Finally Free
It was early summer and David was performing his daily chores when someone showed up at their house and rang the doorbell. His mother was lying on the couch in front of the television and she insisted that David answer the door. He opened it a crack and peeked through hesitantly to see two men in uniform, each of them sporting a serious facial expression.
“Is your mother home?” Questioned the shorter of the two men, who was wearing a badge. Without saying a word David walked into the other room to get his mother’s attention, but she was already up and on her way to the door, looking agitated to be disturbed in the middle of her favorite program.
“Can I help you?” She said in a rushed tone.
The officers told them that they received a report from an anonymous caller that claimed that David’s mother was abusing him. This was the start of weeks of investigation, and they finally decided to take David away.
Though he was sad to be pulled away from his real family, he was much happier now that he was safe from his mother’s abuse. They took him far away. So far away in fact that it seemed to David as though he was in a completely different world. He felt that they would never stop driving. On the way, they stopped and bought him new clothes and took him to get lunch at a chain fast food restaurant.
David barely spoke. Everywhere he looked there was something new to see, and he never wanted it to end. He thought about where he would end up. He looked forward to not being seen as the thief at school. He wondered whom he would stay with, and what kind of people they would be. Would they care for him at first, and then turn out to be like his Mother? He was sure that this could not be possible.
By the time they reached their destination it was pitch black out. They took David inside and introduced him to an older woman. She hugged him gently, and told him to address her as Aunt Pearl. He found this strange, but did not protest. He could tell that she was a very warmhearted person.
Aunt Pearl had prepared them dinner, and the four of them sat at the dining room table. They spoke about the living arrangements, and she showed David where he would be sleeping. She told him that he was to share a room with Alfred, her nephew. The officers spoke quietly with Aunt Pearl, almost secretively. But David knew that they were just reminding her of his situation. He knew that they liked to avoid “delicate subjects.” By the time the officers left and David got ready for bed, it was very late; later than David had ever gone to bed.
When he settled down in his new room, he imagined himself sleeping on the floor in the cold basement back at his old home. He felt a sudden burst of comfort, knowing that he would never have to endure his mother's abusive nature again.
David quickly fell asleep. About four hours later, he woke to someone entering his room. He rubbed his eyes and looked around. There was a man climbing into the other bunk. He sat silently, and thought for a moment, and realized it was Alfred, his new roommate. David couldn’t stay awake long enough to speak to him, or to even ponder why he would be up so late. He drifted off to sleep and morning came faster than he expected. The nighttime seemed much shorter to him now that he had slept comfortably. When he opened his eyes he noticed Alfred throwing things into a bag and getting dressed. Alfred muttered good morning, and then walked out into the dining room. David followed and found that Aunt Pearl had left him some pancakes for breakfast. He couldn’t help but smile.
David got used to the routine of helping Aunt Pearl around the house, going to school, eating regular meals, and sleeping contentedly. She took him to watch Alfred train for boxing when they had free time.
Alfred and David became less like roommates, but more like brothers. He told David about the mistakes he had made, and that all he can do now is move forward. He gave David advice that when he experienced hard times, to start all over and just try twice as hard. David had never been so at ease in his life. He had what felt like a true family. He could finally smile and feel cared about. He could finally just be free.
