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    CLJobe
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

Box of Crackers - 1. Chapter 1

“Good night Mr. Atwood, unless you need me for anything, I’ll be going now.”

“Good night Mrs. Marlow, be careful, it’s very cold outside.”

“Pete, I’m leaving. I have all of the Altmeyer accounts up to date. I want to get to my sister’s before it’s too late. I’m not sure what the conditions of the roads will be once I leave the city.”

“Good night Dave, drive carefully and I’ll see you on Monday.”

Dave and I are partners in an accounting firm. After getting my MBA and Dave getting his law degree, we decided to open an accounting firm as partners. We have been in business for six years and doing quite well. I focused on accounting practices and I have my CPA, Dave focused on the legal side of accounting. Together, we have been successful in selling our services to a few small corporations, as an independent auditing firm, and several individuals.

I finished the report I was working on and decided I’d go home as well. I put the draft report in my briefcase, closed the office and left. I live in a fairly new apartment complex close to work. It takes me about twenty minutes to walk home, close enough and far enough to not feel like I was at work all the time. I stopped at the corner grocer to pick up a few items, turned out I had two shopping bags to carry, as well as my briefcase. I only had a block to go before I got home, so I gathered everything in my arms and left. When I got to my apartment building, I set down my brief case, punch in the door code and pushed the door open.

“Good evening Mr. Atwood”

“Good evening Andy, how has your day been?”

“It’s been good, too cold to be outside, glad I have this job. The weatherman said it was the coldest day in several years and might set a record. I’d hate for anyone to be out in this weather.”

Andy, got the elevator for me, punched in my floor number and said good night.

I live on the third floor by the elevator button but actual the sixth floor in the apartment building. Each apartment consists of two floors but the elevator only stops at every other floor. I like my apartment, it’s different and rather unusual. When you enter my apartment, you’re on the first floor, which includes two rooms and a bathroom. The next level up includes a kitchen, master bedroom, laundry room, a half bath and a large living-dining room area. I converted one of the bedrooms on the first floor to an office and the other bedroom to a guest room. I dropped off my briefcase in the office and was just getting ready to go upstairs when the phone rang.

“Mr. Atwood, there’s a kid here who says you dropped a box of crackers.” I looked in the two bags, and the crackers were missing.

“Andy, send him up I’ll meet him at the door.”

“Mr. Atwood, I think it best if you come down.”

I thought that was strange, I put the groceries in the kitchen and headed down to the lobby.

When I arrived, Andy pointed to a small kid holding a box of crackers. The kid had on a light jacket, a knitted cap that had seen better days and worn sneakers. If anything the kid looked scared and cold.

“Thank you for bringing my box of crackers. I didn’t realize that I had dropped it.” “

You dropped it when you were putting the code into the door lock. I was walking by and thought I’d bring it to you.”

I shook his hand and they were very cold. “What’s your name?”

“Bobby sir”

“Well Robert…”

“No sir, my real name is Bobby. My mother liked that name as it was what they called my uncle who was killed in the war.”

“Ok, Bobby it is. Where do you live?”

“Just down the block sir”

Now I knew there were no apartments just down the block. At that end of the apartment complexes was a public park. “Why don’t you come upstairs and have a cup of hot chocolate as a payment for your good deed”

He agreed and taking the box of crackers and his hand, we took the elevator to my apartment. When we entered the apartment, he took off his jacket, I hung it on one of the pegs next to the door. He had on a t-shirt, I knew if he was outside on a night like tonight, he’d freeze to death. He followed me upstairs to the kitchen. I had a small table in the kitchen where I normally ate my meals. “Sit here Bobby, I’ll fix a hot chocolate for both of us.”

“Sir, is there a place where I can wash my hands?” I pointed to the half bath. I could hear the water running, then he was back at the table. His eyes were red, he had been crying.

I placed a cup of hot chocolate in front of him, I sat across from him. As he looked at me I noticed the palest blue eyes I have ever seen. They were entrancing, then he took off his cap, he had the blackest hair that seemed to set off his eyes even more. I thought that this kid could be a model.

