Wind Is Only A Spirit

Martin Peters

Description

What do you do when your father dies leaving you with your 19 year old widowed mother who is violent, irresponsible and quick to blame others for her predicaments. This is the story of one boys harrowing odyssey through child abuse, public institutions and inept court systems until he reaches his final resolution. Filled with odd characters and often hilarious with pratfalls of institutionalized upbringing. But in the end there are no heroes and no closure to speak of. Just people caught up in the moment to ease you through another day.

Sujets

• Biography
• Wind
• Autobiography
• Life
• Spirit

Informations

• Publié par: Xlibris US
• Date de parution: 06 mars 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781669868491
• Langue: English

Extrait

Wind Is Only A Spirit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A Novel by
Martin Peters
 
Liner Notes & Illustration
D. Beach
 
Copyright © 2023 by Martin Peters.
 
Library of Congress Control Number:
2023903233
ISBN:
Hardcover
978-1-6698-6848-4
 
Softcover
978-1-6698-6850-7
 
eBook
978-1-6698-6849-1

 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
 
 
 
Rev. date: 06/20/2023
 
 
 
Xlibris
844-714-8691
www.Xlibris.com
850994

 
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
 
 
 
 
 
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE (LENNON-McCARTNEY) 1967
ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY) (O’SULLIVAN) 1972
COCONUT (NILSSON) 1971
DON’T SLEEP IN THE SUBWAY (TRENT-HATCH) 1967
GIMME SOME LOVIN’ (WINWOOD) 1966
IN-A-GADDA-DA-VIDA (INGLE) 1968
IN THE COOL, COOL, COOL OF THE EVENING (CARMICHAEL-MERCER) 1951
I WANNA BE FREE (BOYCE-HART) 1966
SUKIYAKI (EI) 1963
THERE IS A MOUNTAIN (LEITCH) 1967
TOMORROW’S GONNA BE ANOTHER DAY (BOYCE-VENET) 1966
ZIP-A-DEE DOO-DAH (GILBERT-WRUBEL) 1946
SATURDAY MORNING PICTURES STRAY 1972
 
A call was made at the Stearns School and there worker talked with Miss O’Hearn, Vice Principal, who reported that John attended that school for three weeks until it was learned that the mother was a resident of Watertown. Miss O’Hearn stated that the boy could not read a story, that he was a disturbing element in the class, that he moved the chairs in a line to resemble a train and while in the school-yard at recess, he would separate himself from other members of the class.
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OBSERVATIONS —John was a boy who was on the tall and thin side for his age. His person and attire were in need of some attention. There were scratches on his face and hands, his hair was long and unkempt, and he gave the general appearance of having poor home care. He had good motor control and there was no apparent physical defect which would interfere with his performance on the tests. He appeared to be quite tense and confused on entering the testing situation, not knowing where he lived, what grade he was in how old he was. He responded slowly, asked to have questions repeated frequently and lacked social confidence and confidence in his ability to understand verbal concepts. On the Performance Scale he “warmed up” and enjoyed the challenge—making a contest of the subtests, saying, ‘I’ll win this one.” His attention to extraneous stimuli was normal and did not impair his efficiency. A very good degree of rapport was attained.
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3/10/64—(T.J.O’Connor) Today in the District Court at Waltham with Judge Crafts presiding; the mother appeared in answer to a complaint of neglect of her minor child. To this complaint she pleaded not guilty. The child John Paul was arraigned on a petition alleging him to be a child in need of care and protection. Miss Bertha Chapin, the petitioner stated in court that she has known the case since 1961; that the boy John was very near an automobile accident. Miss Chapin stated that the children have been left alone, the parents are separated and she is alleging that the child is not receiving the adequate care that he should have. The court continued the cases to 3/31/64 and placed the child in care and custody of his mother and appointed worker to make the investigation, as required by 1aw.
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There is a definite question of physical abuse on the part of mother towards John Paul. She has been known to twist his arm, to hit him with a broom and the boy repeatedly comes to school with scratches on his face and occasionally a black eye. The school authorities also noted that John Paul repeatedly comes to school without his lunch.
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I am writing to confirm our many telephone calls regarding the above named child whom we feel shows signs of physical and emotional neglect.
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John has been absent nine days this school year (five in September, four in November). He has been tardy (wandering in around 10:30) eight tines. Most days he arrives looking battered with many fresh scratches on his face and neck. He has a bedraggled appearance, and at times is inadequately clothed (no underwear). Often he appears extremely tired and has said he gets to bed after one o’clock am.. (on nights mother 1eaves him at his grandmother’s home while she works). He has arrived on sevea1 occasions having had no breakfast
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In May l964, John weighed. 57 1/2 pounds, on October 10, 55 pounds, and on November 11, 54 3/4 pounds. Lately he has been excessively thirsty and, because of father’s history of kidney failure, we feel this should be explored further.
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We feel that John is an extremely appealing and most responsive child. It is our hope that foster home placement can be arranged until such time as his mother can be motivated to make an adequate home for him.
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I shall anticipate hearing from you regarding your planning in this situation.
 
“I made the following observation: “John has been a troublesome and trying boy since he arrived in my class. Is constantly disturbing the class and me with his actions and mutterings. He is defiant, arrogant, aggressive and has no idea of obedience. I find that John neither takes home notes or any messages given to the class. When he is spoken to he never looks at the speaker and only mutters indistinctly any answers to questions put to him. He is quite apt to shrug his shoulders instead of replying. He just can’t keep his hands to himself and is quarrelsome with the children. The attendance of this boy is very poor. Frequent absences and late arrivals at school, anywhere from five minutes to one hour late. As John has not been able to settle down and concentrate, he has made no progress in his work. Nothing seems to bother him and he appears not to care.”
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He stated the mother said John was a bad boy, and that he was emotionally unstable and the Dr. feels that the boy is emotional]y unstable but not psychotic He stated that when he saw John that John appeared timid, but he was well dressed. Miss Caldbeck reported that the boy recently had a scar on his head and scratches on his face, and that he has appeared in school without breakfast. Miss Caldbeck also commented that a report had been made that John had exposed himself in a taxi cab, being taken home from school. It is her opinion that the boy is doing nothing in school and instead of progressing he is regressing.
10/l9-mo-lO/21/65
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The School Principal, of the Plymton School, reported that the boy was tardy many times and that because he was in need of special care was placed in the class for emotionally disturbed children. Miss Nuzzing stated that she saw bruises on the boy and of her own knowledge she knows that the boy came to school without breakfast or lunch. Within the last week or so the boy had a serious cut on the back of his head. The examining doctor suggested that he get medical attention and have stitches taken. John stated that he had fallen downstairs.
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1-16-67 (T.J.O’Connor) Information was received that the child John was transported from the Plymton School, Waltham, to the Waltham Hospital. The child had appeared in school with abrasions on two areas of his head. The child was examined by Dr. Malcolm, who ordered xrays. Worker went to the hospital and was told by Dr. Malcolm that the xrays were negative and that he was not certain that the injuries received were a result of being struck on the head by a person. He stated the boy told him that he had slipped on the ice.
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Worker visited John on l2/19/67 he appeared frightful and withdrawn; Physically he was extremely pale and thin. John spoke quietly with worker he stated that he did not like school because he was picked up in a bus which had a sign saying “Handicap Children”. He admitted that he constantly misbehaves. John understands that he is living at Nickerson Home because he is a behavior problem.
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Reason for Referral
It is the feeling of people who have worked with John that he is a seriously disturbed child who is unable to cope with the demands of family life. He has apparently never adjusted well in a home setting and made most progress while in Nickerson Home.
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