A Child Called "IT"
Briar Rose
Setting: David's home and the local hospital
Becca stopped in her tracks when she hear the wicked scream of an angered woman. She had been out for her daily walk. When the cry came from the house across the street. She immediately ran to the house to hear a child crying. She ran in the front door and found little David Pelzer being beaten by his mother. Becca immediately intervened and pulled David away from his mother. He was bleed profusely and was unconscious. Becca called the police and then returned her attention to David who was now regaining consciousness. When the police and EMTs to the scene Becca explained her what she had seen then she hopped into the back of the ambulance to get a ride to the hospital to make sure David would be alright. At the hospital Becca found out David would be okay although he would need many stitches to fix the laceration on his head. Becca went into the room where David was and asked him what his name was.
David spat out,”David Pelzer, who are you?”
“I'm Rebecca Berlin, the one who stopped you mother from attacking you”, replied Rebecca.
“I was alright” David said.
“It wasn't even as bad as normal.”
“You mean your mother always beats you?”, asked Rebecca in shock.
“Yes, almost everyday.” said David who was now looking out window at some birds in a tree.
“That's awful. Why would she do such a thing?” asked Rebecca disgusted by David's mother.
“I don't know. She's always beaten me, ever since I was little.” said David in a saddening tone.
Becca continued to ask David about his mother and learned that the beating got even worse after his father had left them. Becca then told the doctors what David told her.
“That's just terrible” said one of the nurses while standing outside of David's room.
“I know and he told me it's been going on for almost as long as he can remember.”Said Becca.
Becca returned to David's room to talk to him some more. This time she told David about herself. How her grandmother was a survivor of the Holocaust. And how she went to Poland and Chelmno death camp to learn about her grandmother. David seemed very interested in Becca's stories because every time Becca would pause David's eyes would show disappointment like Becca was done talking to him.
It was now very late in the afternoon, nearly 7:00 PM. Becca told David she had to go home but she would check up on him in the morning.
“And you promise to come back at 9:00 tomorrow right?” asked David.
Becca could see his excitement in his eyes. She had to come back the next day to see him for a little bit. So Becca said good-bye and she got a ride home with Stan. On her way home she told Stan about David and was surprised to find herself nearly in tears by the end of the story. Stan calmed her and dropped her off outside of her house.
“Do you think I could come with you to the hospital tomorrow Becca?” asked Stan.
“I'd like to see how David is doing”
“Sure come by for 8:30 so we can see him” said Becca.
She turned from the car and walked into her house.
The next morning Becca and Stan went to the hospital to see David who was released to his father later that past night.
“I guess I'll never get to meet him” said Stan.
“At least he told em his father was a good man” said Becca.
Becca was sad not to have seen David again but inside she knew it was better for him to be with his father then to be cooped up in a hospital all day. Becca never did see David again but she knew that he was safe and happy with his father.
Word Count:662
