Eyes Open
Douglass
"Douggy! Douggy!"
exclaimed Jacob, "Look at at what Jacob did!" He smiled
with excitment and pride holding up a painting he had just
completed a few minutes ago. It was a painting of a meadow
with a big rising, smiling sun at its center.
"Oh my gosh! Jacob, thats amazing! You are one great
painter, little man." I roughed up his hair and he giggled
and nodded to me.
"I am Pabwo Pishcaco! Like you said!"
I laughed," Exactly! Like Pablo Picasso, kiddo!" I
knelt down and pointed to Mrs. Krames, a woman no older than 55
years old with short, thin blonde hair and a slender yet nimble
body. She was a therapist who works here; For The Love Of A Child
Foundation.
The LCF was a haven for a children and teens who've been
abused in their lives. Jacob, like most kids here, was abused by
his father while his mother just stood behind him laughing. The
thing is he doesn't talk to anyone but me. I don't know
why he would choose to talk to me of all people but he did.
Jacob looked up at me nervously and down at his
artwork,"Jacob is scared."
I tilted my head and rubbed his back,"Why are you scared?
Mrs. Krames is new but she's very nice."
Jacob had a distant look in his eyes,"Come with me, Douggy.
Please?"
I stood back up and held out my hand and he took it, grippy my
three fingers like Donkey Kong. I smiled,"I'm gonna come
with you, but, you have to say hi and show her your
painting. Pleease?" I said mimicking his voice
and smiling.
He laughed and nodded and we walked over to the new therapist.
She turned around and looked at Jacob with a big smile and
earnest, kind blue eyes with a couple wrinkles here and
there,"Oh hello! And whats your name?"
Jacob looked up and at and I gave him a wink. He then turned to
her, his grip tightening,"Jacob finished his painting.
Douggy said Jacob is gonna be like Pablo Pi-ca-sso." I
grinned to myself at how he pronounced it correctly.
The woman smiled and took the painting,"This is beeeautiful,
Jacob! You are going to be like Pablo
Picasso!" She kneels down eye level with Jacob who tightened
his grip so hard, I began to lose circulation,"You know what
we'll do?"
Jacob gave a shrill, "What?"
"We should frame it and put it in the biiig art show on
saturday. How does that sound?"
Jacob looked up at me for approval. I smiled,"I think Jacob
would absolutely love that, right?"
He smiled and nodded.
Mrs. Krames got up and clapped her hands,"Alright! Let's
get this framed, shall we? Jacob why don't you go play with
your friend Mikey over there?" We saw Mikey called out for
Jacob to come over to the arts and crafts table.
Jacob handed me his painting and ran off to his friend. I
accomplanied Mrs. Krames to an empty table where I began cutting
out a blue frame for the painting. Mrs. Krames scrutinized me
then asked, "So Douggy, are you a worker here?"
"Nah, too young. I volunteer here as much as I
can."
"Really? How old are you? You go to Helix Academy?"
"I'm 17 years old and I don't, I'm home schooled
in my own appartment near here." I told her as I pull out
the krazy glue.
"Why would a teenager like yourself be caring about abused
children or caring at all? And aren't you a little bit young
to have your own apartment?"
I chuckled quietly,"Its a bit complicated. Let's just
say that I just wanted to give back something for all these
people have done for me here awhile ago." I finished framing
Jacobs artwork and handed it to Mrs, Krames who had a wonderous
expression to her face,"Anyway it getting late, I should
probably get Jacob and Mikey to bed and head on
home."
Just as I walk out the door following two dancing children, Mrs.
Krames called out to me,"Wait! Can I get your
name?"
"Douglass Matthews. Call me what you'd like; Doug,
Douglass, Matt, Matthews, Matty--"
"Or Douggy!" Shouted Mikey from down the hall.
I laughed,"Haha yeah that too. Anyway, you should take home
some of the artwork these kids make. Tells a lot about
them."
"Okay! Thankyou, Doug!" she called out.
"No problem, Mrs. K! Bye!"
***
Hmm I'm actually getting into this.
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