Dear Friends of Harmony House:
Since Harmony House began providing services many, many children have come through our doors. The following is one child’s story that I put together after meeting with and forensic interviewing the child. I have changed information to protect the child’s confidentiality and to preserve the integrity of the interview process. I believe this story will give you an inside glimpse into the child’s world and the services Harmony House provides.
Mary’s Secret
The mother and her child come through the door
The child glances around the room
Apprehension slowly melts into a smile
This place called Harmony House doesn’t look so bad
Look, there’s a dollhouse and books and stuffed animals
There are little chairs and a table to color on
For a few minutes, the innocence of childhood returns
Can I play with the dolls? Do you want me to draw you a picture?
Hey, lady, I’m thirsty. I have to go to the bathroom.
Conversation and laughter fill Harmony House’s waiting room.
For a while the ugliness of child abuse is forgotten.
Soon it is time for the little girl to tell her story.
She whirls into Harmony House’s interview room
A compacted ball of energy and charm
And her name is Mary
With a grin that consumes her face
She lets me know she is six years old
And just in case I didn’t get it
She loudly counts one- two- three- four- five- six
We talk about school and what her teacher looks like
We talk about her mommy and her baby brother
She bakes cookies with mommy
And her baby brother wets his pants
Then we talk about her daddy
Mary wants to tell me about special time
It’s her special time with her daddy
Mary tells her story innocently
Even though as her words unfold
I see a little child named Mary and innocence lost
Her vivid, detailed descriptions conjure pictures
Pictures I struggle to avoid
Glimpses into a world no child should have to enter
She tells me those things that feel good
And then with a scrunch of her face
She tells me what she doesn’t like
In her world it is either feels good or doesn’t feel good
It isn’t a matter of right or wrong
She doesn’t know what child sexual abuse is
She doesn’t know what her daddy does is wrong
It is just her story
Daddy’s secret time with Mary
It is all she knows
I ask Mary if this happens one time, two times, more or something else
She says it happens lots and lots and lots of times
I struggle to remain composed
As I continue with the interview
I ask her if daddy says anything to her
She answers by turning towards me
Putting her index finger to her lips
Mary whispers “Shhhhhhhhh. Don’t tell”
I ask her if daddy says anything else
“Sometimes”, she says, “daddy says Mary, I love you”
Leslie Vassilaros 2004
Untitled document
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