Well, I tend to use the computer at home a bit, and every now and then people add me to their list at random. This person wasn't an exception. I ignored the "Hi M8" things and the "ASL?" requests, but no matter what, this annoyance kept on coming back. Sometimes it'd be abusive, sometimes just annoying, but oneday I was bored though, and I decided to accept the challenge of a conversation. The grammar was non-existent, the spelling was horrific, and the phraseology was right out of Charver 101. I usually Like talking to random lasses, but this one was unreal. Stupid and mind-numbingly immature. I fired off the usual 'off the shelf' insults "work at McD's?" etc... and got a reply that I didn't expect. "Not old enough to have a job" oh... alright.. how old was this person? I'd assumed they were about 19... "Fuck off.. why whould I tell you" Because I've just been slamming the hell out of you because of your childishness, but maybe you ARE a child and I should be cutting you some slack!! "Oh... well, I'm 11" Riiiight. In which case I'm sorry for being mean. I had no idea you where that young Needless to say I can't remember everything that happened or how it was said... but I'll do my best. The conversation continued, and we spoke on and off for a few days. I had been wrong. It wasn't a girl either. It was a little lad. He told me he was in the 'web to find some friends or at least someone to talk to, and he asked where I lived. I sent a couple of google links to Swedish picture searches, and he seemed to love the idea of other countries etc. He then said that he wished he could live in another land, but he had to move to London with his mum. "Really? Why are you moving there?" My mum says I have to, or she'll chuck me out on the street "Woah... that's a bit mean. She's probably joking..." No she's not. She hits me, it really hurts. *Humpty stops and takes stock*: An 11 yearold Manchestor kid has confided in me... he's unhappy, in need of mates and claims that his mum is violent towards him. 2 options... he's taking me for a ride... (look out for requests for financial support) or he's serious. No harm in talking to the lad... What could possibly go wrong? "She hits you?" That's not good, why does she do that? I don't know. She said she wishes I was dead, and that I'm ruining her life. Have you told anyone? No, I don't want to. My sister and my mum like each other. Right. Let's get this straight. Your mum hits you, and it makes you unhappy.. and you haven't told anyone? Yeah... Well that's wrong. Your mum is supposed to help you as you grow up, not hit you. You *really* need to tell someone and talk to them about it. Yeah, but who? Teachers. You could try telling them? I'm not good at school, the teachers don't like me That doesn't matter. This is FAR more important than school, and they will know that. They'll help. It doesn't even have to be one of your teachers. Pick someone you like, or one of your friend's teachers and ask if you can talk to them... Tell them everything that you've told me. Are you sure that'll be ok? Yes. Absolutely. That's what teachers are for. Teaching is only a bit of their job, looking after pupils is what it's ALL about. Ok. and I'll be here as usual... ok? yup. ****************************** I heard nothing for a couple of days... then a girl named Haley added me to her list. She started out with "You don't know me but you know my brother." *Oh shit... here we go: Kiddy-fiddling accusations..* "I just wanted to say thankyou. I think you may have saved his life...." It turned out that the day after I took the time to speak with him properly, he'd walked into school, and with a thumping heart, had walked up to his maths teacher - for whom he had some respect - and told him exactly what he'd told me. According to his sister who'd been at home that day, police turned up at her mum's doorstep at midday and took her away. Both she and her brother were now living with their biological dad, and they were both really enjoying it. The night that all this had happened and after social services had spoken to them both, Her little brother then went and sat on her bed and pulled his shirt up - for the first time ever his sister found out that her mum had been beating him. He was covered in bruises - all over his body. He told her about talking t me, and he told her that he's been thinking of killing himself: his classmates had surmised that this was probably his only option anyway. So... she thanked me for being there when he needed someone, and giving good advice in a way that he could identify with it. It was a pretty cool feeling. ************************** Kids might type like shit... They may not embrace correct grammar.. They may really piss you off... They might swear and spit... ...but underneath, some of them are just lost little kids. Don't write them all off.. not yet