Johnny's Christmas Surprise
Being a foster kid is the pits. No one wants to keep you and yet everyone fights over you. The worst part is that everyone has different rules – making life confusing.
My birth mom, Wendy, has only two rules. The first is when she has a headache I have to be quiet. The second is whenever any man comes over I have to get lost. Here it is, a week before Christmas and I still don’t know if I will celebrate it with my mom, or here with my new foster family, or wherever. I know it should not bother me, after the last four years of being in the foster care system, but it still does.
“John-n-n-y-y-y!” Oh great, that’s Susy, another foster child yelling up the stairs at me.
“Get lost kid. Leave me alone.”
“Johnny, Deanna wants you to set the table for table for dinner,” Susy yells again.
I sigh then yell back, “Coming.”
Deanna, ‘DeeDee’, is my current foster mother. She does the best she can with me, but she is too soft. She is fantastic with the foster babies and little five-year-old Susy but I’m sure if she had other teen-age foster kids, they would walk all over her. My current caseworker only put me here because there are no other foster homes right now that take teenage boys. Also, all of the caseworkers know I will not beat up younger children or introduce them to bad habits like smoking or drinking.
Where was I? Oh yeah, my favorite foster parents were Ron and Rose. When my mom, Wendy, finally got busted and had to go to rehab the caseworker sent me to Ron and Rose’s home. I was with them for the first two years I was in foster care. At that time I was angry and confused, and did not treat the two of them nice at all. I often yelled and was defiant. Yet they loved me and were good to me. Ron and Rose showed me what a real family was like, and that my mom’s problems were not my fault.
As I said, Rose and Ron were really good to me. They seemed to understand my anger and frustration, and even Wendy’s weird behavior patterns. I was finally getting my life together when a new case worker came to inform me I had to move. Would you believe I have had more case workers than foster parents?
I guess Wendy – my mom – was jealous, thinking I liked Ron and Rose more than her. How stupid can a person get? Of course I liked them better but she is my mother – for pity sake’s! She is my own flesh and blood and I do love her. At the same time I am angry with her for messing up her life which messed up my life. Because she was jealous Wendy lied to the caseworker and I had to be moved to a different home. What did I ever do to deserve a mom like her?
One nice thing about DeeDee is she never yells at me for running up and down the stairs. So, after Susy calls me, I run down the stairs and wash my hands in the kitchen sink.
“John, we are having company for dinner, would you set three extra places? Use the good china, please. ” I nod and walk into the dining room. Within minutes the table is set.
Walking back into the kitchen I announce, “Ok DeeDee, the table’s set.” Looking around I ask, “Now what would you like me to do?”
“I want you to help Susy make some Jell-O and then allow her to help you make a green vegetable salad and, John, thanks.” She gives me a genuine smile.
I roll my eyes. I could do it twice as fast without Susy talking in my ear non-stop yet I say nothing as I understand DeeDee is trying to create family togetherness. When everything is ready to be placed on the table DeeDee surprises us, making me nervous. “Would the two of you please put on some nicer clothes and make sure your hair is combed?” she asks.
I run back up the stairs, my heart pounding. When she asked me to set three extra places on the table, I thought we were having her parents and brother over. They are nice people whom I like but DeeDee never makes us dress extra nice when her family visits. I hate surprises – and you can’t blame me! I’ve had too many bad ones in my fourteen years of life.
As I run back down the stairs I hear the doorbell ring and then the door close. Instead of DeeDee’s mother talking, I hear a stranger’s voice. My throat tightens and my heart skips a beat or two. Now what’s up? Is this another case worker to move me once again? I try to swallow and take some deep breaths. I even pause to run a hand over my hair, to make sure it is still in place before I walk into the room.
DeeDee smiles and reaches out her arm. I go and stand close to her. For some reason I am never embarrassed to be hugged by her. She is always calm and quiet spoken, and she always smells good, like lavender and roses.
“John, this is Nancy, your new caseworker.”
I reach out my hand, the way Ron taught me, and shake Nancy’s hand, “Hello, Nancy, it is nice to meet you.”
Nancy is obviously pleased and says it is nice to meet me as well. I am helping Nancy off with her coat when the doorbell rings again. DeeDee steps over to us,
“John, let me help Nancy while you open the door.”
By now I am getting really scared and open the door cautiously, an inch at a time. When I see who it is I yank the door open and leap into Ron’s arms. Rose leans over and kisses my cheek with a big smile. Jumping back down I grab their hands. “Welcome, welcome! It is so good to see you again.”
In my excitement I practically drag them into the living room where I blink my eyes rapidly, fighting back tears. Fourteen-year-old boys are too old to cry, even out of happiness.
Dinner is pleasant. DeeDee makes the best pot roast ever. It is so moist and whatever spices she uses are perfect. It is definitely better than Wendy’s dry and salty meat dishes. For dessert, Rose brought my favorite, chocolate cream pie with coconut. We talk about how well school is finally going for me. Then we discuss the people I had met in Ron and Rose’s church and how everyone there is doing. DeeDee gives Nancy an update on the newest foster baby who is another drug baby. This is one lucky baby; it does not have any birth defects, which is common with drug babies.
