Re: I'm sorry to hear this
Submitted by PoliteGuest on 2003-03-10 23:15:57, Monday
In reply to I'm sorry to hear this submitted by Dakota on 2003-03-9 23:40:54, Sunday
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Genghis, Dakota is speaking some heavy truths here. I was convicted of being more than just a friend to my girlfriend's son and spent five years in prison. But, being a Christian, and knowing the truth of the charges, or should I say knowing the falseness of the charges, I did whatever was necessary to keep from having to have my friend have to appear in court. I believe he was 7. (This was years ago. I'm successful now, and have friends whom know about my past. If I meet someone that I really am attracted to in the sense of friendship, after a year, I tell them what I have been through, so that they can decide if they believe me or could care less, etc. It's just not a big a deal as "we" think it is most of the time.). In the neighborhood that I live in, there are not a lot of kids. I became a Christian Senior Citizen (age 55) in January, and have lived at this address for a long, long, time. I lived here before my five year prison term, and I live here now. My 89 year old father also lives here, as he cannot live alone anymore. One of my neighbors has a five year old son. Five going on 55! He's at least as old as I am! Last summer, I realized that this fellow was going to be approaching the age when he could jump on his bike, without his training wheels, and cruise the street. So, one night last summer, I walked over and told his parents about my past. It was incredibly difficult to bring up the past in my mind, but it was necessary and a high priority truth to me. Today, this five year old and I are practically best friends. And that's because of my honesty. It would not be that way had I not been honest with them. I had some rules that I also talked to them about. He would only be allowed in the front yard, so that they, and the entire street could see us. He could not come in my house under any circumstances. His parents said that if that's how I felt, then fine, but to them, it didn't matter. They had observed me for that past four years, and knew me who whom I was, a good neighbor, and friend. Today my friend not only is allowed in my front yard, and on my front porch, but is pretty much allowed anywhere in my house, and in my backyard. I bought cups for germinatting our summer garden seeds today. This Saturday, we will start that project. He had a rough day today I think. He came by for awhile, and played some ball (tennis ball) with my black Labrador, and his mother called him in for supper. he didn't want to go, but I of course, insisted, and he went, very slowly. I had just finished feeding my dog when he rang the door bell. I told him that I was working at my computer (and I was) but that my dog and myself would come out for awhile. I told him that I couldn't be out for too long, because I had work to do. He asked if he could come in and watch tv while I worked? I said no. He asked if he could help me work? I said no. He started to cry. Not the spoiled brata cry. I've known him for awhile. (after all he's 5 going on 55.)But he was mad, nonetheless. I sat down on my favorite chair on my porch (during all this time we had been tossing the tennis ball for my dog)and asked him to come and sit with me. It took him awhile to walk the distance to my lap in little slow motion steps but he finally made it to me. I hugged him. I realized in that hug that he had had a tough day, and also that he was tired. I talked to him first of all honestly, with my arms wrapped around him, and secondly, softly and slowly, because this is a five year old boy who loves me, and has had a bad day, is tired, and by now the temperature has dropped and being in my warm arms is better than riding a bike across the street! It appears that I've lost the point of what I was saying. Honesty... I have to believe, Genghis, that you were betrayed, regardless of your friend's best intention. |
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