A Home for Christmas

It was the beginning of another typical school day for Kevin. While waiting for the bus, Jimmy, who was two years older, came up and clinched his fist and feigned like he was going to hit Kevin.

The reality was, Kevin was afraid of Jimmy. And he had good reason to be. Jimmy had put Kevin in dumpsters, trash cans, and publicly humiliated him more times than Kevin could count. It seemed like a daily affair. Kevin flinched. Jimmy did not deliver the blow.

"Two for flinchin'", Jimmy said.

Kevin sighed.

"You gotta take it." Jimmy said obnoxiously.

Kevin stood cowering waiting for the obligatory blows. Jimmy laid into him. Hard enough to hurt but not so hard that he really hurt Kevin. And that's the way it was with Jimmy. He knew if he really hurt Kevin, he'd be in trouble, but as long as he just caused a little pain, he could keep Kevin under his control.

The bus pulled up about 30 seconds later. Kevin was relieved. Kevin would have a reprieve until recess. Sometimes, he could avoid the ritual abuse at recess too. If he was lucky he could get through a whole day until arriving back at the bus stop in the afternoon. Kevin had never told the teachers about Jimmy's abuse. And, somehow, the teachers never saw it.

Kevin managed to outrun Jimmy at recess and made it inside the building and past Mr. Crawford, their homeroom teacher.

"Alright guys, slow it down. Tag game's over."
"Tag?" Kevin thought to himself. "This guy wants to kill me, and you think we're playing tag?"
Jimmy had made it look, as usual, like they were playing a game.
Kevin had almost had enough. He started to open his mouth to tell on Jimmy. He breathed in deep and then closed his mouth. He knew it wouldn't help. He had to hold it in. The teachers would try to "solve" the problem instead of just cracking down. Jimmy would make it even harder on Kevin later, too.

He also didn't hate Jimmy. He knew that Jimmy had flunked two grades and his parents were divorced.
Kevin had a great family. No matter what happened at school, he always felt good when he came home. It was a week before Christmas and Kevin was really excited. His grandmother was flying up from Florida to be with them and he couldn't wait to see her. She spoiled him every time she visited
.
Kevin had always noticed that Jimmy just showed up at the bus stop. He was never with his mom or dad. He never had a ride. He was always just there. The last day of school before vacation, Kevin decided he would follow Jimmy home. He knew it was risky, but it was a risk he was going to take.
Kevin noticed Jimmy's posture change as he followed him. The tall, tough Jimmy drooped his shoulders. His head was hanging. He shuffled his feet.

Kevin followed about 50 feet back. Jimmy turned the corner at the old Methodist Church. When Kevin turned the corner, Jimmy had disappeared. Kevin was confused. He looked around and rubbed his winter hat. He turned and saw the sign over a set of double doors on the side entrance of the Church: "Hope Family Shelter".

Kevin slowly walked up and peered through the door window. The cots were spread out around the floor. Some people were sitting around talking, others were lying in their cots reading, or just staring up at the ceiling. Kevin looked over into the far corner, and saw Jimmy sitting at a desk talking to an older, official looking woman. He saw Jimmy's head drop. Jimmy got up, turned around, and went toward a cot, laid down and curled up in a fetal position. Kevin saw Jimmy's chest begin to heave intermittently. Kevin could tell he was crying.

Kevin turned and began to walk home, slowly. He wondered what happened to Jimmy. When he arrived home, his mom was setting the table for dinner.

"There you are! I was beginning to get worried about you," She said.

"Sorry, Mom."

"Mom," Kevin said immediately. "Don't you have a friend who goes to the Methodist Church and helps sometimes at the shelter?"

"Yes, Kevin. Karen Matthews. Why?"

"Well, Mom. You know Jimmy? The guy who I told you picks on me a lot?"

"Yeah"

"Well, I followed him home from school today."

"You did what?"

"I followed him home. But, while I was following him, he went into the shelter at the church. I think he lives there."

"Yes. He may. He's had a hard life, Kevin."

"I know. Can you ask your friend about him?"

"Okay."

"Can you call her now?"

"No, Kevin. I have to finish getting dinner ready. But, I think she volunteers at the shelter tomorrow and I'll stop by and talk to her then."