“Bobby, I was going to make soup and sandwiches for my dinner, do you have time to join me.” Bobby started to cry, “What’s the matter?”

“I have no place to go. I don’t want to go back outside, it’s too cold.” I open a few cans of chicken soup and started to heat it while I was thinking about what Bobby was saying. The kid was a throw away. I read about kids being put out on the street, this is the first kid I met.

“Bobby, if you like you could stay here for the night.”

I felt his arms around my legs as he hugged me. I’m tall at 6’6’’ and Bobby just reached my waist. I must have looked like a giant to him. “It’s ok Bobby, we’ll work something out.” There was no way I’d turn him out tonight. “Bobby, do you like grilled cheese sandwiches?” I know everyone likes chicken soup and the canned soup I buy is the top of the line, it’s the brand with the most chicken. Some brands are mostly broth and you need to go fishing for the chicken.

I led him back to the table and to his hot chocolate. “Grilled cheese?” He nodded yes and he began to drink his chocolate. The soup was almost ready when I made three grilled cheese sandwiches. I ladled the soup into two bowls, placed them on the table, cut the sandwiches in half and placed them on the table and made myself a cup of coffee.“Be careful with the soup, it’s hot.”

I sat there slowly eating as I watched Bobby. For some reason he drew me to him, was it the eyes or because this is the first street kid I have met. I never married, therefore, I never had any kids. Even if I was married, I wouldn’t be fathering any children, I’m gay.

It didn’t take Bobby long to finish the soup and two sandwiches. He was so skinny I wondered where he put it. “There is more soup do you want it” He shook his head no and rubbed his stomach. “Bobby, how would you like to stay the night as my guest?” He got out of his chair and threw himself at me. “I take that as a yes?”

He nodded his head and started to cry again. “How about you taking a shower and then you can sleep in the guest room downstairs. I took him to the shower, told him to put his clothes outside of the door and I’d wash them for him. “I’ll put some clothes here for you to wear while your clothes are drying.”

I showed him where the towels were and gave him an extra toothbrush. I closed the door and went to find some clothes for him to wear. I got one of my t-shirts and a pair of jogging pants with a draw cord at the waist. I laughed thinking what he would look like in these clothes.

Gathering them up, I took them down to the bathroom, outside the door were his clothes. I place my clothes there and went back up to the laundry room. As I put the clothes into the washer, I noted the sizes. If I feel like I do now, in the morning we’ll be going shopping.

I was watching the news waiting for the weather report when he walked into the room. I almost laughed, the t-shirt would have been enough, it hung to his knees and the neck was so large it almost fell off. “Come and sit here beside me, I want to see what the weather report will be for tomorrow.” He sat beside me as I put my arm around him drawing him closer. As I listened to the news, I looked at him, “Bobby, can you tell me why you’re on the street?”

He looked at me, “My dad said I was useless and told me to leave.”

How could any father look at this boy and tell him to leave? “Why did he say you were useless? You're a very considerate boy, anybody in your situation would’ve taken my crackers and kept them, you returned them.” I looked onto those blue eyes and could see tears. “Look Bobby, you can tell me anything. You're not going to sleep outside. There’s a warm bed waiting for you downstairs.”

He looked like he was thinking, could he trust this stranger or not. He thought his dad loved him but he was wrong about that. I could see the confusion in Bobby’s face. After thinking for a few moments I thought I’d try a different tactic. “I’d never throw away a child. I’ll probably never be a father, but I’d love to have a child in my life.”

“Why won’t you be a father?”

“I prefer men to women, I’m gay.” I watched Bobby’s eyes when I said that. He looked at me and I saw relief and then dread in the eyes. “Bobby, because I’m gay doesn’t mean I want to have sex with a child. I like men not boys.”

The dread in his eyes vanished, I knew what he was thinking, sex for a warm bed. That thought must go through every homeless child’s mind tonight.

When the weather report came on, it wasn’t good news. The cold spell was expected to last several days. “Let’s get ready for bed, come and I’ll tuck you in.” I walked downstairs with him my hand on his shoulder. I pulled down the covers, he knelt by the bed and said a prayer.

