In Vancouver’s Downtown East Side
a teenager wandered, her name was Jade
She was new to the city and new to the street
Jade was hungry and had no place to stay
With a smile
she asked people if they knew of places
Most ignored her,
two attacked her
Beaten and brutally violated,
Jade was left
on the street
surrounded by trash
A woman drove up, her name was Linda
She saw Jade and knew she should help her
It was her duty as a feminist and fellow woman
But she couldn’t
it would soil her clothes,
she’d be late for work
No, her first duty was to her career and herself
She drove on and
Jade was left
on the street
surrounded by trash
Linda was an executive in a major corporation
A woman drove by, her name was Gerri
she saw Jade and knew she should help her
It was her duty as a doctor and fellow woman
But she couldn’t
She could be attacked
or infected with disease
No, her first duty was to her safety and herself
She drove on and
Jade was left
on the street
surrounded by trash
Gerri was the medical director of Planned Parenthood
A woman drove by, her name was Terese
she saw Jade and helped her into her car
She took Jade to the hospital and bought her new clothes
She bought Jade a meal
then took her to a safe place to rest
She visited Jade later with important referrals so
Jade was helped
to get off the street
away from the trash
Terese was an Evangelical Christian
About the author
Catherine Somerton lives in Eastern Ontario, Canada. She loves traveling and has done ministry work in various parts of Canada and the United States. Catherine’s first published work will appear in the November edition of Ariel Chart and she is presently working on a book for middleschoolers .
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