"But tomorrow we pick up Gram at the airport!"

"Not until the evening, I'll have a chance during the day to go see Karen."

"Okay. Can I come with you?"

"That's probably not a good idea, Kevin. Jimmy may be there and it may embarrass him. Why don't you just take it easy tomorrow. It's your first day of vacation! Relax...you can even watch t.v. all day long if you want!"

"Ahright, Mom....whatever you say."

The next day Kevin's mom went down to the shelter and talked with her friend. Karen brought the shelter intake person into their conversation as well, so that they could learn more about Jimmy's story. It turned out that Jimmy's father was a serious alcoholic and Jimmy's mother had left him and was nowhere to be found. Jimmy's father could not hold down a steady job and they eventually had lost their house. He had somewhat abandoned Jimmy as well, though they would find each other from time to time. They were both living on the streets, in and out of shelters. Jimmy should have actually been in a foster home or a group home but people were afraid of him because of his size for his age. He had been put in a group home but got in a fight with one of the other residents and was kicked out. After that, the other group homes were afraid to take him. The intake worker said that they tried to find a way to get Jimmy and his father a hotel room and a few presents for Christmas, but Jimmy's father rejected it because he didn't want to be a charity case or be looked down on.

Kevin's Mom left the shelter. She had a lot more work to do before Gram arrived.

"What happened, Mom?" Kevin asked as his mom walked in the door.

"Oh, not very much, Kev. Like I told you last night, Jimmy's had a hard life."

She was concerned that Kevin was too young to hear Jimmy's story.

That night, they all got into the car to pick up Gram at the airport. Mom, Dad and Kevin's little brother, Mike. Gram had just turned 70 and lived the jetsetting life of a relatively youthful widow. Gramps had died young and Gram had determined that she was going to go on living, though she would never remarry, as she considered herself to still be married to Gramps. She had moved to South Florida full time, where they had spent their winters before Gramps died. Her trips up to Massachusetts were frequent though. She came at least once a year and the grandkids usually flew down once a year to see her.

Gram was dapper. She was always well dressed and dignified. And she had one of those suitcases with the rollers on it, something pretty fresh for the 1980s. She always pulled it behind her and carried her own luggage.

The boys stood in the arrivals area, eagerly waiting to see Gram coming toward them. She came walking down the terminal hall pulling her small carry on behind her, wearing her suit with her head held high. The boys were going crazy but could not pass security.

"Hi Gram", they both said simultaneously.

She knelt down and gave them both a big hug. "There are my two young men. You boys are so handsome."

She looked up at Mom and smiled. Mom shook her head.

"No, mum, we're not taking them shopping tonight. Christmas is only 6 days away and they can wait...and, you can wait!"

"All right, Susan, I'll be good. But, I've got something for them early. Can I give it to them?"

"Sure, when we get home."

When they got back to the house Gram went straight to the living room with her suitcase. There was no unpacking. She plunked her suitcase flat on the floor and began to unzip it.
"Let's see what I can find in here." She said.
Kevin and Mike stood by anxiously, trying not to look too excited.

Gram was so neat. All of her clothes were folded tightly into the suitcase. Instead of digging into the suitcase, she took one thing at a time and placed it daintily on the open top half. Finally there was a plastic bag in the middle of the suitcase, folded to look like a parcel.

Gram opened the bag. She reached in and at the same time said "Okay, this is for Mike," and quickly, yet gently, pulled out a new transformer. "Do you have this one in your collection, yet?"

Mike inspected the box and the toy inside to make sure. "No, Gram. This is awesome! Thank you."

"Okay, Kevin, now you., Smiling at Kevin more knowingly because of his greater age, and also knowing that Kevin was about to receive a more grown up gift.

As she reached into the bag, she said "You like music, right, Kevin?"

"Yes, Gram." Kevin responded. He started to get more excited, wondering what she had come up with for him.

She produced a brand new walkman. Kevin was truly excited. He inspected it and looked at the shiny silver plastic casing. "Kevin you need to open it up." Gram said, gently commanding him.

Kevin opened the box, removed the silver walkman and then opened the deck. Sitting inside the deck was a crisp, new 20 dollar bill, folded into fourths with a rubber band rapped around it.

