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- 11/29/2020
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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.
Salvation - 40. Chapter39
“Never thought you would ask. Here’s my list.”
Looking over the list, “Peter, we will need to take the truck.”
“Does anyone know where Daniel is?”
“I’m here, sir.”
“Daniel, we have to go and get you some new clothes, so if you’re ready, we can leave now.”
The first stop was clothes for Daniel, J.C.Penny’s would get another chunk of my money. I watched Daniel as we picked out his clothes. When I picked up the sweats, he smiled. The next stop was the pet store for collars and name tags. I bought collars that could be adjusted as the dogs grew. I knew I’d need to buy more as the dogs mature unless I took care of that with the collars I just bought. While there, I bought more dog food, two 50 lbs bags
Finally, we went to the wholesale center to fill Maria’s list. As we walk around with the cart, I noticed Daniel looked at specific items. “Daniel, if you see something you would like, pick it up and put it on the cart. Just make sure you put enough for everyone because they’ll all want some.” I was surprised, he’d pick up an item, look at it, read the label and then put it back.
Going into the cold box, Daniel got stuck at the seafood counter. “Sir, what is this?”
“That’s salmon, it’s very good. No, you like fish?”
“I only had it once. It was very good.”
“Then I think we should have more.” I bought enough salmon for fifty people. Being a supply house for restaurants, they had no problem with that order. I asked if they had lox, he told me we could find it in the refrigerator section. I asked Peter to go and get it, enough for at least fifty people, two servings.
“Daniel, do you like shrimp?”
“What’s shrimp?”
“These are shrimp. They are very good.”
So I bought several boxes of cleaned shrimp. I looked around. They had lobster tails, which were about 12 oz’s per tail. I bought fifty of those. Peter brought a box of lox and wanted to know if that is what I wanted. I said yes, and he went and brought 25 boxes. The next stop was for butter and some garlic. We were ready for a feast when we got home.
The boys met us as we pulled in front of the house. I gave them the pet collars, treats, handbags of food.. They took off, and the older boys helped to unload the truck, taking it into the kitchen where Maria told them where to put the packages.
Daniel took his clothes upstairs to his room. He came down wearing his new clothes with a smile.
“Did you miss anything?”
“I don’t think so. You know, as we shopped, I never realized that the boys missed out on so much, never had salmon, never had shrimp nor lobster. Not that I had that every day, but I knew about them, and on occasion, I had some. Daniel didn’t know any of that. He said he had some fish once. Now we’ll have some and see if the boys like it, and then maybe we’ll have it more often. There are other fish we could eat, tuna, snapper, bass, all good fish.”
“Carleton, which fish do you want for dinner tonight?”
“Let’s have the salmon. Daniel was fascinated with that at the wholesaler.”
Maria taught Ron and David how to prepare the salmon. I knew we’d have that more often.
Later that evening, Sal mentioned that Alex said that one young man started saving these boys.
I looked at him, my eyes were teary, “Yes, there was. He drives me to save these boys. I can’t forget him.”
I thought about my lost son. I knew what I was going to do. The next day I went to the coroner and asked if he a picture of the boy. I had to relive the murder all over again. He membered because the boy was so young. “A man paid for everything. If I remember, he was pretty shocked. Yes, I have a file picture. I’ll get it for you.”
I waited about 30 minutes when he returns with the photo. I thanked him and quickly left. When I got in the car, I started to cry. After calming down, I called Judy. I asked her to do a search and find me a good artist who paints in oils.
She called back 4 hours later, saying her friend at the art galley recommend an artist. “You have an appointment tomorrow at 10 am.”
In the morning, I told Peter the address. When we arrived there, I took the picture. The artist was working on a portrait when I knocked. I introduced myself, explained what I wanted, showed him the picture.
“This child is dead?”
“Yes” I told him the story and what I wanted. “He haunts me, in a good way, not a bad way. Because of him, I have saved over 30 boys from the street. I need a portrait of him, and you have been recommended.”
“Okay, it’ll take me a while. What color was his hair and eyes?”
“He had light sandy hair and blue eyes. Could you put a smile on his lips.”
“Sure, how big do you want it.”
I looked around, “How about the same size as the portrait you’re now working on.”
He said okay, I gave him my card. “Do you need any money upfront?”
“No, you can pay what you think the picture is worth when I’m done.”
“Peter, let’s go to that place.”
Peter drove me to my lost son. I sat in front of his grave. I talked to him, told him about the number of boys living with me, told him about the dogs and making a speech at the United Nations. “I wish I knew your name, I’m having your portrait painted. I’m going to find out your name, my son. I live that day over and over again. Every time a young lad goes to the men’s room, I have a nervous reaction. I’m hoping I’ll get over this by having your picture and knowing your name. I’m so sorry.”
I sat there and cried like a baby. I hated all men with those twisted thoughts. I hated that there were bigots who toss these boys away like garbage. I must have sat there too long. Peter came and sat down beside me. I was still crying. He put his arm around me; it didn’t help.
“Peter, I’ll never get over this. The cruelty of that man, the innocence of this child, where was God. His father and mother, where were they, and why did they not protect him. Peter, why didn’t I go into the bathroom with him to help him get cleaned. All I have are questions, no answers, no relief from my guilt.”
Peter put his arm around me, “Let’s go home.”
“I can’t do this. I’m not Carleton.” Tears ran down his cheeks as he looked at the book. “I’ll tell Steven that I’m not the right man for this.”
Going to bed, sleep didn’t come easily. He drifted off, but he wasn’t alone. He had a dream, a young boy and an old man came to him. They nodded yes, the young boy came, with tears in his eyes, kissed Robert on the cheek. Robert woke up, and felt the tear on his cheek.
Not being able to sleep any longer, he went to the kitchen. There on the breakfast bar was the book, opened to where he left off, a tear marked the spot,
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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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