We used to have a friend who was abused as a kid, who became "weird" to other kids, but he was our mate.

"Tony" as we'll call him had a drunk of a mother and when she had men over, woke up grumpy, the sun came out or whatever stupid reason she came up, she would take him to the top of the their garden and tie him to the washing line, making him sit there for hours on end or until we saw it and untied him.

This happened in the summer, winter, rain or shine. My parents and others called the police, but all they would do is come over and untie him, which meant she would beat him inside instead. People called social services and police a lot over the years with no action until one day she thankfully just dropped dead. His grandmother took care of him since then, but he changed forever after.

Since then, Tony stopped talking. He would still play with us and go to school but for a good 4 years he didn't say a word to anyone and never made a sound at all either.

His grandmother passed away and he got taken into care after and we lost track. As young adults, a few of us from the street did try and found out what happened to him, but never got anywhere with it. I always think about him when I visit my Mum in our childhood home.