Home

 

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He needs her.

She is the only anchor he has in a cruel and unpredictable world.

They look for their meals in the discards of others

They search for clothing in the rags left by people who wore them before

As they huddle together on a sidewalk to try to sleep, she whispers stories in his ear.

He searches her face, and sees it in her eyes.

In those eyes he knows love, and loyalty, and security

And Home

Those eyes will never leave him

 

Until the day he is taken –

Forced to live in a house with strangers, by well-meaning people

Directed to live in a way he doesn’t understand

What do you mean toothbrush? Paste?

Why comb my hair? it will only get mussed again when I wear my hat

Why can’t I keep biscuits in my pockets?  I need them!

You don’t understand!

 

The eyes that are his home get to see him two days a week.

She tells him he is safe and tries her best to let him know that this won’t last forever.

Their hellos are just as painful as their goodbyes and see you laters…

 

Until…

Mom’s eyes sparkle like never before

She smiles…what is that?

She leads him by his little hand into a building that she holds the keys for

She leads him around the tiny dwelling,

Showing him the kitchen and the bathroom

She tells him this room is where he will sleep…

What?

She says it over and over again,,,this is our home, this is where we can live!

He doesn’t know what that means

That night as they both lay in his bed (HIS!) and she whispers stories to get him to sleep, he pulls his blankets up to his chin, looks around at their walls (THEIRS!), and gazes into her eyes…and he knows

He is Home.

 - Katy Waxbom