By Russell Valentini

You said, "this is my daughter's last day at this school"
Your little girl listened with a tear in her eye
When the secretary asked "where are you going?"
You took a deep breath to not break down and cry.

Then the secretary asked for your address
The new place you were going to stay
She said they would forward her report card
You just mumbled "we're going away."

For a sign now hangs where you used to live
Saying you're not welcome there no more
You still have your keys, but can't get in
there's a padlock on the door.

Your daughter wonders when she'll go to school again
You wonder where you'll both sleep tonight
Your daughter wonders if she'll make a new friend
As you pray that you'll both be alright.

So how does this story come to an end
Things don't always turn out right, you know
I can say all will be well, for it's nice to pretend
But the truth is they have no place to go.

Russell "Rooster" Valentini is an educational liason and advocate for the Allentown School District, Allentown, Pennsylvania.