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HSBBWeb Old Timer
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piaa_ump: The one thing that I believe in SO STRONGLY is the idea of divine providence. Yes, you were put where you were supposed to be, and yes, OF COURSE you did the right thing in reporting it, and yes, you are supposed to remind us of this boy, who represents so many, every year. Thank you. I wasn't around last year, so I would not have known about it. It takes courage to report abuse. You are an angel and a hero, like CD said. May I remind us all that child abuse, taking many forms, is all around us. We just have to listen and look, and be attuned to our little voices that say, "This doesn't seem right." Last year, in my "calling" as a substitute teacher in a junior high school, I overheard a 12 year old girl telling some girls about her uncle "abusing" her. Red flag...I notified the school social worker who talked to her and her friends, and then she made the call to the authorities. I had to speak to the police and possibly testify....was it awkward? Yes. Was it the right thing to do? Absolutely. Will I do it again? I hope I never have to, but of course I will. We must. Sadly, child abuse is everywhere. In every community. We must do everything we can to stop it. This should go to the Golden Threads forum, but piaa_ump, please write it each year. All of them should go to the Golden Threads forum. Because children are "golden threads," weaving in and out of our lives...
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Every day is "Anything Can Happen Day!"
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| Posts: 1844 | Location: Cook County | Registered: June 07, 2005 | |
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HSBBWeb Old Timer
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KmomNH: Oh my God, I am so sorry for your loss. It is unspeakable. She is an angel... Thank you for reminding us of how precious life is ...and what monsters some people can be. That, too, is a lesson. Peace and blessings to you.
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Every day is "Anything Can Happen Day!"
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| Posts: 1844 | Location: Cook County | Registered: June 07, 2005 | |
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HSBBWeb Old Timer
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If there is anything good to pass on from this thread...think it is that more and more...... it is a requirement to report abuse rather than an option, especially for occupations dealing with children and failure to do so....is punishable by law. Would not be needed if all people followed piaa_ump's actions, but unfortunately, for many reasons....people do not.... Worked in an elementary school in a low income area.....high drug/alcohol usage......and as probably other posters in similar work situations can verify.....you come to know the CPS caseworkers.....and it is never easy to see......and there is no understanding of it.....can just say.....if you suspect....report.
"A house stays in one place. A home is where the heart leads........"
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| Posts: 1571 | Location: NorthCarolina | Registered: June 16, 2004 | |
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Member
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In a perfect world everyone would make that call. Unfortunately, at a personal level, its more of a "dont get involved" world. all the best........to you blue
HaverDad/Brussels
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| Posts: 395 | Location: Brussels, Belgium | Registered: September 20, 2005 | |
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HSBBWeb Old Timer
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PIAA~~Praise God, you made the call. Being an educator, I am faced with this situation more often then one can imagine. Everyone can learn from your experience by making the call. Thank you for being insightful and responsible!
"Do what is right, no matter the circumstance."
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| Posts: 1397 | Location: South Denton Co., Texas | Registered: January 12, 2006 | |
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Member
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PIAA-ump...
I too stand and applaud your action. You give yourself too little credit for stepping into the breech on behalf of this child. Far too many of us would have noticed the problem and rationalized it away, forever afterwards minimizing the event in an effort to push away our own demons.
You are haunted by this event. Who wouldn't be. But how much worse would be the effect had you opted to ignore one young boy's plight. Your action sets a great example for others, whether or not we choose to recognize and follow it. As for your detractors, I am convinced that all people who dare to make a difference in this world will be ridiculed. How sad and small.
I, too, am one who places no stock in coincidence. You were the right man, at the right time, by devine design. I believe each of us is called to make a difference in this world, to greater or lesser degrees. You, sir, hold my undying respect and admiration.
Please don't stop telling this story as it may inspire someone else to care enough to intervene on behalf of a child in trouble.
