The Deadly Walk

Posted byAbPosted inADHD, adoption, Death, FASD, Parenting, schoolTags:, , , , , ,

Writing helps me process my world. Reading T’s school writing work, I see he might’ve done the same.

As an ice storm descended in our city, I settled into my Friday evening and noticed an artwork that T had created in his school folder.

Upon closer inspection, it was an image of what looked like a church in a quiet field of tombstones and a small boy and his dog going for a walk.

I noticed the staple on the corner and flipped the page. It was a two-page typed story that T had written and I’d like to share it with you.

“The Deadly Walk”

Once upon a time, there was a cemetery. There were lots of tombstones and lots of zombies chasing after me.

I was out for a walk and I came across an old abandoned cemetery. There were lots of vines growing on the gravestones.

It was very dark, cold and scary. I was out all alone walking with my very frightened dog.

All of a sudden I looked behind me and my dog was gone! I was very scared. I saw my puppy dead on the hard ground and I did not know what to do.

That’s when I saw an abandoned funeral home. It looked haunted. I wanted to go in to see what was inside.

So I went inside the funeral home. There were rats and ripped up carpet, the rats were under the carpet and running up the stairs.

I saw some dead bodies on the floor and mice were eating the rotten flesh.

I climbed out of the window of the funeral home. I had to jump over the gate because the gate was locked.

I saw three ghosts following me and I ran as fast as I could and ended up on a dead end stree (sic).

I ran the opposite way out of the dead end street and that’s when I finally lost sight of the ghosts.

I ran into my house and I saw my pet dog flying, he was an angel.

I went upstairs to my room with my angel dog and we had a good night sleep.

In the morning I went for a walk and I saw the cemetery, nothing was scary at all.

It was a perfect walk with my pet dog. It was not a dream. My puppy had a great time.

The End.

I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading it and I’m sitting here in the quiet dark reflecting on how my little guy processes hard things.

T has had recent encounters with death, most recently my mom and a year before that, my sister, whom he saw quickly deteriorate from cancer when she lived with us in her final months.

He talks about them from time to time, in the way a young kid, who is neurodiverse with FASD, would.

My interpretation of his story is a kid who had found cemeteries and funeral homes to be scary places. But he finds peace with them in the end and no longer finds them scary.

We find comfort and our own meanings in creative art and how lovely for me to find them in something T created. 🥰

36 thoughts on “The Deadly Walk”

    1. Thanks Gary. I know his child youth worked helped type for him and likely encouraged him to provide more detail. Nonetheless, yes, I am so so proud. He is a great kid. 💕🥰

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    1. Thanks Serena! He is a very creative kid and it comes across in his play and when he talks. I am sure his child youth worker at school helped encourage him but yes, I am quite proud of how he expressed himself. 🥰

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  6. It’s too bad that T has had to deal with so much grief, sadness and death at such a young age. It’s interesting to hear how he’s processed it through his writing. I guess the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree!

    Hope you didn’t lose power from the ice storm. We heard about it on the news. Currently in Auckland where it’s 21C and sunny!

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    1. Thanks Linda! I’m glad you made it to Auckland. It sounds absolutely wonderful.

      It’s light rain right now and has not been too bad. I hope it stays this way, because guess what, we’re seeing an Aussie legend perform tonight: Kylie Minogue at the ACC! 🥰

      Enjoy your trip and stay safe!

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      2. The weather ended up being ok in the city. Just light drizzle. And the show was amazing!!! She’s only ever toured North American once before, in 2009, and yes, I was there too. 😀

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  7. Wow wow wow, T is amazing! It seems that to even be able to put those words to that scary experience, he has had some very good parenting. He knows it’s okay to talk about, write about, draw out the details because you’ve shown him how. Incredible!!

    Hoping that all the loss you need to process for a very long time! Thanks for sharing this heart-warming example of finding meaning. Wishing you all a great weekend even in an ice storm!

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    1. Thank you, Wynne. I’m glad that he continues to bring it up through his play, our talks, his art and now a written piece of school. I find I’m still processing it and it’s so healthy to externalize rather than internalize. And I feel so grateful for this.

      Hope your part of the world is having more enjoyable weather! 🥰

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  8. I can’t share my thoughts any better than how Jane and Vickie shared theirs. T is truly amazing, Ab. Are you positively sure he’s just ten years old? Thank you so much for inviting us in. Such an example of the power of writing and reflection to process big feelings, losses. In his own way, his own time and place. 💕

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    1. Thanks Vicki. I have no doubt his CYW helped him tease out the details as he worked on this at school. But nonetheless, so proud of him for his imagination and his courage. 🥰

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  10. I agree with Jane; it is such a heartwarming and impressive post. T’s understanding of his fear and coming to terms with his feelings are extraordinary, and your interpretation is spot-on. Thank T for sharing his excellent essay – XOV

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    1. Thanks Vickie! I’m pretty sure his CYW helped encourage him to tease out the details but nonetheless so proud of him for this piece. I was so moved by it reading it last night. 🥰

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    1. Thank you Deb. You said it so well. Life can be complicated but he also is developing the skills to work through them. 🙏 I feel both proud and grateful. 🥰

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  14. OMG, another heartwarming and extremely impressive post, Ab. This writing – and the depth of understanding of his innermost feelings it conveys – is truly remarkable for a 10-year old, any 10-year old at all. You must be very, very proud.

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    1. Thank you Jane. I have no doubt his CYW helped encourage him by teasing out the details. But nonetheless to have these details to tease out just moved me. What an unexpected gift to receive after a long day and week of work. I’m so proud and thankful. 🥰

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