Big Boys Shouldn't Cry

Some of the other kids in the neighborhood threw a rock through our window.
Mommy said that they don’t know any better.
The other kids at school laugh and point at me when I walk down the hallway.
At recess I read books in the Library.
 
Our Scout Troop held a Pinewood Derby.
It was fun to see all the colorful cars go racing down the track. 
I wished I had a car of my own.

Sometimes men wearing suits come to our front door with papers.
Mommy doesn’t answer the phone anymore.

Mommy says that we have to go live with Grandma.
Her house smells like soap and her cat scratches me.

Mommy cries sometimes. 
She goes to the laundry room and turns on the washing machine. 
She thinks I can’t hear her.
   
Grandma whispers in the Kitchen that Daddy was no good. 
Mommy lies and says that he didn’t hurt anybody. 

We went to visit him once. 
You could see the orange color of his shirt reflected in his glasses. 
He didn’t look up at me for long.
Daddy used to say that big boys were tough, and that they shouldn’t cry.
I guess he changed his mind. 

I asked Mommy when Daddy was coming back.
Mommy was quiet for a long time. 
Then she just started crying.

Sometimes I lay awake in my new bed for a long time.
I am glad that Daddy had changed his mind.