Intermission Abel

We were sitting around a camp fire a month after Esther had joined us. She wanted to know about everyone else, so we decided to share stories.

Sofiya shared a story about how they pranked their father.

Yuliya shared how their mother was the ultimate caretaker, and no one got away once she put her mind to it.

Adaeze shared a story from one of her many jobs.

Ogun wouldn't share, which was a bummer for Esther.

Carter told of his mentor, a man who saved his life and raised him to the fighter he was today.

I didn't have much to share.

We finally got around to Abel, who was fidgeting.

"Well, I kind of have one. It's about my little sister Rosalie."

He told us about how she was always a big brother's girl. Ever since she was a baby, he looked after her for his parents, who worked so much to provide for them. She was ten years younger than him, bit he didn't mind playing with the things she wanted to play with. Whenever she laughed it made him happy.

Once, when she was six her class was doing a show and tell. The theme was 'What Makes You Happiest', and all the kids usually brought in toys, or snacks. 

Rosalie however, wanted to bring in her brother. 

It was policy of the school to keep the children engaged, so they wanted to grant her wish, but it wasn't that simple. After much deliberation, then agreed in the end, but he couldn't stay all day.

With permission from Abel's own school and their parents for him to miss a day, he went with Rosalie to her school.

All the other kids kept looking at him, wondering why he was there, which was embarrassing for him, but he would do anything for his little sister. The other students went one by one, sharing their items. Each time, they would receive applause and then go back to their seat.

"Rosalie, would you please come up here and share with us?"

She excitedly got up, looked back at him and whispered "Come on bubby"

When she stood in front of the class with her brother, the other students laughed. The teacher tried to stop them, but they wouldn't listen.

"Why is your thing your brother?" One girl asked.

"Doesn't he have to go to school too?" A boy added.

"How does he make you happier than candy?" A second boy shouted.

"Does your candy play dollies with you?" Rosalie shouted, silencing her classmates. "My bubby does!" She had tears in her eyes, but they were from anger.

The other students looked confused and looked around at each other.

"My bubby could go away and play with other people, but he always plays with me instead. When mommy has to study for her adult school, bubby plays with me. When daddy is too tired from work, bubby plays with me. When I'm hungry, bubby makes me food. When I get hurt, bubby makes it feel better." She stomped her feet, causing her red pigtails to flop around like two snakes ready to bite the next classmate that laughed. "Can your toys do that?"

Behind them, the teacher was recording on her phone, tears in her eyes.

She wasn't the only one. Abel was crying too. He just did it because he didn't want her to be lonely. He knew she was picked on by the other kids in the neighborhood. To hear that she valued him so much made him the happiest brother.

He scooped her up in a big hug and twirled her around, causing her to giggle loudly.

Later that day, when his parents got home, they gave him the warmest hugs he had ever had.

"You are such a little man now." His mom said with tears in her eyes.

"I'm so proud of you son." His dad said.

Abel was so confused. "What is all this?"

His mom pulled out her phone and showed him a video. It was from his sister's teacher. From the moment she shouted at her classmates, everything was on video.

"The teachers record these events now in case something precious happens and they want to share it with the parents. We are so grateful for you, caring for your sister when we can't.

That was the moment that Abel realized he had the warmest family to exist.

When he was done telling his story, Abel finally looked at us, and then panicked.

"Why are you all crying?"

Esther wiped her tears away. "Because that was so beautiful! I have no idea what candy or a phone is, but it was just too much!"

Sofiya and Yuliya were holding onto each other crying. Skylar was trying not to look like she was, and next to her Adaeze was smiling so widely. Carter even had a tear rolling down his cheek. Ogun had left partway through the story so we had no reaction from him, but I myself wiped a tear away for more than just the story.

I finally realized to what extent Abel was a good person.