After School
One afternoon at Rachel’s Home classes had been let out for the day, and I found myself surrounded by children. We were seated in a circle sharing stories. The children asked me about my family. I described my home and family, and showed pictures of my family I had brought with me.
The children carefully passed the pictures around the circle, while asking questions about the members of my family, and cheering when they found my face in a photo, shouting, “There’s you!” When my family’s Christmas photo reached Thuso, a clever, 7 year old boy he asked, “Your father is not dead?” I answered, “No, my father is not dead.” Thuso looked confused and shocked.
I realized every child sitting in the circle had lost their father, I was the minority in the group; I had a father.