Chapter+11

Chapter 11 The following afternoon Martin and I took the bus to this center. I wanted it to be a surprise of where we were going. We walked in and it was just as I had hoped. There were adults and children there of every size, shape and color. They all had one thing in common; they had lost someone on 9/11. This afternoon they were preparing food for a nearby **soup kitchen.** Despite the tragedy they faced, they were still helping someone who has been affected by another problem in this world. Martin was in shock. He never had the opportunity to meet or talk with others about what he went through. He never really knew how many other people faced the same problem as him. Everyone was different, but they shared a common bond. Martin started going to the center two times a week after we went. He met lots of other kids that were very different from him, but could talk about 9/11 together. Martin even started getting back into his art work. He had forgotten about after his dad died. His dad always encouraged him to practice drawing and painting. Now he had the chance to bring that back into his life and with a purpose. He started expressing his feelings through artwork. As he began helping others through volunteering or guiding younger kids, his behavior in school changed a lot. He had a better attitude toward school and his teachers. His family was so proud of him and wished he had found this program much earlier. 