A few years ago I decided I wanted to do something good and decided to enroll in the big brother/big sister program. They gave me a kid who was 7 at the time, I did not know then that his father who was my current age died when the kid was 6. They said "he is a bit young but a good kid". I met him, and first thing he wanted to do was play video games. Instead I took him snow sledding, and the first day as he was having fun he asked me "How long do you think we will be friends?".
Now he is turning 12. I have been with him for 5 years. A few weeks ago his normally quiet mom came into the room as I was fixing something on their computer and said "you know you mean a lot to Jay even if he doesn't say it". I said "I know". She said "everywhere we go he always says David this, David that"... "David does it this way"... "David likes that".
I thought that was cool.... then she asked if I knew how his dad died. I said no. Turns out that he had a heart attack in the morning. He fell over by the bed, and while his wife was at work, he had no help and he died. Later on a telemarketer called the house, Jay picks up the phone, and the telemarketer asks for his parent. Jay goes into the bedroom, sees his dad laying there and tells the telemarketer he is not moving. She tells him to go see if he is breathing, and now a panicked 6 year old puts her on hold and goes and checks. Comes back crying and says "no". She tells him to hang up and call 911. Then the fire dept show up and takes him out of the house so he doesn't see his mom break down.
By now, I am a bit emotional, because I am sitting in that same room hearing this story. She then says "that night the telemarketer called back, wanted to know if everything was OK or not, and I had to tell her he passed away"... "she then started crying, and told me that she could hear Jay screaming 'Daddy don't leave me'... 'daddy please don't leave me'"
Now it is really hard for me not to cry. Because I always saw myself as just the guy that went bowling with him and taught him that an NSX is the best car in the world. LOL... I didn't realize how important I was.
A week goes by, and I break up with my girlfriend. We go get pizza at our usual place, and he asks how my GF is. I tell him "we broke up". He gets quiet for a minute then says "Are you sad David?" and I said "yeah, a little". He gets all quiet again and then says "Do you want my pizza bubble?" because I had told him I love the burnt cheese on pizza "bubbles". He was trying to make me feel better the only way he knew how.
I couldn't believe it. What a great kid he is. And what this thing I had no expectation of at all turned out to be. Pretty amazing experience. Meaningful. Not like Carbon Fiber parts... Feels like he is my son now. Of course, I can give him back to his mom after a few hours. It's perfect... LOL...
He wants me to pick him up from school one day with the NSX. I said OK. I hope it doesn't go to his head. He may get into a fight with another kid that thinks an F430 is better.
One day he got in the car and his first question was "David, what's a lap dance?"... hahahahaha.... I have so many funny stories with this kid. Just thought I'd share and maybe my story would encourage someone else to do the same for another kid.
Now he is turning 12. I have been with him for 5 years. A few weeks ago his normally quiet mom came into the room as I was fixing something on their computer and said "you know you mean a lot to Jay even if he doesn't say it". I said "I know". She said "everywhere we go he always says David this, David that"... "David does it this way"... "David likes that".
I thought that was cool.... then she asked if I knew how his dad died. I said no. Turns out that he had a heart attack in the morning. He fell over by the bed, and while his wife was at work, he had no help and he died. Later on a telemarketer called the house, Jay picks up the phone, and the telemarketer asks for his parent. Jay goes into the bedroom, sees his dad laying there and tells the telemarketer he is not moving. She tells him to go see if he is breathing, and now a panicked 6 year old puts her on hold and goes and checks. Comes back crying and says "no". She tells him to hang up and call 911. Then the fire dept show up and takes him out of the house so he doesn't see his mom break down.
By now, I am a bit emotional, because I am sitting in that same room hearing this story. She then says "that night the telemarketer called back, wanted to know if everything was OK or not, and I had to tell her he passed away"... "she then started crying, and told me that she could hear Jay screaming 'Daddy don't leave me'... 'daddy please don't leave me'"
Now it is really hard for me not to cry. Because I always saw myself as just the guy that went bowling with him and taught him that an NSX is the best car in the world. LOL... I didn't realize how important I was.
A week goes by, and I break up with my girlfriend. We go get pizza at our usual place, and he asks how my GF is. I tell him "we broke up". He gets quiet for a minute then says "Are you sad David?" and I said "yeah, a little". He gets all quiet again and then says "Do you want my pizza bubble?" because I had told him I love the burnt cheese on pizza "bubbles". He was trying to make me feel better the only way he knew how.
I couldn't believe it. What a great kid he is. And what this thing I had no expectation of at all turned out to be. Pretty amazing experience. Meaningful. Not like Carbon Fiber parts... Feels like he is my son now. Of course, I can give him back to his mom after a few hours. It's perfect... LOL...
He wants me to pick him up from school one day with the NSX. I said OK. I hope it doesn't go to his head. He may get into a fight with another kid that thinks an F430 is better.
One day he got in the car and his first question was "David, what's a lap dance?"... hahahahaha.... I have so many funny stories with this kid. Just thought I'd share and maybe my story would encourage someone else to do the same for another kid.
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