Kids Giving

Elijah, Demetri and Kendrick are walking home from school ready to start their Thanksgiving vacation. “I can’t wait to get my hands on that fried turkey” Elijah said enthusiastically. “Don’t you mean your tastebuds?” Demetri responded sarcastically. “You know what I’m talking about, Metri. This food is about to be SMACK!!! Ain’t that right, Kendrick?” Kendrick was looking across the street distracted by what met his eyes. “K-dot! What you lookin’ at?” Elijah asked. “Y’all see him over there?” Kendrick asked.

Elijah and Demetri looked across the street and saw a little boy sitting on his front porch with a sad look on his face. “Hey I know him.” Demetri started. “He’s a year younger than us. That’s the new kid Allen. He lives with his grandma.” “Yeah I think that’s the new 6th grader who just moved here like 2 weeks ago. Did y’all hear what happened to his parents?” Elijah asked. “His parents died in a car accident almost three weeks ago. He’s been living there with his grandma ever since.” Kendrick and Demetri stared across the street with looks of sympathy for Allen.

“Yeah and I hear his grandma is on disability so she ain’t able to do much.” Elijah continued. “Well what are they doin’ for Thanksgiving?” Kendrick asked. “For all the families over here who can’t do anything or afford their own Thanksgiving I think the church is gonna help them out.” Demetri responded. “That ain’t no way to spend Thanksgiving.” Kendrick said unsatisfied. Maybe we can invite them to have Thanksgiving dinner with our families.” “Well that might be a good idea.” Elijah added. “I mean, our families all are gettin’ together for dinner and we’ll have more than enough food, so yeah. Maybe we could do that. “Let’s ask our moms.” Kendrick added.

As the three boys walked up the stair and into Kendrick’s house all of their mothers were already cooking the food for the next day. “Hey boys.” said Kendrick’s mother Louise. “How was your last day of the week?” Elijah’s mother Adina asked. “Mama we wanted to ask y’all something.” Demetri began. “What is it, baby?” Demetri’s mother Laura asked. “Can we invite the new kid Allen across the street to have dinner with us tomorrow? His grandma isn’t able to cook and he’s goin through a hard time right now since his parents passed away a few weeks ago.”

“Yeah.” Kendrick added. “He could use some friends in a new place right now and his grandma might like havin y’all as company for the day.” “So you tryna call us old?” Louise asked sarcastically. “”You know” Laura started. “I think the boys are right. Those folks really could use some family company for the holiday.” Louise and Adina nodded in agreement. “Why don’t y’all go ahead and run across the street and see if they wanna join us tomorrow.” Adina said.

The trio ran across the street and found Allen still sitting on his porch. “Hey Allen.” Demetri said approaching the porch. “Hey.” Allen said with surprise. “I’m Demetri, and this is Kendrick and Elijah. Tomorrow our mom are cooking for the holiday and we wanted to see if you and your grandma wanted to join us. “THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL!” Allen’s grandmother Esther yelled from inside the living room. All the boys laughed together at her eavesdropping. “Well it looks like we’ll be there.” Allen added. “Cool.” Kendrick replied. “Alright we’ll see you tomorrow around three.

Thursday, Thanksgiving day. Kendrick, Elijah and Demetri arrive at Allen’s house to walk him and his grandma across the street to join them for Thanksgiving dinner. Allen and Esther both had big smiles on their faces as they were excited to be part of another family for the holiday. The four of young boys all came together to help Esther walk with her cane across the street to Kendrick’s house. When they made it inside Esther was introduced to the women of the house. “Hi.” Louise began. “I’m Louise, this is Laura and Adina.” “Nice to meet you all, I’m Esther. Thank you so much for having us over.” “It’s no trouble at all.” Adina responded. “We’re just glad to have you join us.”

As everyone sat at the dinner table to eat Esther conversed with the women in the family while Allen talked with the young men. “So how long have you been living here Esther?” Laura asked. “Over 40 years.” Esther replied. “I thought about selling my house after my late husband passed away a couple years back because I didn’t have anyone else to really talk to, but after Allen’s parents passed away I decided to keep it because I knew he needed a new home.” The three mothers sat quiet after listening to Esther for a brief moment. “Well.” Adina began. “We’re happy to have you for the holiday and if you’ll have us in return we’d like to be your new friends, if you’ll have us.” “I would love that.” Esther replied with a smile as Adina, Louise and Laura smiled back.

“So Allen.” Elijah began. “You like basketball?” “Oh most definitely.” Allen responded. “My favorite team is Miami.” “The Heat?” Demetri asked. “You went out like a sucker. It’s all about the Lakers, ain’t that right Kendrick?” “You know im a Warriors fan.” Kendrick responded. “Curry is the greatest.” “Oh whatever.” Elijah remarked. “Allen if you think this is bad you should see us at the lunch table, I swear the drama never ends.” “Well with me being knew I never really have anyone to sit with at lunch.” Allen responded. “Well that’s okay.” Kendrick began. “Because everyday you’re gonna sit with your new best friends and hear the bickering all the time.” Demetri and Elijah nodded with smiles of agreement. “I’m down with that.” Allen responded as he smiled and was thankful for this new gift of friendship.