The Impact

I have a few memories of my childhood, when I was a little girl, there were some fun times with my friends in school, nice episodes when my family and I were going out to dinner in fancy restaurants. Those were times, that I kept in mind and every now and then, I will bring them back in a conversation or just during a personal moment. And I will enjoy it very much.

But there is one story in the period from when I was 6 years old to the time I reached twelve years old, that was a lasting flash, the kind of time frame in someone's life that you think you are merely the spectator, kind of a witness. But, because of that lapse of time in my childhood, something had been operating in me and influencing not only my actions as a person but directing my inclinations in volunteering, in finding the jobs I had through the years. Really, it has been one of the major reasons for my reactions in face of every incident that happened in my life.

I believe, that this period of time in my life, has been responsible for my sense of right and wrong, for my personal relationships, for the subjects I chose to study in school, for the training that I am attracted to, for even my choice of career. In a nutshell, this story gave a course to the life I lived and I am living now.

I invite you to read about the saga of a wonderful, sweet, young woman. Her name was Denise. 

It was in the 1960s. Denise was highly recommended to my mother by one of her friends as the best "press-woman" in the neighborhood. With this recommendation, my mom hired her to work on our laundry and to press our clothes three times a week for our ten-member household. 

In my house, Denise gained very quickly everybody's affection, not only because we all depended on her work to look our best on every occasion: school clothes, work clothes, party clothes, you name it! But she was a sweetheart to all of us.

Denise always had a smile on her face and a perfect finish for our outfits. I hang out a lot in her area of work, and could not help to notice that in spite of her smiles, her eyes always had a certain sadness that touched me even at such a young age. 

Denise was married to the man that everybody called the "lottery man". I have seen him around a few times because my mom used to buy the lottery from him. I also heard him yelling and singing: "This time it is the big one, get your ticket for the chance of your lifetime" Same record over and over again. My dog Spooky and I never liked that man, even before we got to know Denise. 

The word in the streets was that the lottery man gave his wife a regular beating inside and outside of their home. Screams and supplications were coming from their house on such frequency that neighbors were surprised when there were silence. 

Denise always wore long sleeves dresses and had her head covered. Considering that she was using a hot iron the whole time she was doing her work, I used to tell her: "Denise, it is too hot for that type of clothing". And in spite of the fact that we lived in a perpetual summer in Haiti where the majority of people, dress very lightly. But she just smiles and keeps on doing her work.

No one seemed to want to say anything to the husband, "None of their business" they said, "It is between a husband and wife" they'll add. But everybody agreed that: "He will kill her someday".

Indeed he did, the big silence came after a horrific night. Denise laid there on her back porch, possibly trying to escape. They said that she was face down in a pool of blood after receiving a blow to the head, courtesy of the lottery man.

Our house felt the loss in more than one way. We all cried for her loss and for the way she died. I think I cried the most. I cried with anger against the murderer, anger against everybody who watched and did nothing, anger even at myself not exactly knowing why. Also, I felt a strong sense of helplessness.

Years after this tragedy, I helped thousands of victims, children, and adults. My main work satisfaction has been helping many "Denise(s)" and watching some of them transformed their lives and witness those sad eyes gradually getting a certain shine.

We all have people who impacted our lives in a way that nor they nor we would have never ever imagined. Denise was my impact!