contents - Gallatin School of Individualized Study - New York ...

N.S.Thanksgiving Dayas a family, we always celebrated Thanksgiving together. We may not haveeaten turkey on that day, but we were always together—my husband, mychildren, parents, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces and me. This year was quitedifferent.I am separated from my husband of 18 years. We have been separated forfour months now because of domestic violence over a period of 17 years. I am ina shelter with my teenage children. We cannot leave overnight without gettingapproval from the director.Last Thanksgiving, all morning, my parents and sisters were calling,texting and e-mailing me to find out if we had been approved for an overnight stay.They had prepared the meal and were just waiting for us to be approved. My kidswere corresponding with their cousins as they anxiously waited for the phone toring, hoping the answer would be a positive one.Around noon, the phone rang. Everyone rushed to get it. I managed to gethold of it first.“You’re approved,” the voice on the phone said.I did not have to tell my children. They knew from my reaction that wewere. I called my parents and other family members to let them know we werecoming. The screams were so loud I had to move the phone away from my ears. Mychildren and I took the train, and two and a half hours later we were there.When the door opened, one of my sisters screamed, “Surprise!” She hadnot broken the news to my nieces and nephews, who were indeed surprised tosee we were there. Everyone rushed to the door to greet us. My children were sohappy we were able to stay overnight. There was lots of eating and drinking andwatching football games and videos of the children growing up not so long ago.Being together always brings comfort to my heart. We are looking forward to thenext holiday.Being Together81n.s.N.S. is a native of Guyana and the mother of “two wonderful, well-mannered teenagers.”She received her GED in December 2010, after spending three months studying at theFEGS BEGIN Program with teacher Reginald Thomas. In order to protect herself, she isnot using her name or including a photo.