Raising Sam!
Feb 24, 2021 00:14:04 #
It was an otherwise ordinary, foggy morning as I drove in to downtown when I saw this elderly lady sitting on a park bench with this small boy beside her. The traffic was very light, and as I passed, it appeared that she, or rather they appeared to be needing help. I then U-turn at the next intersection and come back. Since this was a bus stop, I was able to find a parking space and stopped so I could get out ant check on them to determine if there was a serious problem.
You never know, in a large diverse city like Houston. This could simply be a scam being pulled, or it could be a real emergency. The elderly lady was sobbing and the little boy, who looked to be maybe four, was quiet but looked perplexed. Neither had noticed me as I walked up.
I said, “can I help you, are your oak?” The woman then looked up and at first didn’t say a word, but continued to sob, but finally, after wiping her nose with her coat sleeve, said “I have to take care of this boy, but I don’t have any money, a place safe to stay, and I am at my wits end!” I don’t know that I am going to do. I said well, there are Child Protective Services, and they can help you. Have you tried them? She said yes, but You see, it is so complicated. They ask so many questions that I cannot answer. I don’t know where parents are, or even who they are. Those government agencies will think I’ve kidnapped the lad.
Well, the long and short of the matter was I agreed to take her to a shelter for the homeless and then to take the lad, whom I learned was named Samuel, to a County Child Protective Agency to see if we could find the nearest of kin, or to stay there. It turned out they did not have room now and asked if I could be responsible for him until they called me. I agreed to do my best.
Well, little did I realize this would turn out to be longer and more complicated that I had first imagined. Sam and I became quite close and in fact became an adoption of sorts because the agency must have lost his papers and never called, which in the long run was fine. As it turned out, we decided to go fishing that next weekend and it was an experience that Sam took to in such an enthusiastic manner that I guess it sealed our bonding. He loved it so much that he didn’t want to leave, and on our drive back there was nothing else he wanted to talk about. We went over and talked about every little sunfish he had caught, every cast, every bait and how he had learned to quickly put his worm on the hook, and more.
Sam was so enthralled with the fishing expedition he wanted to go again the following week. When we returned home he had to tell Jean, my wife, his every cast, catch, and all about the entire expedition and that he wanted to go again the following weekend. I hadn’t promised but it looked like a done deal.
Well, such a good deal could not possibly last, and it didn’t because finally the Child’s Services finally got around to calling and collecting Sam from us. It was a sad but legal separation that we had long dreaded but suspected would happen. I kept in touch with his new adopted family and was satisfied they were a good fit, and I was able to both visit Sam and on occasion take him fishing. I became the same as a de facto adopted uncle. Jean and would have adopted Sam except we were too old for adopting such a young boy. It turned out to be the best arrangement that could have been made.
It was about this time that I woke up and realized it had all been just a dream. But I still remember the enthusiasm and energy of little Sam! He was a joy and if circumstances had been where we were younger, could have been a adopted son. Just Sayin…RJS
You never know, in a large diverse city like Houston. This could simply be a scam being pulled, or it could be a real emergency. The elderly lady was sobbing and the little boy, who looked to be maybe four, was quiet but looked perplexed. Neither had noticed me as I walked up.
I said, “can I help you, are your oak?” The woman then looked up and at first didn’t say a word, but continued to sob, but finally, after wiping her nose with her coat sleeve, said “I have to take care of this boy, but I don’t have any money, a place safe to stay, and I am at my wits end!” I don’t know that I am going to do. I said well, there are Child Protective Services, and they can help you. Have you tried them? She said yes, but You see, it is so complicated. They ask so many questions that I cannot answer. I don’t know where parents are, or even who they are. Those government agencies will think I’ve kidnapped the lad.
Well, the long and short of the matter was I agreed to take her to a shelter for the homeless and then to take the lad, whom I learned was named Samuel, to a County Child Protective Agency to see if we could find the nearest of kin, or to stay there. It turned out they did not have room now and asked if I could be responsible for him until they called me. I agreed to do my best.
Well, little did I realize this would turn out to be longer and more complicated that I had first imagined. Sam and I became quite close and in fact became an adoption of sorts because the agency must have lost his papers and never called, which in the long run was fine. As it turned out, we decided to go fishing that next weekend and it was an experience that Sam took to in such an enthusiastic manner that I guess it sealed our bonding. He loved it so much that he didn’t want to leave, and on our drive back there was nothing else he wanted to talk about. We went over and talked about every little sunfish he had caught, every cast, every bait and how he had learned to quickly put his worm on the hook, and more.
Sam was so enthralled with the fishing expedition he wanted to go again the following week. When we returned home he had to tell Jean, my wife, his every cast, catch, and all about the entire expedition and that he wanted to go again the following weekend. I hadn’t promised but it looked like a done deal.
Well, such a good deal could not possibly last, and it didn’t because finally the Child’s Services finally got around to calling and collecting Sam from us. It was a sad but legal separation that we had long dreaded but suspected would happen. I kept in touch with his new adopted family and was satisfied they were a good fit, and I was able to both visit Sam and on occasion take him fishing. I became the same as a de facto adopted uncle. Jean and would have adopted Sam except we were too old for adopting such a young boy. It turned out to be the best arrangement that could have been made.
It was about this time that I woke up and realized it had all been just a dream. But I still remember the enthusiasm and energy of little Sam! He was a joy and if circumstances had been where we were younger, could have been a adopted son. Just Sayin…RJS
Feb 24, 2021 06:32:33 #
Feb 24, 2021 07:56:07 #
Feb 24, 2021 07:59:14 #
Feb 24, 2021 09:39:53 #
Feb 24, 2021 12:14:56 #
Yes, foertunately I don't have any nightmares. Just Sayin...RJS
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