Welcome Home
Chapter 1: The Beginning
I lie in a bed and listen to the rain as it splatters against the window. The blazing storm that surrounds me fits me mood. I feel as if I have lost something important. Papa told me not to be afraid. He says he will see my again someday in a place he calls “Heaven.” I don’t understand what he means since he’s on his deathbed. He says someday I would understand. He takes his shark-tooth necklace from around his neck and places it in my hand. He says it’s so I won’t forget him. I tell him I could never forget him. He just nods his head and closed his eyes for the last time.
Mr. Jones comes to check on me. He knows that Papa is gone when he sees the tears streaming down my face.
“Bryan,” he said softly, "It’s time to get going.”
I simply grab my stuff and walk towards the door. Mr. Jones tells the doctors that Papa has passed then, we walk in silence towards the car. When he’s not looking, I slip my Papa’s necklace around my neck. We got into Mr. Jones' car and drove silently through the night. I had no idea where we were or where we were going nor did I really care. A few times Mr. Jones tried to start a conversation but, when he saw I wasn’t in the mood, he gave up. Poor Guy. As a social worker, he must get the cold shoulder a lot after he separates families. It’s not his fault my Papa died and my Mama is in jail.
We drove up to a brick house and stopped. Mr. Jones turned to me and explained that this is where I would be staying until he could find a family for me. I just nod my head and step out into the darkness of the night. Mr. Jones rings the doorbell and steps back. A plump woman, who looked to be in her late thirties answers the door. She welcomes us and ushers us through the house and into her living room. A tall, slender man, who also looked to be in his mid-thirties, is sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper. When we enter, he stands and introduces himself as Fred Anderson. His Wife’s name is Molly. He greets Mr. Jones with such enthusiasm that I can’t help wondering if they knew each other well.
“Mr. Jones! How wonderful it is to see you again,” Mr. Anderson said in a booming voice.
Mr. Anderson! Good to see you're looking well. Tell me, how’s that sweet girl of yours?”
“ She’s doing fine! As a matter of fact, she’s sleeping at a friend’s house tonight.”
After some more small talk, Mr. Jones looks at his watch and announces:
“Well, I must be on my way or my wife will start to worry. I’ll come to check on Bryan in a few weeks.”
And with that, he walked out the door and drove away
Chapter 2
Mrs. Anderson took my bag and motioned for me to follow her. She led me into a large room. There was a bed on either side of the room. One was a queen and the other was a twin.
“You can choose which bed you want. Either way, you’ll have the room to yourself.”
Mrs. Anderson said, as if reading my mind. I choose the twin since it’s by the window. She told me I should put my clothes away so they won’t be too wrinkled. She asked if I wanted help, but I shook my head. She said goodnight and that she ‘d see me in the morning. I put my clothes away in a large dresser. I don’t even have enough clothes to fill one of those drawers. I don’t mind. I change into pajamas and crawl into bed. I pull out a black book that was under my head. It was called “The Holy Bible.” Disgusted, I threw it onto the other bed across the room. I didn’t want a reminder of my Papa’s foolish faith. I never did understand why he believed in God. If this God was so great, why did he let my Papa get cancer? And why did he let my Papa die? If this God is real, he sure is mean to let a good man like my Papa suffer. Although it was only 8:40 pm, I fall into a troubled sleep. I dream about my Papa and all the great times we had together.
Chapter 3
I awake dazed and confused. At first, I can’t remember where I am. I was wrestling with my Papa one minute then, suddenly I’m sucked back into reality. I’m in a strange town, in a strange house with strange people I don’t even know. I get dressed, then try to find the bathroom. I pass a room with walls covered with pictures of laughing girls, and flowers.
“This must be that girl’s room,” I think to myself.
I finally find the bathroom, but I don’t have to go anymore. Instead, I brush my teeth and go downstairs.
I go into the living room and sit in the easy chair. Mr. Anderson is leaving for work. Mrs. Anderson kisses him goodbye. She spots me and walks into the room.
“ Did you sleep well?” she asks.
I nod my head.
She takes me into the kitchen and hands me a plate that is stacked with pancakes, sausage, and a big, juicy orange. I thank her and sit down. The food is gone within ten minutes. I clean my dishes and start to head back to my room.
