Word: shawto
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...Shawto (pronounced De-Shawn-toe), 28, and his wife knew it would be a while before they could afford the sort of professional photos of Debraysha that they had got for their two older children, Moriah, 10, and De-Shawto Jr., 8, when they were babies. The Cochrans have been homeless since August, and money's tight for a family that lacks a place to call home...
...Cochrans are the working poor on a losing streak. Until October, De-Shawto had a job at the Wal-Mart deli counter; Phenom drove a pizza-delivery van until her pregnancy made her too sick to continue. Now a few days a week, De-Shawto gets up before dawn at their temporary home at the Barbara Bonner Family Shelter and heads off to work prepping cars to be sold at a local auto-auction facility. He's lucky to take home...
Phenom and De-Shawto are young parents with a long history. The Columbus natives have known each other since middle school, they went on their first movie date together (a comedy about upward mobility called Livin' Large) at 15, and both dropped out of school in the 11th grade, a move they regret deeply. They say they still plan to get their GEDs, or high school--equivalence certificates. And they share a similar dream for their children. "I want to see them go to their proms and graduate," says Phenom. "I want them to succeed at things we didn...
Moriah's and Little D's teachers proclaim that the kids are fitting in well at the school they love. "De-Shawto's a very nice boy with good writing skills," says second-grade teacher Beth Smith. "He's right on the mark with spelling, and his math is good." Fourth-grade teacher Amanda Beck (who did not know Moriah was homeless until a reporter asked for an interview) also gives a glowing report: "She has a great work ethic and is an excellent kid. She's a tiny bit behind in some areas. But I expect her to catch...
...parents feel the stigma more poignantly. "The place is comfortable," says Phenom. "But I really wish I didn't have to be here." At times the Cochrans betray a subtle self-consciousness about their homelessness. "There's a regular family living right next door," says De-Shawto, excitedly explaining the unobtrusive nature of the shelter. "Hey, we're a regular family," Phenom cuts in. "What I mean is, the family next door isn't in the program," explains De-Shawto, a bit awkwardly...