One question is , “When do kids know the difference between right and wrong?” Then we discuss ages of responsibility, like age 3, age 7 or age 13. Then there are different types of crimes, like stealing, or MURDER. “Are kids MORE RESPONSIBLE earlier, when the crime is worse?
The answer is that each kid, like each adult is different. Kids mature at different rates, and some grow up quicker.
The real question is ‘When should children have a penalty for doing things society says are wrong?”
Little Suzy had an evil stepmother. Evil is such a judgemental word, really some adults should not be around little girls or boys. Some men and women marry someone with a child, having in mind just how they may rid themselves of the child. Of course they launch such plans after they think they are planted in the new relationship solidly. After bedtime she discussed sending Suzy off to boarding school, of course kids hear as well as anyone. Little ears work just fine. The repeated line was, “The girl is willful, and won’t pick up after herself. At St. Angus School they teach young ladies to dress properly and be polite.”
Blanch the step-mom had swatted her with a belt. It was because Suzi wouldn’t make up her bed.
A few days later Suzi saw her stepmother at the top of the stairs, getting ready to start down. She threw her whole weight against stepmom’s lower legs, as stepmom turned and fell backwards on her head. Suzi grabbed the banister. Blanch fell all the way to the bottom, to the first step, where her neck popped like a firecracker.
Suzi was only seven when Blanch died in the fall.
The police wondered why it took 6 hours after the fall for Suzi to call her father and say, “Daddy Mil is on the floor and won’t get up!”
Later in high school Suzi learned there were never perfect crimes.
Written by Ray Cates rcates2@cox.net fax comments to: 1-352-629-1573
One short story with links to other stories is at: http://unsightlyteeth.wordpress.com
