Turning the Page

I first made his acquaintance almost ten years ago. I had a child a little younger than him, but they were friends. I actually met him through Caitlyn, and I'm happy to say that of all her friends, he and his cronies have always been ones she could count on, friends that wouldn't lead her astray and certainly wouldn't let her down.

The first time I ever saw him, he was eleven years old, a scrawny little thing with shaggy hair and glasses that didn't fit just right. His family wasn't very good to him, and he was grateful for the escape that school and his friends provided. His home life left a lot to be desired, and I always felt bad when he had to go back to his house. I was happy when we were able to bring him into our home, but he never was able to stay for long. A few days at a time, and then I'd spend the next year or so wondering how he was faring and what kind of shape he'd be in the next time I saw him.

He had a pet, given to him by a friend, and thankfully she was always around to talk to when he was having trouble at home. He also had a bunch of loyal friends, but like most kids his age, had trouble with the school bullies. His parents had died long ago, leaving him with only faint memories, and making him an easy target for the bullies and their leader, who would stop at nothing to bring him misery. In spite of that, he liked school and I was glad my daughter had an older friend that she could look up to, one that seemed to excel in spite of his hardships.

At one point, we thought he'd be able to move in with his godfather, but tragically, that didn't come to pass. It was just another heartbreaking disappointment for that young boy. It must have been awful to be so close to happiness, only to have it ripped away again. I'm so glad he had a close group of friends to help him through that time because it was a terrible time.

We were happy to entertain him whenever he paid us a visit. Actually, I guess you could say that he entertained us. For years. He's never really been out of our thoughts since the moment we met him. In addition to Caitlyn, he's been a great influence on our other children too. I'm so glad they had the chance to get to know him.

Tonight, we'll go visit him one last time. He's done with school now, and he finally handled those bullies. He has grown into a fine young man, one I am so proud to know. I know his parents would be proud of him if they could see him now, and I have a feeling they can. It's time for him to move on to the next phase in his life, but I hope he knows he's always welcome in our home.

We'll leave the book light on for you, Harry.