A Lost Cause

I looked at her -
Shocked, confused...nonplussed really
She was serious
She believed in what she was doing
She told me that school was a waste of time
That she preferred working here,painting kid's faces
She told me she wanted to do it for the rest of her life
She said this calmy - nonchalantly - like she was talking about getting a tattoo
At that moment I envisioned her,30 years from now, sitting on the same chair, holding the same face-paint brushes...
Only older, more serious, empty
With downturned eyes filled with regret
I asked her brother why he allowed her to drop out of school at the age of fourteen
"Why shouldn't I? It's not like she ever listens to me.
She does what she wants."
When I heard this I was dumbfounded
The only thing I could do was ask about the parent's reaction
"They're cool with it."
THEY'RE COOL WITH IT?
I could not believe it!
How can anyone allow their daughter to tread the path of destruction?
The destruction of her future?!
At that moment I thanked God for blessing me with the parents that I've got
I understood then why they were so hard on me
Not because they hate me, but because they want the best for me.