August 15, 2012

Sorting through his life

The last time I visited Little Biker Boy — the boy who used to live down the street and now lives in a foster home — his foster mother said that she wanted him to make a scrapbook to help sort out his life. “We don’t have any photos of him,” she said. “You don’t have any, do you?”

Little Biker Boy and I looked at each other, and he grinned. I take pictures constantly. I have hundreds of photos of him on my computer.

So tonight when I went over to visit him at his foster home, I brought more than 200 photos I’d printed out. I’ve got pictures of him helping to decorate our Christmas tree. I’ve got pictures of him dyeing Easter eggs at my kitchen table. I’ve got pictures of him playing in the snow in my front yard and running under the sprinkler in my back yard.

Little Biker Boy kept holding pictures up and saying, “Look! Remember that?”

When we were done looking at the photos, we took a walk through his neighborhood. “I’ll show you where there’s a dead rabbit,” he said. He led me to a drainage pipe, and sure enough, there was a rabbit in an advanced stage of decay.

When we got back to his house, he got out his sidewalk chalk and we drew pictures on the back patio. “This chalk is supposed to glow in the dark,” he said. It wasn’t dark yet, so we sat on the swinging bench, him leaning against me while I rubbed his neck and shoulders. He talked quietly, and I listened. The chalk didn’t really glow in the dark, but fireflies appeared to dance in the warm night air.

Chalk

15 comments:

Val said...

Thank God for love and family in all their forms.

Teri said...

I don't think I can even express how grateful I am that you are in Little Biker Boy's life. You are such a gift. wow. (plus, bonus for me: I get to read stories about him, which I love love love!)

L said...

Oh Jo(e)... this is beautiful, and how thoughtful of his foster mom to suggest that. Moving post as always... sigh.

Thorn said...

Thank you. We have no videos of either girl who's with us now from before she entered care, though we have some baby pictures of some of Mara's siblings. I wish they would have had a Jo(e) in their lives. I really believe it would have made a difference.

Zhoen said...

Being able to see what normal looks like, to feel real love, that is his chance. I bless the two aunts who gave me that every day.

susan said...

Sounds like his foster mother is really working hard for him. That's great.

jo(e) said...

Susan: Yeah, I think she really is. I think for the first time in his life, he's living in a safe place where he's being taken of.

Anonymous said...

He already sounds more peaceful - let's hope that he finds - and keeps - it.

Digger said...

It is so wonderful that he has tangible memories of all those good things. And that he has people in his life who are there to help him remember them.

sheepish said...

Despite the bad hand life has dealt him, this boy is very lucky to have you in his life. I hope things turn around for him and start going well.

Mary Beth said...

What a beautiful gift. From his foster mom, from you...

Liz Miller said...

I'm so glad he's in a safe and loving place, and that he has you back in his life, and that he was secure in the knowledge that you HAD documented his life.

richard said...

This thread of stories about Little Biker Boy is just about the most beautiful thing on the whole internet: thanks, Jo(e)!

(You would've enjoyed ALECC last week, in the Okanagan valley of British Columbia. Inspiring and delightful company, I tell you.)

jo(e) said...

Aw, thanks, Richard.

I'm sorry I missed ALECC. I know I would have enjoyed it. And your presence alone would have ensured that the company would be delightful and inspiring.

Kyla said...

I'm always so thankful he's got you, maybe the only family he's every truly had!