The front door opens and a beautiful teenage girl with gorgeous blue eyes and bouncing brown curls comes through the door. I stand there awestruck. I feel as if I just ran a 10-mile race. She sees me and comes over to introduce herself.
“Hi. My name is Elizabeth, but all my friends call me Beth.”
Beth. I like that name.
“M-my n-name I-is Bryan.” I manage to stutter out.
She claims to be very happy to meet me. Beth was saying something about “blessings” and “having a brother,” but I was too preoccupied with her deep blue eyes to pay much attention. Beth just giggles and goes to find her mother. As she leaves, I watch how graceful she is with every step she takes. I decide right then that I would give this place another chance, especially if that means getting to know Beth better.
Chapter 4
Mrs. Anderson and I finally talk to each other. She tells me my chores (keeping my room clean, taking out the trash, and cleaning the bathroom), and she gave my some rules:
1. No girls in my room with the door closed.
2. My bedtime is at 10:00 pm.
3. I’m not allowed outside after 9:00 pm
4. No drugs
5. No alcohol
6. No smoking
7. No late-night parties
“ As long as you follow the rules and do your chores, you’ll get your allowance of $20 a week,” She said.
“I can live with that,” I tell her.
She laughs and replies, “ Good. I’m glad we see things eye to eye.”
She suddenly realizes I am wearing the same clothes as yesterday and asks “Don’t you have any other clothes, Bryan?”
“No, Ma’am, I don’t” I reply.
She takes me to her room and gives me a baggy shirt to wear.
“ This will look fine with your jeans. After lunch, I’ll take you to get some new clothes,” she says.
“Thank you Mrs. Anderson. That's very nice of you” I reply with a grin.
I excuse myself and run upstairs. I almost run into Beth, who was standing at the top of the stairs. Beth grabs my arm and pulls me into her room, leaving the door open. Inside, she has a desk by the window and a queen size bed along the opposite wall. She pulls out a chair from the closet and motions for me to sit on the bed. I hesitate. I don’t want to break the rules after 10 minutes of receiving them (the NO girls in my room w/ door closed rule).
She assures me she only wants to talk. I move around her and sit on the edge of the bed. The bedspread was also covered with flowers.
She notices I’m studying it and explains, “The flowers were Mom’s idea. This room was decorated when I was six!”
That makes sense to me since nobody our age would decorate his or her room with flowers. At least none that I knew of. Seeing I was satisfied with her response, she pulls the chair in front of me and sits down.
“ So Bryan, where are you from?” she asks.
“I’m from Edithsburgh,” I tell her.
“Why are you here anyway? Didn’t your parents want you anymore?” Beth was exploding with questions.
“ I don’t feel like talking about it” I say as I start towards the door, but Beth stops me.
“Please don’t leave, Bryan! I didn’t mean to offend you. I was just curious. Look, if you sit down, I’ll tell you how I got here.”
She sparked my interest, so I sit back down. She takes a deep breath. I can see in her eyes that she is about to reveal something deep and devastating. Her crystal blue eyes filled with tears as she began:
“When I was 5 years old, my real father beat me. It wasn’t an occasional beating. He would come home angry and he would get whatever was lying around and beat me with them. Baseball bats, rolling pins, whatever. He would beat me until I was severely bruised or bleeding. I never told anyone. I was afraid my father would get even more mad…”
She took a breath and wiped her eyes. We sat in silence for a few minutes. She wiped her eyes again then continued:
“…One day, my father came home drunk. He and my mother had a fight. She was angry with him for coming home drunk, and he was too drunk to just ignore her as he usually did. He started cursing and slapping my mother. I ran into the room and yelled at him to stop. He picked up a bat and swung at my mother, but I jumped in the way so she wouldn’t get hurt. He pushed her when she tried to stand and took his rage out on me. He pulled me upstairs by the hair and threw me in his room. He beat me with everything he had, then when I was too weak to move, he threw me down the stairs. Mother called the cops. Father was arrested and I was taken to the local hospital. I ended up with five broken ribs and both of my ankles were broken. Because of me, mother only ended up with a few bruises.