Susy tells us about her preschool. Watching Nancy interact with Susy I am impressed. None of my other caseworkers would have been this attentive to a five-year-old who cannot stop talking once she starts. Nancy is obviously going to be a good caseworker for me and I hope I get to keep her, at least for a while. Seeing Ron and Rose is an awesome gift and I remind myself to let DeeDee know how much I appreciate this.
The relaxing meal is over and DeeDee insists that she and Susy will clean up from dinner and let us get down to business. That scares me. Will the bad news in my life ever end? How come grownups can use simple words to try and be nice yet scare a kid half to death in the process?
Nancy leads the way into the living room. Ron, Rose and I follow. As we settle ourselves Nancy takes a doll out of her giant bag of a purse and places it under the tree. “This is my Christmas present for Susy.”
Rose reaches into the paper grocery bag next to her purse and takes out several gifts placing them under the tree, saying they are for DeeDee, her family and for Susy. While I think it is great they are giving out presents, my heart pounds harder by the minute because of my anxiety and fear.
“John,” Nancy’s voice is serious, like she is angry at me, and my heart stops. She continues, unaware as she reaches into her giant bag and pulls out a manila envelope. “I have an important document you need to read.”
As I take it from her and open it my hands shake as I think of all the horrid things it might say. Please, I beg silently, do not let the letter say I must live with Wendy again or that she had OD’d and I will need to go live with some horrid relative I’ve never met.
The top page is very official looking and has a fancy seal in the corner of it. I read the pages slowly, and then reread them – to make sure I have read correctly. I drop the papers and start running around the room, like a three year old would. I don’t care that the adults are laughing at me. I run a half a dozen laps around the living room and hug everyone, starting with Nancy. When I get to Ron and Rose, I start crying. No matter how hard I blink, I can’t stop.
“Thank you, thank you!” I sob, rubbing my face with both of my hands. “This is the best Christmas gift of my entire life! Thank you!”
Suddenly I stop, my thoughts racing again which causes more fear. Ron stands, placing a giant hand on my shoulder, “John, what’s troubling you, son?”
“What-t-t about Wendy, my-y-y birth mom? Will-l-l she fight this?” I hate it when I stammer, but this is serious.
Ron sighs and cocoons me in a bear hug. “No, John, she had to sign papers to make the adoption legal so she cannot fight this anymore.” He steps back and places a hand on each of my shoulders to look me in the eye. “John, your mother did not even tell you that she is expecting a baby girl and has married the child’s father.” He pauses to watch my reaction. “I’m sorry, son.”
I shrug it off but the news does hurt. At the same time, I understand we should not expect anything different from my birth mom. I get so angry with her at times even though I know her childhood was horrid with her mom beating her and her dad using her. I guess she doesn’t know any better.
“It’s ok, Ron,” I smile up at him. “I hope she can find some happiness in her life.” The two of us sit by Rose on the couch.
I thank all three of them again and we discuss the arrangements for me to move in with them. It is decided I will stay with DeeDee until the weekend because of school. Over the weekend Ron and Rose will come here to move me and my few belongings to their house. Then in January, when Christmas vacation is over, I will start in my new school. The three of them even like the idea of me keeping in touch with DeeDee and her family.
Once again, my mind starts racing and I must stop and stare.
“John,” Ron’s voice is full of worry, “now what is troubling you?”
“Um-m-m,” I am afraid to ask for fear of rejection. “Um-m-m,” I take a deep breath and slowly let it out, “Um-m-m, is-s-s it al-l-l right if I c-c-c-all you mom and dad?” Once the words are finally out I bend down hiding my face between my legs with my hands on the back of my head.
Ron places a comforting hand on my shoulder. “John, you may call us whatever you want to: mom and dad, ma and pa or even Ron and Rose.” He pauses, “The most important thing is that we love you and will always call you our son.”
My birth mom, Wendy, has only two rules. The first is when she has a headache I have to be quiet. The second is whenever any man comes over I have to get lost. Here it is, a week before Christmas and I still don’t know if I will celebrate it with my mom, or here with my new foster family, or wherever. I know it should not bother me, after the last four years of being in the foster care system, but it still does.
“John-n-n-y-y-y!” Oh great, that’s Susy, another foster child yelling up the stairs at me.
“Get lost kid. Leave me alone.”
“Johnny, Deanna wants you to set the table for table for dinner,” Susy yells again.
I sigh then yell back, “Coming.”
Deanna, ‘DeeDee’, is my current foster mother. She does the best she can with me, but she is too soft. She is fantastic with the foster babies and little five-year-old Susy but I’m sure if she had other teen-age foster kids, they would walk all over her. My current caseworker only put me here because there are no other foster homes right now that take teenage boys. Also, all of the caseworkers know I will not beat up younger children or introduce them to bad habits like smoking or drinking.