"I thought you might want to buy some tapes, too." Gram said as Kevin removed the twenty. Kevin peeled off the rubber band and opened up the twenty. Inside was a note. "Happy Early Christmas. This is for being such a good boy this year. Love, Santa." It was obviously in Gram's writing and Kevin looked up at Gram and said "Thanks, Santa!"

Gram responded, "I spoke with Santa yesterday and he says 'you're welcome.'" They smiled at one another knowingly.

Kevin's mom looked at Gram and said, "Mom, I need to speak with you for a minute."

"Okay, Susan. Let me just give the boys another hug and a kiss."

Gram knelt down and hugged both the boys and gave them each a kiss on the cheek.

Gram and Mom retreated to the kitchen to talk. Dad was back there with them too. But, when Mom and

Gram were together he always let them have the lead in the talking.

Gram and Mom re-entered the room about ten minutes later.

"Kevin, Gram and I are going for a ride and we'd like you to come with us."

Mike looked up and said, "Can I come too?"

Mom was about to say no, but Dad was ready.

"Mikey, you and I are going out for supper, just us guys. What do you say?"

"Really, Dad?" Mike said, not expecting a dinner out on this night.

"Yep, wherever you want to go."

"Cool! Let me get my shoes on." He had been rolling his new transformer car around on the carpet.

Mike and Dad were out of the house before the other three were even ready.

"Where are we going?" Kevin asked. He knew something was up.

"Just a little trip, Kevin." Gram responded, gently.

Kevin didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

They walked out of the house and out to the car. They drove only about 5 minutes and pulled up on a corner. Mom parked the car, turned the inside light on and turned around and handed Kevin a very official looking document.

"Read this Kevin and tell me what you think." Kevin was feeling weird. This was a little strange.
He opened it and started to read. It was a little over his head but he could get the basic gist of it.
"It's okay, Mom. I think it's a good thing."

They pulled around the corner and rolled up to the curb on the other side of the street from the shelter entrance of the Methodist church. Mom, Gram and Kevin all got out of the car together. Mom was holding the envelope again. They walked into the shelter, Kevin leading the way. Kevin looked toward where Jimmy's cot was. Jimmy was sitting there and looked up when he heard the door open. He quickly looked down and tried to hide himself. But, Kevin had already seen him.

As Kevin walked toward Jimmy's cot, Jimmy's tough guy facade started to appear, but he just couldn't hold it. He didn't know how to act.

"What are you doing here?" Jimmy said, both sheeplishly and threateningly.

"I came to see you for Christmas, Jimmy."
Jimmy's face turned red and his head turned down. Tears began to well up. He didn't want Kevin to see.
Kevin's mom handed the official letter back to Kevin.

"Jimmy." Kevin said, as if he were trying to snap someone from a deep sleep.

"What?" Jimmy said, both angry and embarrassed.

"This is a letter that my Mom got."

Jimmy looked up, his eyes red. He took the letter and began to read it.

He looked up again, his head turned to the side, bewildered, staring at Kevin.

"But, why?" Jimmy asked Kevin. "I've never been nice to you."

"I know." Kevin replied. "I'm not asking you to my friend. I'm asking you to be my brother."

Gram began to tear up, so did Mom. A couple of the shelter workers overheard and teared up as well.

"Out of the mouth of babes..." one said to the other, shaking her head.

The document was a letter making Kevin's parents provisional foster parents and granting them temporary custody of Jimmy. Over the coming months and years, Kevin's parents would continue to work through the courts and eventually they became Jimmy's legal guardians. They talked with Jimmy's father, and at first he resisted. He came around though, because he knew he couldn't take care of Jimmy himself. He would still visit Jimmy from time to time and they would go on walks together.

The day after they brought Jimmy home, Gram and mom went on an emergency shopping trip and made sure to give as much to Jimmy as they did to Mike and Kevin. In fact, Jimmy's presents were a little more expensive, because Gram got Jimmy a whole new wardrobe.

From that day on, Jimmy and Kevin still got into it, and Jimmy still gave Kevin a hard time. But, at school, if anyone ever tried to pick on Kevin, Jimmy stepped in. He could mess with Kevin, but nobody else could. Because, you see, they were brothers.