I chose to rewrite the major event in the first chapter from Trevor's mom's perspective as a poem. Trevor writes his memoir as kind of a love letter to his mom. He always sees her as strong, powerful, and independent, which she certainly is. However, I wanted to think about how she felt as she was in this life or death situation with her sons, how scary it must have been, how she worried afterward about her children's well-being. The poem ends a humorous quote from the book showing how humor saved both Trevor and his mom at times.
It was an accident
A mistake
You were half asleep
But I needed you awake
You see we were going to church
And my car broke
And we were running so late
And finally, we got picked up by a bus
But this driver isn’t so great
And now I’m worried because he seems pretty irate
And he’s saying things that would make anyone mad
But
You see I have a tendency to defy
Any rule that doesn’t make sense
Or is oppressive
Or is wrong
And it’s okay when it’s just me
But I worry about it when you tag along
You see I mouthed off to the driver.
Perhaps a foolish thing to do
But I am a strong woman!
An independent woman!
A powerful woman!
And I always want to show that to you.
So, when he called me nasty names
I HAD to fight back.
But now the driver isn’t stopping, and we are moving way too fast.
I don’t want you to panic, even though I am inside,
So, I try to kindly, sweetly, desperately apologize.
It makes
No
Difference
Where we are going
I can’t think about right now
I got you
I got Andrew
And I got to get us out
I whisper
Firmly, “Trevor, you’re going to have to jump.”
But before I can confirm you heard
The bus is slowing to a stop
Ipushyouout and wrapmybodyaroundyourbrother and JUMP and I scream with all I have
“RUN”
And we do
You run so fast
You Maryvale College Sports Day Champion
I don’t look back
I’m too scared what I’ll see
I focus on you
And my baby
And at last we are panting
But slowing to a stop
Your arms are bleeding
So am I
But we are safe and alive
My mind starts to worry about all I constantly put you through
We are never safe because of our home
My husband is not good for anyone, especially me
How will you grow up alright? Who could you ever be?
Our stories are covered with poverty and racism and abandonment and --
I notice you were saying something
“Look mom,
I know you love Jesus,
But maybe next week you could ask him to meet us at our house.
Because
This
Really wasn’t a fun night.”
And I thank the heavens
As I start to laugh
Because I know, somehow, you will be alright.
A mistake
You were half asleep
But I needed you awake
You see we were going to church
And my car broke
And we were running so late
And finally, we got picked up by a bus
But this driver isn’t so great
And now I’m worried because he seems pretty irate
And he’s saying things that would make anyone mad
But
You see I have a tendency to defy
Any rule that doesn’t make sense
Or is oppressive
Or is wrong
And it’s okay when it’s just me
But I worry about it when you tag along
You see I mouthed off to the driver.
Perhaps a foolish thing to do
But I am a strong woman!
An independent woman!
A powerful woman!
And I always want to show that to you.
So, when he called me nasty names
I HAD to fight back.
But now the driver isn’t stopping, and we are moving way too fast.
I don’t want you to panic, even though I am inside,
So, I try to kindly, sweetly, desperately apologize.
It makes
No
Difference
Where we are going
I can’t think about right now
I got you
I got Andrew
And I got to get us out
I whisper
Firmly, “Trevor, you’re going to have to jump.”
But before I can confirm you heard
The bus is slowing to a stop
Ipushyouout and wrapmybodyaroundyourbrother and JUMP and I scream with all I have
“RUN”
And we do
You run so fast
You Maryvale College Sports Day Champion
I don’t look back
I’m too scared what I’ll see
I focus on you
And my baby
And at last we are panting
But slowing to a stop
Your arms are bleeding
So am I
But we are safe and alive
My mind starts to worry about all I constantly put you through
We are never safe because of our home
My husband is not good for anyone, especially me
How will you grow up alright? Who could you ever be?
Our stories are covered with poverty and racism and abandonment and --
I notice you were saying something
“Look mom,
I know you love Jesus,
But maybe next week you could ask him to meet us at our house.
Because
This
Really wasn’t a fun night.”
And I thank the heavens
As I start to laugh
Because I know, somehow, you will be alright.