A thousand times today I've started to open my mouth, started to squeak out, "Can you tell me..? But then I'd look into the front seat, at my mother's silent shaking, my father's grim profile, the mournful bags under his eyes, and all the questions I might ask seemed abusive. Assault and battery, a question mark used like a club. My parents are old and fragile. I'd have to heartless to want to hurt them. . Margaret Peterson Haddix
About This Quote

This is a powerful story of someone who is afraid to speak up for his mother. The thought of hurting his parents, the fear of asking the questions he needed answered, all kept him silent. He finally had to come to terms with that fear and ask for help. He was too afraid to hurt his family but he did not want to hurt them.

Asking for help was the only way for him to be able to tell them what was really going on in their lives. It gave him the power to protect them from further pain.

Source: Double Identity

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