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5
When I picked up my kid from school
I could see that she had a tough day
Wearing shame on her face, Reluctant to snitch
Irritated, at the situation, not her
I was the smallest kid in school too
Nobody can ever prepare you for the things you can’t change
A huge knot on her forehead
Gave me road rage without a car
Just once, for balance, I’d love to hear how my daughter, ‘accidentally’ made some other kid cry
I play it cool as I muster a smile, hold her hand, and read the note that describes the cause of my kid’s latest scar
That I will always see when I look at her face
The first of many dangers that I can’t shield her from
She’ll long forget about this blemish
But I’ll relive the anger, frustration, helplessness, and acceptance that I felt reading two sentences from the school nurse’s account explaining how my kid ended up with a huge knot in her forehead
And how the other kid who pushed her simply said sorry.
