| Show Childhood Lost A Study in Futility by Trudi Smith This is a true story The names have been changed Itis It Itis Itis is a story of childhood pain a family struggle a womans woman's fight for justice and a mans man's weakness The story is one that takes place over a period of a year and a half but the battles are still going on Although Although Although Al Al- though the emotional pains are soothed the legal battles are still being waged The battles are against the bureaucracies that protect or preterit to protect the children children children child child- ren while sacrificing the adult and sometimes as in inthis inthis inthis this case the entire family unit The fight persists against the authorities who meddle and stir the stew although the broth is done who continue to interfere with the human ability to recover and by doing so keep the wound unnecessarily open This story is based on an actual case on file with the Division of Family Services and has been totally re researched researched researched re- re searched through the persons who lived it Any quotations used are true although the family wishes to remain ano ano- On a warm summer day on the fifteenth of July 1978 a year twelve girl leaves home By this simple act a series of traumas are arc inflicted not only on her herbut but buton buton on every member of her family each of whom will feel different pains and will solve their pains in separate ways This child does not just run run away She runs to the local police authorities and relates heartbreaking tales of sexual child abuse Later that same day the sheriffs sheriff's office sends a deputy to the parents parent's home to in inform inform inform in- in form them of what has happened happened happened hap hap- to their daughter The allega allegations implicate the step-father step who has been in inthe inthe inthe the home since this child was five years old The girl Mary is immediately put in protective protective protective tive custody by the Division of Family Services' Services Protective Services and a few days later another daughter Shawna is picked up and taken into protective custody What are the first impulses and reactions of the parents in a case such as this one What questions do they ask themselves In part two of this series I will delve into the responses and feelings of the mother J Jeri eri and she will share so some me of her fears Also I will relate the Hell that the step-father step Bill went through Look for part two Childhood Childhood Childhood Child Child- hood Lost Then Come The Tears in the next issue of Points West Vest |
