One boy

It was suppose to be a great day. They had been looking forward to this day for two weeks, ever since daddy left to go out of town. He was finally coming home and they all were so excited. It would have stayed that way except for the careless and thoughtless other boys who call him “friend”.

He was so excited for so many reasons, this boy who hardly ever shows much emotion, usually holds it all in: the good, bad, excited, happy, crying, fear, he is the one who hides all his emotions keeping them safely tucked away inside himself rarely letting anyone see.

But no, not today…not this time.

He chose to show how he was feeling right there for all of us to see. He was thrilled that daddy was finally going to be here. He left smiling, going to school nervous and happy that the project he worked so hard on had finally been judged, delivered and returned to him so he could surprise his teacher with what he did. He was confident that she would like it and know that he did his best even if he didn’t win first place. He was right; she was so excited, proud and felt special that he chose her as his best teacher ever. It didn’t matter that he didn’t win first she was proud that he even entered.

He came home smiling having a good day. He knew that all 5 other boys were going to be at the dodge ball tournament tonight and he said they had a good team. He was pumped up ready to play, after all he is good and loves to play, and show how fast he can move.

First there were errands to run, and then drop sister off at a special birthday party. It was at 6:00 same time as he needed to be there for dodge ball. He said, that’s okay, my team knows I am coming and will be a little late. He was still smiling because he also knew daddy was on his way home and would be here in time to watch him play. Sister was dropped off at her party and he was headed to the school, he was ready.
As we arrived at school I got a message, daddy was at the shop dropping off a co-worker who had ridden with him and then he was heading home. Smiling he said, he knew daddy would make it.

We go into the gym and there are kids and adults everywhere for the tournament it is crowded in there, hardly any seats were left. He looks around searching and finally says, that he sees his team. When we get to the other side, it wasn’t his team but only one boy from his team and he is on a different team. He asks him what is going on. He said no one else on the team is here so I joined a different team when I came in. You can’t be on this one because we are full; the max is 6 people to a team. He looks around and sees more of his “friends” and asks how many they have, they said 5 but, we don’t want you on the team; it is good like it is. I see disappointment starting to show on his face, he looks around and sees some of the boys from his football team and asks them how many do they have. One replied 5, so he asked if he could join them. They said, no we don’t want you on our team. He turns to me and said, lets go home.

I could see the disappointment all over his face. His feelings were hurt. My heart was heavy and hurting for him. We arrive home to find daddy there waiting on us. Daddy, who was gone for 2 weeks, sees his first-born son walk in the door tears streaming down his face crying that no one wanted him. He was confused, so as I explained what had happened he just sat there and held his boy as the tears flowed. It broke our hearts to see him this upset over a dodge ball game. His wall of protection was cracked, and then tonight it just crumbled.

My sweet, sweet boy who is always thinking of others before himself, who would give anything to help another, is fiercely loyal and protective of those he loves just didn’t/couldn’t understand why his “friends” act like that. I had no answer and it broke my heart that I could not help him with any explanation.

After much love and talking he then decided that he wanted to use a gift certificate he had received for his birthday and take all of us out to dinner. It was a generous amount and he was saving it and planning on having a daddy/son night out but after this he wanted everyone to go.

We went of course, ate and talked but most of all we laughed and spent time together.

Afterwards sister was picked up from the party and arrived home to hear about what happened to him, thanks to the two mini informers, she gave him the prizes she won.

One day soon I pray they will realize that their true and best friends are each other.