Kevin was thinking about his late grandmother, as he was looking at the old sofa she had. Kevin said, “I’m going to miss Granny,” he was looking at the stain he left on the sofa, while he was drinking juice.
His father kicked the sofa, as he said, “Why mourn for an old trout who left you this junk?”
Kevin said silently, “This sofa isn’t junk. It’s Granny’s memory,”
His father continued, “Have you forgotten she ratted me out to Social Services and how she tried to hand you over to that other family?”
“Those people aren’t too bad, and they let me come here for a few days because of Granny’s funeral. I wish I didn’t need to go back…I want to live with you,” Kevin responded.
“Cheer up, kiddo!” His father said with a chuckle, he continued, “We’ll figure it out!”
Kevin hugged to his father. After that, his father went to the kitchen, to het a beer, and sat on his wheelchair to watch TV.
As Kevin lost his mother six months ago, now she was dealing with the loss of his grandmother. He was aware that his father wasn’t the same affectionate person as his mother.
As he was sitting at the sofa of his grandmother, he felt a solid object inside the sofa, as he shouted, “There’s something inside!”
As he looked at his father, he was looking at the TV, as he didn’t heard Kevin. Then, Kevin turned the cushion upside down, and saw that there was a hole on it. Inside the cushion, there was a box, which was written on it, “For Kevin.”
As he opened the box, he found an envelope, and some legal documents. He started to read the letter his grandmother written for him.
“Dearest Kevin, I apologize for pressuring you while you’re so young, honey, but your future depends on you making a smart choice. Your father only returned for his inheritance.”
Some months before Kevin’s grandmother’s passing.
“Linda? What are you doing here?” Jerry asked, as he was at the apartment door.
“I’m here to see Kevin. Where is he?”
“Uh, well, dunno. What day is it today?”
“Tuesday!” She said, and entered to the apartment, which she was shocked with the view of the mess of the apartment.
“Have you been feeding him this?” She asked, as she pointed out the microwave.
“Good old mac and cheese. Carbs and dairy. Good for growing and stuff,” Jerry said.
“What about Kevin’s toys? I don’t see them anywhere.”
“Uh, well, kids these days….You know, they’re more into electronic stuff.”
Linda was angry, “Don’t you dare lie to me!”
“I’ve been sending money to you to make sure my grandson doesn’t miss out on anything, Jerry. He needs fruits and vegetables and unprocessed meat, not your microwaved junk! And I bet he’s no longer going to the soccer club I’m paying for ’cause you’re too lazy to take him there!”
Jerry was annoyed, as he said, “OK, just because you’re helping us out doesn’t mean you get to tell me what to do, Linda! I know how to raise my son!”
“Granny?” Kevin was inside. Linda turned to her back, and hugged Kevin, as she said, “Oh boy, you’re home late!”
“Dad, you said yesterday you’d pick me up, but you never came,”
“I meant tomorrow. Now, hurry to do your homework.” Jerry said.
Linda was mad with Jerry’s behaviour, as she said, “I know what’s going on here, Jerry,”
“Pull yourself together or be ready to face the consequences. I won’t sit idly by while you fall apart or let you drag my grandson down with you,”
After some weeks later, Linda was in her nursing home, where she was sitting in the lobby. Nurse Denise asked to Linda, “You need help, Linda?”
“Darling, I need a big favor,” she said to Denise.
“I’ve been to the Social Services to get my son-in-law’s parental rights removed. He’s been neglecting my grandson, Denise. He only cares about the money he’ll get from the state and me. I know you’ve wanted to adopt for ages. Adopt my grandson,”
Denise was surprised, as she said, “Oh my god, Linda. I don’t know…I’m so honored and nervous,”
Denise continued, “but I’d be delighted to welcome Kevin into the family, and I know my husband will feel the same way.”
Linda was crying, she said, “Bless you, dear. I’ll talk to my lawyer then,”
“Oh, you lifted a heavy worry from my shoulders. Thank you. Thank you.”
“You don’t realize,” Denise was sobbing, “you’ve given me the best gift ever: a child to love. I should be the one thanking you.”
When Kevin went to Denise’s house, she showed his room to Kevin, as she said, “So, this will be your room, Kevin! Do you like it?”
“It’s nice,” Kevin responded.
Miguel, Denise’s husband said, “Well, we can always change the decor if you don’t like it,”
Linda said, “Let Kevin have some time to live in the room before making big decisions,”
“I know it’s strange, dear, but give them a chance,” she said to her grandson.
Linda was worried about her grandson’s reaction to live with Denise. Then her phone ranged, it was Denise calling.
“Is everything OK, Denise?” She asked to Denise.
“No, Linda, I just went to check on Kevin and ask if he wanted a cookie, but he’s not here! I searched everywhere! I think he’s run away!”
Linda was shocked, as she said, “Good Lord,”
“I think I know where he’s gone, dear. Don’t worry. I’ll bring him back to you.”
As Linda went to Jerry’s house, along with Mrs. Jamerson, Kevin’s caseworker, Jerry said to her, as he was smiling, “Does it bug you to see all your clever plans come to nothing?”
“No matter what you do, Linda, Kevin will keep running back home to his dad, where he belongs!”
As Linda was thinking that Jerry was having trouble with his wife’s passing, she saw in his eyes that he was greedy. She understand that Jerry was after her inheritance, Linda said, “I think I know how to convince you to do the right thing, Jerry,”
“$50,000, and you leave Kevin alone.”
“C’mon, you can do better, Linda. Try $300,000, and we’ll see.”
“But I don’t have that kind of money!”
“Guess you don’t value your grandson as much as you pretend to,” he laughed, “I’ll see you next time he comes home running,”
*****
Kevin kept reading the letter,
“…so I had to do this, honey, to uncover your father’s true character. The legal papers in this box say that Jerry can get all my money with one condition: he should stay away from you. But Jerry doesn’t know the documents are fake.”
“Give them to him. If he destroys them, then you know he values you more, but if he takes them to a lawyer…you have a safe, loving home with Denise and Miguel.”
Kevin put the letter back into the box, and took the legal documents. Then he turned to his father, as he didn’t wanted to believe that his father would sell him for money. Kevin said, ”Hey, Dad! I found these inside Granny’s sofa. They’re for you.”
As Jerry took the papers, he started to grin, and said, ”I’m going out, Kevin.”
Kevin decided to follow his father. After a few blocks later, his father entered to the lawyer’s office.
As Kevin was in tears, he was sure that his father chose money over him, his grandmother was right.
After an hour later, Kevin arrived at the Denise’s house. As he rang the bell, Denise opened the door and she was shocked.
”Kevin?”
“Is everything OK? We didn’t expect you to be back for another two days.”
“Dad isn’t…I just, uh…”
“Hey,” Denise kneeled down, and hugged the boy, “It’s OK. I know you’ve been going through a tough time.”
As Kevin was crying, he was sure that his grandmother left him with good people, who would be his parents, rather than his father.
What do you think? Let us know.
