Dee Dee and the Mango Tree - 1963 & Today
1963 - Dee Dee is a girl of 10, and more than a little full of mischief. She just loves to run
around the neighborhood, play with the kids, even asking if Mrs. Brown's dog can come out and play.
Growing up in La Belle, she has lots of room and lots of time to run and play. And lots of
neighbors who look out for each other.
The mango tree in Mr. Clark's backyard is full and almost ready for the first picking. Everyone
knows Mr. Clark's mangoes are his pride and joy. After he picks the first few ripe ones of the
year, he shares the rest with the neighbors. After all, it's just him now, since his wife passed
away 3 years ago.
Dee Dee also has a passion for mangoes. In fact, this day she could not resist the low-hanging
fruit, just begging to be picked. And so she did. Mr. Clark saw her through his kitchen window.
"Dee Dee, what are you doing?" Mr. Clark called out. Dee Dee panicked, grabbed the fruit and ran
straight to her own back yard.
Mr. Clark called Dee Dee's mom and told her what happened. "Thank you, Mr. Clark, Dee Dee will
bring that mango back over this minute." After the three of them discussed the incident in full,
it was also decided that Dee Dee would help pick 2 bushels from the tree, as well as weed Mr.
Clark's garden every Saturday for the next month.
Today - Mr. Clark yells at a young girl (who chances are he doesn't even know) that just picked
a mango from his tree. As he dials 911 he watches her jump a fence and run into a nearby house.
As the girl's Mother runs outside to confront this man who made her daughter cry, the police
arrive just in time to take their report of a disturbance that originated from a petty theft.
After the reporting is finished and summonses are issued, one last bit of instruction is given...
"All of you, stay away from one another."
WHAT HAPPENED? Times have changed. Relationships have ceased to exist. It used to be that
neighborhoods worked together to handle community issues. They worked together to raise the
children of their community. They worked together to see that children understood what they
did wrong and that there were consequences to their behaviors.
Many communities are saying, "We want our kids back!" Through Neighborhood Accountability
Boards using Restorative Justice Principles, we are able to do just that.
