Tommy's Story Conclusion

"Excuse me, But you are you are in MY tree house" This red hair boy said. "And you did not ask for permission to be here." "Oh I am sorry, we didn’t think anyone owned it, there was no houses around it and it looked old, dusty and abandoned. Come on Joshy we need to go." Tommy woke his little brother up, and tried to get him moving. "I don’t want to go Tommy, pleeeeease let me sleep a bit longer" he said as he curled up tighter into a ball. "Joshy this tree house is owned by someone. We have to leave." Tommy turned to the boy. "We really are sorry" the boy looked at both of them. He saw the dirt all over their faces and clothes and the scars from sleeping on the rough pavements at night. He could see the bags under their eyes. Joshy coughed as Tommy tried to pick him up.

The boy looked back and forth. "Are you two homeless? Where are your parents?" Tommy said sorry again and he rushed Joshy out of the tree house. "Hey wait, maybe I can help." Tommy stopped and looked at the boy. "Thanks but we are ok." He started to turn when the boy said. "Are you hungry?" he looked again at the boy. "Stay here; let me get you some food." Tommy was nervous to do so but he looked at Joshy and knew he needed to eat. Tommy anxiously stayed watching around them like a hawk. Making sure no one saw them. The red head boy returned with some food and drinks. "I am Danny what is your name?" he asked, as he watched Joshy scarf down the food. Tommy placed his food into their backpack thinking he can use it later for Joshy when he needed to eat. "Mmm this is soooo good." Joshy said. Tommy wasn’t sure giving their names was a bright idea. "Thank you, so much for your kindness. We really ought to be going." He started to move Joshy while Joshy was still eating.

"Don't leave. I can help you. Please let me help. My church is always taking care of the homeless. They give FREE bags of food and give FREE shelter to those that need it." Joshy looked at Tommy with begging eyes. Tommy knew Joshy just wanted to have one night indoors in a bed. "Thanks but..." before he could finish Danny said "I have video games! Come with me. You don’t have to stay, just come play for a small bit." "We can't...." again he was interrupted but this time it was Joshy.”Oh Please, Tommy please." he looked at Joshy. Then back at Danny. Tommy sighed "Ok but only for a small bit. When I say we have to go, then we have to leave. No complaining." Joshy grabbed his waist and hugged him. He coughed again.

Danny took them down the street to a house on a corner. Tommy started to have second thoughts. "Come on. It is ok. My big brother is the only one home. Mom and Dad went to get some groceries." Danny led them into the house up some stairs to the first door on the right. Inside was a bed and lots of toys and a TV with a video game system hooked up to it. "Sit." Danny said as they came in. Danny Turned on the video system and handed both of them the controllers. Tommy turned it down "If you don’t mind, I would rather just watch. “ Joshy and you should play.” Danny shrugged and began to play a video game with Joshy.

A few hours later Danny's parents came home. His mother heard a cough coming from his room. "Oh that does not sound lovely. It sounds like Danny has caught a cold." She headed up the stairs to see if he was ok. Danny overheard his parents coming home snuck quietly out of his room and met his mother on the stairs. He put a finger to his mouth to tell her to be quiet and led her back down stairs. As soon as she reached the bottom she heard the cough again, still coming from his room.

She turned to go back up but he grabbed her hand and led her into the front room where his dad was already sitting on the sofa. "Before you ask let me talk.... We have to help them. I found them hiding in my tree house...." "Who?" His mother asked. "These two boys: Tommy and his little brother Joshy. I think they are homeless. The little one seems really sick and the older one has grabbed his chest a few times. I don't think they have had a lot of sleep. Tommy fell asleep less than ten minutes after being here and Joshy 30 minutes later." His mother held her hands covering her mouth as Danny spoke. His father kept looking to the stairs. "Please we need to help them." Both parents went slowly and quietly up the stairs. They peeked inside his room. His mother gasped. Then she whispered to Danny "Don't wake them. I need to talk to your father."

Tommy woke a few hours later and found a blanket on him and a pillow tucked gently under his head; he looked over and saw Joshy had the same thing. Suddenly he got scared. We need to go, before they call the cops to come get us. Tommy thought. He went over to Joshy and quietly woke him up "Shhh it's time to go." "But I don’t want to" Joshy said. "Remember you promised no complaining." Joshy remembered and nodded his head. They slowly moved around folding their blankets and placing them neatly next to the pillows that were given for their use. Tommy looked around. Danny was asleep in his bed. I wonder what time it is? Tommy thought. Joshy coughed. "Shhh" Tommy said. Suddenly he noticed their backpacks were nowhere in sight. He looked at Joshy "Do you know where our bags are?" he whispered. Joshy just shook his head no. He started to quickly and quietly move around the room looking for them. Fear struck him. "We have to go now, with or without those bags. He grabbed Joshy and started to leave. He quietly closed the door behind him and turned around to see a man standing nearby. His chest shot a pain like none before. He grabbed his chest and fell. "Tommy!" yelled Joshy.