When I left the hospital, I was brought here to recover. Father got out of jail a few months later and murdered my mother. He was arrested and, this time, was sentenced to life and all his rights to me were taken away. The Andersons eagerly adopted me since they’ve always wanted a little girl.
Within a few months, I was calling them Mom and Dad. It took me a while to realize my new dad wouldn’t beat me like my old father did and eventually, I began to trust him. I made new friends and I started to love my new parents deeply. I missed my mother, but I loved my new family and I knew I was safe. Everything was great after they adopted me. Mom and I decorated this room for my 6th birthday. They introduced me to Jesus when I was eight. They made me realize that God didn’t allow those things to happen to me but, He was there protecting me from worse injury. They told me that through what happened to me, He answered their prayers. It was then that I gave my heart to the Lord. And I don’t regret it.”
I don’t know what to say. Instead, I let my instincts kick in and I reach over and pulled Beth into a warm embrace. We sat like that for what seemed like forever.
She finally released herself from the hug and whispered in my ear
“I really like you Bryan. Your the closest thing I have to a brother!”
“Are you going to be ok?” I ask.
She nods her head and I slip from the room and walk down the hall.
Chapter 5
I sit on my bed thinking about what I just heard. I’m angry with Beth’s old father for hurting her. I can’t help thinking that if I were there, I could have protected her. I silently vow that from now on, I would never let Beth be hurt again.
Today, Mrs. Anderson took me to the local High School to enroll me. She tells me Beth goes here too. I am supposed to start on Monday. I don’t think it will be too bad. After all, Beth would be with me. She barely talks to me since she told me her secret. I try to talk to her, but she just gives vague answers. I think she’s embarrassed for telling me. I can’t seem to figure out how to get her to talk.
Mrs. Anderson and I return to the house to find Mr. Jones standing by the door. We let him inside, and Mrs. Anderson and Mr. Jones goes into the other room. I head upstairs to my room. I lie on my bed and stare out the window. 45 minutes later, there is a tapping on my door.
“Come in.” I call from my place by the window.
Mr. Jones enters and glances around the room. By now, I have many posters on my walls and a closet full of clothes. Mr. Jones comes over and sits on the bed opposite mine.
“Bryan,” he says, “I have some good news for you. I found a family that would like to adopt you. It’s 2 hours away, but I’m sure they’ll bring you back to visit the Andersons.”
Startled, I ask, “ So you mean I have to leave? Don’t The Andersons want to adopt me?”
“Bryan, don’t make a mountain out of an mole hill. Understand that this is a good thing!” Mr. Jones tries to assure me.
Angrily, I scream “No! I won’t go with any other family but the Andersons. You can’t and won’t make me! Now, I believe it’s time for you to leave before something is said that we can’t take back!”
He stands up and walks toward the door. He slowly turns to face me and calmly says, “ Have your stuff ready for tomorrow. I’ll be picking you up at 9:00 am.”
He walks out the door and down the stairs. I get up to slam my door and hear Mrs. Anderson sobbing downstairs. I slam my door and sit on my bed to watch Mr. Jones drive away. I’m frantically trying to come up with a plan. Suddenly, it comes to me.
~
I lie awake until the house is silent. I have a bag full of supplies under my bed. When I’m sure nobody is awake, I slip out my bedroom window and onto the roof. I throw my stuff on the lawn and jump. I land without injury and gather my stuff. As I walk through the neighborhood, I get a strange feeling that I am being followed. Every now and then, I would turn around, but nobody was there. I keep telling myself I am imagining things. I check my watch and realize I’ve been walking for an hour and I still have not even gotten out of town. I don’t know where I’m going or where I am. I find myself outside the High School. I stop and wonder how I got here when I suddenly feel a hand on my back. I turn around and I’m shocked by what I see…
Chapter 6
“Beth!” I cry out in surprise
“Why are you leaving, Bryan? Why are you leaving me?”
I saw tears streaming down her pale face. I suddenly realize that I was doing the very thing I vowed to protect her from; I was hurting her! I try to pull her into a hug, but she resists. I sit down on a step and she joins me.