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| Posts: 377 | Location: LaLa Land | Registered: March 24, 2005 | |
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HSBBWeb Old Timer
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We may have disrupted the pattern here a bit by placing this thread in the Golden Threads forum. Here is a bump on this one: by piaa_ump: quote: After a long winter it is a day I always look forward to. It's opening day for me. For those of you who have been here over the years, you know it is also a time when I reflect on one young player and the darkest day of my baseball life
It’s a day I review over and over in my mind. It’s a day that, in fact, I should not have been there, but I now believe that divine providence placed me in the moment.
By my reckoning he would be in college now.... I will never forget him.....and I write this to
keep his memory alive for me.
I umpired his game on a storybook beautiful day. It was Blue sky, sunshine and baseball. I know he was nine or ten years old. My memory of him is not all that clear until he came to bat.
I saw the pitch that came hard at him, I cringed knowing he was going to be hit.... and I watched him crumple when the ball hit him square in the body. He went down and the tears flowed.....
I bent to help him, and try to comfort him. His coach and I lifted his shirt to see the mark the ball made......and I saw it..., it was already red...and angry looking.......but when lifting the shirt, I saw the other marks....... the angry purple bruises that only fists and adult hands can make....too many to be accidental.....
He tugged his shirt down and got up....He said he was fine... He took a moment to dry his tears and kid like ran off to first....The game, of course, was more important than his getting hurt...
I was the one who called the police....
I'll never regret that.
His coach bought the hotdogs after the game, more to delay the departure of the team, while I called the police.....I heard later he was taken out of the home and his parental abuser was charged. I heard he moved to live with relatives.....
I never saw him again......But I do see him every year, in every young mans face.
I look for him in the crowds of ballplayers that I get the privilege to protect every season.
I wonder so much about this boy. How could anyone do that to a child. On TV now there are ads for reporting child abuse....and the reason most don’t is "how can I be sure?". I can tell you that I was, that day, and remain today, 100% totally sure. The evidence of the beatings that boy was taking left me no grey area....
I wonder if baseball was his refuge from the monster. I wonder if he is ok. I wonder if he ever knew how much he has affected my life and my relationship with my son and with the boys I umpire. I wonder if the coach and I will ever be able to meet and not talk about that day......so far its the first thing we mention when we meet after a long off season. I wonder how many others are out there. I wonder if he is happy.
I wasn’t supposed to be there that day........I was a HS umpire and usually did not do "Kid ball".........but my assignor needed a favor......could I do this one game for him?. I was put there for a reason...... I know I have said this in the past.....but to me burdens shared are burdens lifted. And I thank all of you for allowing it into your lives.
I am haunted by this experience.....but wouldn’t change it. Writing this every year gives me some relief from the anger, tears, sorrow and guilt that I feel. After thinking on this for the past week or so, I had come to the conclusion that I was not going to post this year. I want to let this go. But it’s in the writing that I get the release, so please bear with me. I tell you that there is something very therapeutic in writing this each year. I feel responsible to keep the memory alive, not that I could ever forget it. It does help me
I chose to write it here because of the people who are here, knowing that you will get it.....knowing that you will understand.... There is so much of this story that is left untold, and most of it is hard gritty stuff. From the calling of the police, to the making statements, to the accusations and the reactions people had that quite frankly, I have suppressed because they are just that horrible.
When you make accusations against someone, you become the bad guy. I was clear, I had the evidence in plain view, and everyone who viewed it, then agreed. But the hour after the game was the toughest hour....But Id do it all over again……..
You must know that there are people, (who did not see the bruises) who still think I had no right to do what I did.
I never saw him again......But I do see him every year, in every young mans face.
I’m free of this for another year.
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| Posts: 4895 | Location: Cleveland, Ohio | Registered: December 22, 2004 | |
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HSBBWeb Old Timer
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How can one read this and not be moved to tears. PIAA, when it is your turn at the pearly gates, the crowd will part and our good Lord will say: nice call my Son. I, like all of us, just can’t understand evil, but it is out there. I pray that the boy isn’t horribly affected in life by what happened but is encouraged by you as a role model. God Bless You Sir
To our military men, women and families - You are all awesome - that flag is yours and I thank you for the opportunity for giving me the honor of removing my cap prior to every baseball game I see.
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| Posts: 1041 | Location: Lanta | Registered: February 21, 2005 | |
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