Bless her heart

I keep telling myself I can’t save everybody

When I scolded her eight year old cousin for preparing to eat a pile of Oreo cookies without permission

she cut her 17 year old eyes downward as if she wasn’t going to get involved

When I returned a few minutes later, he had consumed them all

I asked her why she hadn’t intervened

Well, he told me you said it was ok earlier

I looked at her. Did it sound like I was ok with him eating the stack of cookies?

Well, I didn’t know who was telling the truth

I looked at her for a few minutes

Well, you can’t tell me adults don’t lie

Regardless of whether I was or was not lying, you knew my disapproval

What am I supposed to do? Am I supposed to take care of him?

I know she was pushing me. I know she was jealous of her cousin getting to move in with me while she is homeless. I know she was playing manipulative games she learned from her mother many years ago before her mother was sent to prison. And yet, I know she secretly longs to find a home with me, too.

Bless her heart.

I keep telling myself I can’t save everybody