Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story Page #3

---

That goes for you, too, Curtis.

God will not abandon you.

excuse me.

I need to talk to someone.

I have a darkness I can't control.

Come with me, ma'am.

Let's see if we can help you. All right?

I've spent my childhood in foster care.

When my husband, Mr. Carson, marred me,

he was my ticket out of there.

-How old were you?

-13.

We were happy.

We had a lovely home, 2 beautiful boys.

Then what?

I don't like to talk about it.

He had another wife and kids.

When I found out, my life fell apart.

When was this, Mrs. Carson?

But I couldn't leave my husband

'cause my boys needed their daddy

and I didn't know

how I'd make it on my own.

-Are you still together?

-No.

I found out he was dealing drugs,

so me and the boys moved to Boston.

-I've got a sister there.

-Why'd you come back to Detroit?

I got the house in the divorce, and I kept it.

I rent it out for income,

but I've been saving money in a cookie jar,

and me and my boys

are gonna move back in.

-How do you support yourself?

-I clean houses, and I baby-sit.

That's about all I can do.

Nobody knows this.

I'm so dumb, I can't even read.

And I fear my boys

are gonna turn out the same way.

And nothing's gonna work out.

I try to fight these feelings.

I don't show them to Bennie and Curtis.

But, lately, I can't stop them.

I even think about killing myself.

Mrs. Carson, what would you say

to checking yourself in with us?

-No.

-Just for a little while.

-I can't afford to do anything like...

-Don't think about the money.

We'll find the money.

Boys, I'm gonna be going away

for a little while.

What? What do you mean?

-Where?

-Just for a few weeks.

I'm going back to Boston

to see your aunt Jean Avery.

-Can't we come with you?

-No.

You got school. You got homework.

-So, you're just gonna leave us alone?

-Of course not.

Sister Scott is gonna come

and stay with you.

In the meantime,

I want you boys to do me a favor.

I want you both to learn

your times tables while I'm gone.

-What?

-No way!

You can do it.

Do you know how many there are?

-That could take a year.

-Won't take my boys a year. You're smart.

Not that smart. Nobody can memorize them.

I did, and I just went to the third grade.

-But it's hard work.

-Well,

hard work ain't never hurt nobody.

Besides, you ain't going outside to play

till you learn them tables.

Wait. Mother, please, no.

Come on, that's not far.

Come on, Mother.

You're the meanest mom in the world.

-5 times 4.

-30.

-No.

-31?

This isn't a guessing game, Bennie.

Bennie, listen to your brother.

-Here you are, Mrs. Philiman.

-Thank you.

-Mildred?

-No.

-Kathy?

-22.

-Mark?

-25 out of 25.

excellent.

Rate this script:3.7 / 3 votes