Brave and Crazy Week 2 Brigits Flame

[wierdauntie]

8/7/09 Therapy Session at School

Student Grade 5

Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood

Placement: Foster Care

She picks up the paintbrush, dips it in the water. I’m curious what color she’ll choose to write her name.

Black.

She carefully prints the letters, but it the name is too long to fit on the paper, and she lifts chocolate

Comments

[lady_matsu]

Sad face. That was very sweet and touching, mama. I love you, you are amazing.

(Also, typo: "but it the name is " in the third line.)

[wierdauntie]

Thank you baby XOXOX

Fixed it.

[jamais_toujours]

This is beautiful. I love how caring you are towards your clients. I hope that things will turn out for the little one.

[wierdauntie]

me too!

[therealferret]

I sure was proud that I could still read that name out loud in one go

[wierdauntie]

Yeah- sometimes I play up my haoleness so they can be the "expert."

[mermaidbia]

I don't like this as much as your first week piece - I've never undestood the concept of names making anyone "special" outside a very narrow circle of fantasy fiction, and aso, who is the counsellor to decide over the style of someone's hair? (I know this is autobiographical, just trying to approach this from a story angle.) Nevertheless, once again the interaction, the body language and the dialogue, the "fencing" between two parties, is nicely executed and makes one curious about the character of Lani. Good job!

[therealferret]

You need to look at this in the context of the hawaiian culture. Both the name and the hair are important. If it helps, think of them as a race of "elves" in which the name designates "classes" and the "hair length" is a "sign" of "beauty." There you go. Fantasy fiction.

[mermaidbia]

I CAN understand the context of Hawaiian culture, that doesn't mean I have to accept the concept as face value. Your parents might give you a name they consider special, it doesn't MAKE you special, no matter what culture. I'd be much more interested in what Lani's personality is like.

Also, I CAN differentiate literary fiction and fantasy fiction.

Just saying. :)

[wierdauntie]

Just wanted to touch base about your comments

[drippedonpaper]

This makes me want to hug Lani so much.

This whole story makes me want to cry, both at the hard things the girl is dealing with and the sweet tenderness of the therapist.

I like this line best:

We fill the page entirely with purple, pink and red hearts--a brave and crazy declaration of intent.

I like the note of hope the above gives (along with the ending where Lani seems happy) The line I quoted seems to say, Lani may begin to feel/be loved.

This makes me think of my 5 1/2 yr old and it makes me sad a little. She too tries to be perfect. I try to explain to her, you don't have to draw perfect everytime but she is so driven too. I'm trying to...I've wondered if something is bothering her or if there is another way to explain I love her either way and everyone makes mistakes.

Thanks for sharing this story. I really hope things turn(ed?) out for Lani.

[wierdauntie]

It looks good. Thanks for caring.