please ignore the broken chair in the corner

They come from dysfunctional homes, where the norm is to hit and swear and shout.  They live for the present, not for the future.  They see their future as being devoid of choice, mapped out already, full of more dysfunction – where the norm is to hit and swear and shout.  Authority is something to be treated with distrust and kindness is something to be wary of.

If they scream loudly enough they know they’ll grab your attention.

But they are just little kids, full of fear, pain and regret.  They have dreams.  They have hopes.  But they never expect these to be fulfilled. 

They’re worthless. 

Sometimes it’s possible to make them aware that actually they can act on their dreams.  We offer them an alternative.  And then they leave us, aged sixteen, and it all goes to pot.

Sometimes.

If they’re lucky, they do succeed and achieve their potential.

And if they’re not?

Well.

These are naughty kids.  This is my job.  And I love it.