When he was finished he said, "Thanks Mommy”. I tucked him in and wished him a good night. I left the door slightly open and the light in the entry way on.

Going back upstairs I put his clothes into the dryer, watched a little more TV until the clothes were dried. I called Mrs. Marlow and told her to take the day off. Then I called a lawyer friend and invited him to have lunch tomorrow at Luigi’s. My circle of friends and I ate there often, good Italian food and we’re appreciated by the owner. That may seem strange to those who don’t understand about gay acceptance. There are a lot of places that refuse to serve the gay community, and then there’s Luigi’s. The owner is a smart man, money has no sex and he was in a business to make money. By catering to the gay crowd, he was guaranteed a successful business. The gay crowd appreciated that and supported him.

Laying in bed that night, I kept thinking about Bobby. If I could get his father to sign the right papers, he could be my son. I think my heart took an extra beat at that thought. I couldn’t get his eyes out of my head.

Copyright © 2020 CLJobe; All Rights Reserved.
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 
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Chapter Comments



31 minutes ago, chris191070 said:

Great start to the story. Let's hope Bobby has found his forever home.

I think he may have if Pete has his way.

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20 minutes ago, drsawzall said:

Great start from me as well, can't wait to see how this plays out.😃!!

The author told me this will play out as life plays out. I'm joshing. Pete and Bobby are off to a good start. Pete made it clear he wasn't into boys.

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Just now, Wesley8890 said:

Very much looking forward to more

I'm glad. Thanks for reading chapter 1

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1 minute ago, mfa607 said:

Exactly my point too. Maybe I wasn’t clear, but parents should be screened before they have kids. 

As weird as that may sound, but they should be.

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I have these neighbor that live close to me they have a fenced in yard and I always see two basset hound dogs out in front.We live a few houses down from a middle school with a big grassy area in front.One daI witnessed a car stopping out in front of the school and they left an full grown adult basset hound out and drove off.It was obvious to me that they did that thinking the family with the other basset hounds would take it but if they didn't oh well not their problem.The family did take the dog long story which I won't tell here.My long winded point is it ticked me off to see that(using a polite term here).The very idea someone would do the same thing to a kid makes my blood boil.I would have no mercy for someone like that

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31 minutes ago, CLJobe said:

As weird as that may sound, but they should be.

I have a son from when I was ‘straight’. My ex and I shared custody. I had him for summers and beaks. I eventually met my husband. 
My ex eventually remarried too (my husband set up her match.com account that she met her husband on). 
we were close.
My son graduated from high school and ran away to me. We’ve found about so much emotional abuse. 
This hits really close to home although for me. 
The good guys give me hope. 

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Great start to this New story, not the best way to meet someone, but he obviously has an awesome heart and a ton of compassion I suspect that his mother is no longer around , and his sperm donor needs to neutered

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1 hour ago, mfa607 said:

Exactly my point too. Maybe I wasn’t clear, but parents should be screened before they have kids. 

if they could, I'd agree

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46 minutes ago, Gomez Stanley C said:

Thanks for another good story. Looking forward to seeing a new family develop here.

Thanks, as with life, there are surprises along the way

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1 hour ago, weinerdog said:

I have these neighbor that live close to me they have a fenced in yard and I always see two basset hound dogs out in front.We live a few houses down from a middle school with a big grassy area in front.One daI witnessed a car stopping out in front of the school and they left an full grown adult basset hound out and drove off.It was obvious to me that they did that thinking the family with the other basset hounds would take it but if they didn't oh well not their problem.The family did take the dog long story which I won't tell here.My long winded point is it ticked me off to see that(using a polite term here).The very idea someone would do the same thing to a kid makes my blood boil.I would have no mercy for someone like that

I agree, these people are heartless. Cruelty is unforgiven, no matter if it affects an animal or a human being.

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9 hours ago, CLJobe said:

As weird as that may sound, but they should be.

Please verify no changes to the provisions of your certificate of mental, physical, and financial well being...no changes? Thank you, please step forward for the retinal confirmation of your recertification. We’ll then be able to have the hormonal and neurological damper flash deactivated for the period requested and approved, at the expiration of your permit to bred certificate your horneu-damper will automatically reactivate until your next recertification. Thank you, next!

