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DanaC · 10-13-2005, 11:23 AM

Liz is a student of mine. She keeps coming around through the system. I don't think there's really a lot I can do for her. I try to work on her confidence, but she usually vanishes after lunch ( she's usually finished her can by then and has started to get the shakes real bad) then doesn't reappear for a day or two.

I'm fairly sure she's a working girl, quite a few of our ladies are. A couple of them got kicked off the course for conducting their "business" in the disabled toilets. What can you do? Apparently they charge a fiver for a BJ and a tenner for the works. Where do you start when someone values themself so lowly?

I sometimes wonder what she dreamed of becoming back whne she was a little girl.....or did she just dream of being free? She bounced around the care system from the age of 6 until 15 when she ran away for the last time.

The "we" in the poem refers to society, or more accurately her community. One or two good teachers could have made the difference, or a care worker who had the time and inclination to fill the gap left by her absent ( and previously abusive) parents. her own children are now caught up in the same system, taken from her because she couldn't or wouldn't cope.

She has a reputation as a "good time girl" but the good time looks have long since faded. She is 39 but she could pass for 50. You can still see the looks she used to have, the bone structure and the slight afro kink to her hair, but it's just the odd glimpse.

Sometimes my job is depressing. Sometimes people don't want or can't be helped. Never stop trying though. By the time they're sent to us, they've precious few people on their side.

If Liz keeps drinking she is going to die, probably in the next few years. She doesn't seem remotely like she is about to stop though.

10-13-2005, 11:23 AM	#6
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Liz is a student of mine. She keeps coming around through the system. I don't think there's really a lot I can do for her. I try to work on her confidence, but she usually vanishes after lunch ( she's usually finished her can by then and has started to get the shakes real bad) then doesn't reappear for a day or two. I'm fairly sure she's a working girl, quite a few of our ladies are. A couple of them got kicked off the course for conducting their "business" in the disabled toilets. What can you do? Apparently they charge a fiver for a BJ and a tenner for the works. Where do you start when someone values themself so lowly? I sometimes wonder what she dreamed of becoming back whne she was a little girl.....or did she just dream of being free? She bounced around the care system from the age of 6 until 15 when she ran away for the last time. The "we" in the poem refers to society, or more accurately her community. One or two good teachers could have made the difference, or a care worker who had the time and inclination to fill the gap left by her absent ( and previously abusive) parents. her own children are now caught up in the same system, taken from her because she couldn't or wouldn't cope. She has a reputation as a "good time girl" but the good time looks have long since faded. She is 39 but she could pass for 50. You can still see the looks she used to have, the bone structure and the slight afro kink to her hair, but it's just the odd glimpse. Sometimes my job is depressing. Sometimes people don't want or can't be helped. Never stop trying though. By the time they're sent to us, they've precious few people on their side. If Liz keeps drinking she is going to die, probably in the next few years. She doesn't seem remotely like she is about to stop though. Last edited by DanaC; 10-13-2005 at 11:29 AM.