“Beth, I’m not trying to hurt you! I’m doing this because I love you! They want me to allow some bozos to adopt me, but they live 2 hours away! I don’t want that to happen! If I allow this, I’ll never see you again! Can’t you see? I’m trying to protect you!” I exclaim, “Look, you asked me a few weeks ago why I’m here right? Well, I’ll tell you! My mother is in jail for attempting murder. She tried to kill my Papa and I! Papa died of cancer! I have no family right now! Nobody even cares and nobody ever will!”
“Bryan” she whispers, “ You know that’s not true! We care about you! I care about you! And most importantly, God cares about you! So if you think nobody cares, then I guess all of us are nobodies! We love you. Heck, I LOVE YOU! And we all want you to stay with us. Please come back with me Bryan!”
She was practically sobbing by now. I tell her I’ll think about it.
“Why did you follow me?" I ask her.
“Bryan, I already told you! I Love You! Besides, you don’t even know where you're going!” she laughed.
I tell her to go home. She turns to me and kisses my cheek. I’m so stunned, I don’t even realize it when she puts a book beside me. She walks away into the darkness, and suddenly, I feel so alone. I sit there all night and think about the events of the past month. I suddenly notice a little book sitting on the step beside me. I pick it up and study it closely. Through the early morning sun, I can make out the faint outline of the words “Holy Bible.” I study it more closely and notice a piece of paper sticking out. I was surprised to see that the note was addressed to me. It reads:
Dear Bryan,
I understand your going through a hard time right now. I feel bad because your going through it alone. Understand that you don’t have to! Jesus loves you and wants to be there for you. He gave his life so you won’t have to die for your sins. Read John 3:16 if you don’t believe me! Bryan, we love you a lot but, Jesus loves you more than you can imagine! I know you're mad at God because of your father’s death, but he didn’t want your father to suffer anymore. Jesus just called one of his servants home! Your father was a good man, Bryan. Don’t ever forget that! God knew this and wanted him to be free of pain! You will see him again if you let Christ into your heart and repent for your wrongdoings. Please don’t be mad at God! He is the Creator of the Universe and the Ultimate Comforter! He can help you through this, if you let him! Let Him take control so that you may finally have peace. We love you with all our heart, and if it is God’s will, we would like you to become part of our family!
In Christ’s Love,
Mr.& Mrs. Anderson
I feel tears run down my face. The Andersons want to adopt me! I really wish I could have that peace that they talked about in the letter. They said Jesus loves my Papa and he is with Jesus right now! I never thought anybody loved my papa as much as I do, but they said Jesus loves him more! Anybody who loves my Papa is somebody worth knowing, I decide. I read the suggested verse and I feel calm. For the first time in my long journey, I say a prayer:
“Jesus. If you really love my papa like the Andersons say you do, then I want you to love me too. I want to get to know you, but you’ll have to be patient. I want peace, but I know that comes with trust. I want to trust in you. Amen.”
I feel calm as I watch the sun rise. I am finally able to make an important decision. I gather my stuff and head back towards the house. When I arrive, Mr. & Mrs. Anderson are waiting. I give them a hug and tell them about the events of the night. They look at each other and smile. Beth suddenly comes bursting through the doorway and tackles me into a hug.
In a small voice, she whispers “ Welcome home Bryan!”
~
Several months passed. We are sitting down with the lawyer when the doorbell rings. I get up and answer the door. I’m startled by the figure standing in the doorway. She has a devilish grin on her face. I can only manage to whisper one word : “MA!”
Note from the Author
Dear reader,
Please keep in mind that the events in this story are pure fictional, although some of the incidents may have occurred. Also, keep in mind that this is a Christian novel. It was written to show how our glorious Lord is with us, even when we feel so alone. I would like to take this time to thank you for reading this. To find out what happens with Bryan, read the next book in the series, “The Journey” which will be coming soon.
In Christ’s eternal Love,
The Author
Dedications
To my wonderful family, whose love and support made it possible to write this novel.
To my mother, who helped me grow in my faith.
To my friends Megan, Tiffany, and Sara.
Who gave me the courage to write this.
And Most importantly, to our Loving Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ. Without his enduring promise, there would be no hope!