sad little shack, knees bent from exhaustion, to gather crumbs from a cracker box, water from a puddle his only drink. Life for this poor child is hard. He struggles just to survive–

Georgia, on the phone: “15’s walking home again! All he’s wearing is a t-shirt and HE HAS NO HAT!!”

Me: “Okay…….. I’ll go find him on the road.”

(I made up that sob story for him to save him the trouble. Obviously, he had a hoodie, which he had over his head, and he told me the ice he chipped off the road tasted good! He was thirsty….. I brought him home and made him take out the trash and carry in a 55-pound bag of dog food then he played on the computer while I fixed him a big spaghetti dinner. If he was patient enough to wait an hour and a half for me to get him from Georgia’s on my way to pick up Princess from basketball practice, he could have been toasting his feet watching TV instead of walking.)

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22 Responses
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12-6
3:37
am

TAG!

LatigoLiz - Reply
12-6
6:07
am

LOL a bit stubborn huh?!?!? Its the age me thinks! Oh and – great story by the way! LOLL

Heidi - Reply
12-6
7:14
am

After doing this for awhile he’ll learn, or have some great stories to tell his children about walking home 3 miles in the snow when he was in high school!
(tada, I’m up at the crack of dawn today because we’re driving 4 hours to Houston to celebrate the Princess granddaughter’s 2nd birthday today!)

Jodie - Reply
12-6
8:05
am

Hey! You may have an E-Bay moment !!!! Check out the reflection in the hood of the vehicle (obviously from where the pic was snapped, which caused the shame to 15) and see if you don’t see an image of Jesus. Reflections can do funny things – even deliver images. Whaddua think????

Linda Colbaugh - Reply
12-6
8:09
am

That boy must really love his momma….wanting to get home to be around her ASAP! LOL.

Snapper - Reply
12-6
8:11
am

LOL. Too funny. Typical boy. I would of let him walk the rest of the way home. Then still take out the garbage and carry the dog food. lol. He does not look too worse for wear walking home.

Why do oler people worry about teens wearing hats on their heads?? I have up trying to get my teen to wear a hat a long time ago. They either love them or hate them. Same goes for a jacket. If they get cold enough they will figure out what a winter coat if for.

15 should give you a huge hug for picking him up. You are good mom.

Diane - Reply
12-6
8:51
am

I would have let him walk, too. Till I didn’t see him in a few minutes, then I would have went and got him.
When I was his age, I would have walked too! But I loved to walk. And I would have been so thankful for the warm vehicle that picked me up.
You’re a good Momma!

Becky - Reply
12-6
9:16
am

That poor child just tugs at my heart strings.

sam - Reply
12-6
9:46
am

he’s such a po’ lil’ chitlin

IowaCowgirl - Reply
12-6
11:22
am

Oh the plight of our poor, poor teenagers.

Mental P Mama - Reply
12-6
11:28
am

Look, you are doing his children and grandchildren a favor. Now he’ll have horror stories of growing up. It will keep them entertained for hours.

jean - Reply
12-6
1:02
pm

when I moved the cursor over the phrase Leave a Comment above and saw:comment on poor child pop up, it cracked me up! Does he know about this post? LOL, poor child!

Leah - Reply
12-6
1:42
pm

LOL kids!!!

TeresaH - Reply
12-6
2:10
pm

LOL I LOVED this…I always laugh at the Princess stories, the 15 and 17 stories…I LOVE kids. They are so funny.
I could write a LONG one about my one nephew that just turned 18 and is really throwing his “18yr. oldness” around, and has a new electric guitar. LOL Kids! :mrgreen:

Donna - Reply
12-6
3:56
pm

Aww, you’re a good mom. *G*

Brandy - Reply
12-6
5:57
pm

15 just can’t wait to get home to be with all of the animals. :catmeow:

Susan - Reply
12-6
6:06
pm

Life is hard for teenagers!

Estella - Reply
12-6
9:17
pm

HILARIOUS!!! He’s a typical teenage boy, but you are such
an intuitive Mom to know what he is experiencing!

Gail - Reply
12-7
1:59
am

Sorry, Linda, I couldn’t see Jesus lol. And, suzanne, you could make a great story out of anything!!

catslady - Reply
12-7
2:09
am

He’ll be a good man though as walking gives you time to think through things. It will also give him a sense of self reliance he wouldn’t otherwise get if he lived in the big city. Children here think they’re owed the world and contribute nothing to making it better for themselves. He’s got courage that one. xxoo

Carolyn A. - Reply
12-7
1:11
pm

I think you need to set up little roadside things, for 15 (Weston?) to rest on… half mile, such as a little park bench…LOL A little park bench, with a covering over it, in case of rain, sleet or snow…maybe install a water fountain…outhouse (well, he has that all around, in the woods)..LOL :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Donna - Reply
12-7
2:49
pm

Yeah, who knows from teenage boys?

Mine wanders off to school in below freezing weather in shorts, and t-shirt and a zip-up hoodie. Never mind the winter jacket and umbrella he left sitting AT HOME.

Amy - Reply