Tessa

My name is Tessa and I am the shortest girl in my class. When I grow up I want to be a doctor so I can fix sick people. Last week my other front tooth fell out and I got $2 for it because it was really big.

I started coming to ACT for Kids with mum after the police took my dad away. I didn't like it here at first but now I do because the people are nice and we can play games. The counsellor talks with me about why Dad is not living with us anymore and how it was wrong of him to hurt me. I used to cry when I talked about it but I don't cry anymore.

We hated it when Dad used to drink too much. We would be scared that he would get angry. Sometimes if I couldn't eat all my dinner he would yell at me and squeeze my arm until I cried. If Mum tried to stop him he would hurt her too. When Mum and Dad would fight I would run into my room and hide under my bed.

I wish Dad still lived with us but sometimes I am happy that it's just me and Mum now. I go to visit him after school sometimes with the counsellors and I know he is sorry for being mean to me but I'm still a little bit scared of him. The last time I went to his house he looked sad, so I showed him how I can stick my tongue through the gap in my teeth and he laughed. It was really funny!

My mum likes seeing the people at ACT for Kids. I didn't like it when Mum would cry all the time but no one hurts us anymore. One day I am going to be a doctor so I can help people, just like my counsellors.

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