Terry’s out.
Dawn’s got Mum and me
sitting at the kitchen table
with cups of tea,
pretending we’re having a friendly
chat when really
she’s checking I’m not living
in a shithole.
‘We’ve got classes we can offer parents too,’ she says to Mum,
‘Empowerment for Women and other things
you might be interested in.’
Mum won’t even consider it. ‘Don’t think so,’ she says.
Dawn raises her eyebrows. ‘We find that young offenders
are reacting to situations at home
when they commit crime.’
‘I’m not a bad parent,’ Mum says
quietly,
though she doesn’t believe it.
‘And no problems between you and Jess’s dad?’ Dawn asks.
‘He left,’ Mum tells her.
‘And her stepdad?’
‘He stayed.’
Dawn turns to me.
‘Anything you need support with, Jess?’
‘No.’
‘You don’t just have to pick litter
and plant flowers.
We have loads of courses you might like.’
I take Mum’s lead,
shake my head
and say, ‘You’re all right,’
when inside
a little voice is screaming for Dawn Green
to open her eyes and figure out
who the real offender is.