Tommy was picked up and carried down stairs. The man started checking his pulse. "I am going to take them to the doctors. Go wake Jamie to watch after Danny" he said to the lady who had come to the stairs after hearing the scream. She went and woke the older brother and told him to watch Danny. Luckily both boys slept through the scream so she didn't have them worried too. She grabbed a blanket, her purse and met the guy out by the car. He had already got Tommy into the seat and Joshy next to him. "If he starts to close his eyes I need you to tell me" he told the little boy. Joshy just nodded wide eyed. "It is going to be ok" Tommy tried to protest everything but was too weak and felt the pain attacking him non-stop.

The doctor came in with the father and mother of Danny, and sat next to Tommy's bed. Tommy looked at them then looked down. He knew this was it. They were caught and would have to return to an abusive father and a bickering mother. He was prepared to do this all over again if he could save Joshy. Then he realized Joshy wasn't in the room with them. "Where is my little brother?" "He is ok, he is being looked after by Michelle one of our nurses here. He is a very funny boy that Josh" "Joshy" Tommy mumbled under his breath. "He is very brave, just like his older brother." Tommy looked at his hands. He knew the question was going to come up and here it came. "Where are your parents?" the Doctor asked. "We don't have any...we are .... Orphans" Tommy said. Hoping that would end the questioning but of course it didn't. "Orphans huh, Well you are a very brave lad taking care of your brother. However I think there is more to this story then you are telling me." Tommy looked at his hands again.

"Your brother had a very bad cough. He could have died. I know you mean well by taking care of him but how were you going to support yourselves?" The mother spoke up. "Do you know why you were rushed to the hospital?" The father asked. "Because I fell?" Tommy asked but knew better. "You are stressing your body out, both of your bodies. Your little brother is not ready for this kind of environment and neither are you. The pain you are having is from stress." The doctor said. "What is your goal?" asked the father. "My goal was to keep us safe, to protect Joshy, to take away the hurt and pain we are having and to live stress free....." he trailed off as soon as he said stress free. "This isn't stress free is it?" asked the father. "Tommy shook his head no. "You can’t run from your problems all they do is catch up with you. Your problems hang on to you so it is easy for them to catch up." Tommy fidgeted in the hospital bed.

"Here is your choice. You can keep running and never go anywhere or you can let us help you. It is up to you. My wife and I would love to help you and your little brother." The mother reached across and placed her hand affectionately on his. He never could recall a time when he felt true warmth from love. He looked up at her. "Please, let us help. Not always are things going to be easy in life but we can help you through them."

Tommy never asked for help instead he was being asked if he could be helped. His mind processes was always put up a wall, don’t trust others and protect what you have. Here was someone telling him to take down that wall and trust others, even if things get rough there is always a way out. He was not used to this. At first Tommy struggled with opening up, later he started to open up more and more. It took a long time for him to fully trust another person.

Now I can tell you it was mostly happily ever after. Tommy and Joshy's real parents lost custody of them and they were adopted by Danny's parents. The pain that Tommy had and the cough that Joshy had went away. Their life is a lot different. The father has taught Tommy that when he stressed not to run instead to face it straight on. He showed him different techniques of how to overcome things. Like instead of struggling on not remembering things for a test he makes up a rap to remember what he has to learn, or when he gets pains he goes into the front room sits down and prays. Tommy and Joshy's life have changed for the better.

Phillip opened his mailbox and received a card: Hey I am stoked over the ski trip we have planned. Danny, Jamie, Joshy You, Dawn, and I are going to have a blast lol and of course our parents will too. Dad has already rented our cabins and equipment. You don’t need anything, other than yourself!! Phillip smiled.


So as you see each deals with stress differently. Phillip ignored it, and Tommy ran from it. Both learned that ignoring and running does not make it go away. They had to confront stress and work on solutions. It is not always the best idea to do it alone. You may learn so much more with others help. They can support you.

How do you cope with stress? Send me a comment or an email and let me know.

~Hugs Keyria~

I love you, Lord, You are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior. My God is my rock in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and He saved me from my enemies." Psalm 18:1-3