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1 hour ago, Philippe said:

Please verify no changes to the provisions of your certificate of mental, physical, and financial well being...no changes? Thank you, please step forward for the retinal confirmation of your recertification. We’ll then be able to have the hormonal and neurological damper flash deactivated for the period requested and approved, at the expiration of your permit to bred certificate your horneu-damper will automatically reactivate until your next recertification. Thank you, next!

As you and I both know, that will never happen and children will continue to be made to feel unwanted. I haven't focused on adults who are made to feel unwanted for the same reason, but I will. Society can be and is cruel to anyone who does not meet their norm. 

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1 hour ago, CLJobe said:

As you and I both know, that will never happen and children will continue to be made to feel unwanted. I haven't focused on adults who are made to feel unwanted for the same reason, but I will. Society can be and is cruel to anyone who does not meet their norm. 

Oh yeah, that was totally tongue in cheek. I Unfortunately understand the topic all too well. I went through the official training for adoption and mentoring in child protective services. Now I would not have been allowed to adopt; you’re too old...hmmm, I was only 51 and wasn’t looking to adopt a baby but an older adolescent or young teen. I likewise saw another rejection for the person being single?? How many kids have good single parent homes? Can the system really believe it better to keep a kid until aging out as being better than allowing the less than perfect: young, two parent, economically and financially secure couple (gays accepted but amazingly at much lower percentages). So I really knew I was just trying to mentor or be a big brother to a kid(s) needing someone to care beyond a job and a case file.

So, Even the kids that are placed in government care, group homes, and foster care, it’s so sad to see the out of sight and beuricratic mentality for kids. The contracts on group homes are made for keeping occupancy and not finding placements. Job security and imposing that authority is again paramount while kids sit for years to time out at 18 years of age; totally unprepared and without even a license to make job opportunities realistic.

So It’s no wonder the government kids wind up incarcerated or destitute in very high percentages; often >70%, good thing the government took them from the unsafe home environment. How sad that there are no follow up programs with realIstic metrics to place these kids.

Now this leads to just why many kids would avoid “government help” in lieu of the streets. The street being more favorable than dismal stockyards of the group homes. 

Edited by Philippe
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4 minutes ago, Philippe said:

Oh yeah, that was totally tongue in cheek. I Unfortunately understand the topic all too well. I went through the official training for adoption and mentoring in child protective services. Now I would not have been allowed to adopt; your too old...hmmm, I was only 51 and wasn’t looking to adopt a baby but an older adolescent or young teen. I likewise saw another rejection for the person being single?? How many kids have good single parent homes? Can the system really believe it better to keep a kid until aging out as being better than allowing the less than perfect: young, two parent, economically and financially secure couple (gays accepted but amazingly at much lower percentages). So I really knew I was just trying to mentor or be a big brother to a kid(s) needing someone to care beyond a job and a case file.

So, Even the kids that are placed in government care, group homes, and foster care, it’s so sad to see the out of sight and beuricratic mentality for kids. The contracts on group homes are made for keeping occupancy and not finding placements. Job security and imposing that authority is again paramount while kids sit for years to time out at 18 years of age; totally unprepared and without even a license to make job opportunities realistic.

So It’s no wonder the government kids wind up incarcerated or destitute in very high percentages; often >70%, good thing the government took them from the unsafe home environment. How sad that there are no follow up programs with realIstic metrics to place these kids.

Now this leads to just why many kids would avoid “government help” in lieu of the streets. The street being more favorable than dismal stockyards of the group homes. 

You are more knowledgeable about this than I am, obviously. I spent several years in Europe. During that time I met a lot of young people who were victims of parental hate, one boy, who was 18 at that time, told me his parents tossed him out at the age of 13. I asked him how he lived, he told me. Not a happy story. He now works as a bartender and lives a lonely life. I met another young man who fled from his home country. I keep in touch with him, he has found a partner and between them, they have bought a small business. Life is hard for a lot of people, but it is the hardest for those who only see the backs of the people who should be helping them and loving them. Thanks for your comments. You may have said that in jest, but the idea has merit 

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