Where was I? Oh yeah, my favorite foster parents were Ron and Rose. When my mom, Wendy, finally got busted and had to go to rehab the caseworker sent me to Ron and Rose’s home. I was with them for the first two years I was in foster care. At that time I was angry and confused, and did not treat the two of them nice at all. I often yelled and was defiant. Yet they loved me and were good to me. Ron and Rose showed me what a real family was like, and that my mom’s problems were not my fault.
As I said, Rose and Ron were really good to me. They seemed to understand my anger and frustration, and even Wendy’s weird behavior patterns. I was finally getting my life together when a new case worker came to inform me I had to move. Would you believe I have had more case workers than foster parents?
I guess Wendy – my mom – was jealous, thinking I liked Ron and Rose more than her. How stupid can a person get? Of course I liked them better but she is my mother – for pity sake’s! She is my own flesh and blood and I do love her. At the same time I am angry with her for messing up her life which messed up my life. Because she was jealous Wendy lied to the caseworker and I had to be moved to a different home. What did I ever do to deserve a mom like her?
One nice thing about DeeDee is she never yells at me for running up and down the stairs. So, after Susy calls me, I run down the stairs and wash my hands in the kitchen sink.
“John, we are having company for dinner, would you set three extra places? Use the good china, please. ” I nod and walk into the dining room. Within minutes the table is set.
Walking back into the kitchen I announce, “Ok DeeDee, the table’s set.” Looking around I ask, “Now what would you like me to do?”
“I want you to help Susy make some Jell-O and then allow her to help you make a green vegetable salad and, John, thanks.” She gives me a genuine smile.
I roll my eyes. I could do it twice as fast without Susy talking in my ear non-stop yet I say nothing as I understand DeeDee is trying to create family togetherness. When everything is ready to be placed on the table DeeDee surprises us, making me nervous. “Would the two of you please put on some nicer clothes and make sure your hair is combed?” she asks.
I run back up the stairs, my heart pounding. When she asked me to set three extra places on the table, I thought we were having her parents and brother over. They are nice people whom I like but DeeDee never makes us dress extra nice when her family visits. I hate surprises – and you can’t blame me! I’ve had too many bad ones in my fourteen years of life.
As I run back down the stairs I hear the doorbell ring and then the door close. Instead of DeeDee’s mother talking, I hear a stranger’s voice. My throat tightens and my heart skips a beat or two. Now what’s up? Is this another case worker to move me once again? I try to swallow and take some deep breaths. I even pause to run a hand over my hair, to make sure it is still in place before I walk into the room.
DeeDee smiles and reaches out her arm. I go and stand close to her. For some reason I am never embarrassed to be hugged by her. She is always calm and quiet spoken, and she always smells good, like lavender and roses.
“John, this is Nancy, your new caseworker.”
I reach out my hand, the way Ron taught me, and shake Nancy’s hand, “Hello, Nancy, it is nice to meet you.”
Nancy is obviously pleased and says it is nice to meet me as well. I am helping Nancy off with her coat when the doorbell rings again. DeeDee steps over to us,
“John, let me help Nancy while you open the door.”
By now I am getting really scared and open the door cautiously, an inch at a time. When I see who it is I yank the door open and leap into Ron’s arms. Rose leans over and kisses my cheek with a big smile. Jumping back down I grab their hands. “Welcome, welcome! It is so good to see you again.”
In my excitement I practically drag them into the living room where I blink my eyes rapidly, fighting back tears. Fourteen-year-old boys are too old to cry, even out of happiness.
Dinner is pleasant. DeeDee makes the best pot roast ever. It is so moist and whatever spices she uses are perfect. It is definitely better than Wendy’s dry and salty meat dishes. For dessert, Rose brought my favorite, chocolate cream pie with coconut. We talk about how well school is finally going for me. Then we discuss the people I had met in Ron and Rose’s church and how everyone there is doing. DeeDee gives Nancy an update on the newest foster baby who is another drug baby. This is one lucky baby; it does not have any birth defects, which is common with drug babies.
Susy tells us about her preschool. Watching Nancy interact with Susy I am impressed. None of my other caseworkers would have been this attentive to a five-year-old who cannot stop talking once she starts. Nancy is obviously going to be a good caseworker for me and I hope I get to keep her, at least for a while. Seeing Ron and Rose is an awesome gift and I remind myself to let DeeDee know how much I appreciate this.
The relaxing meal is over and DeeDee insists that she and Susy will clean up from dinner and let us get down to business. That scares me. Will the bad news in my life ever end? How come grownups can use simple words to try and be nice yet scare a kid half to death in the process?
Nancy leads the way into the living room. Ron, Rose and I follow. As we settle ourselves Nancy takes a doll out of her giant bag of a purse and places it under the tree. “This is my Christmas present for Susy.”
Rose reaches into the paper grocery bag next to her purse and takes out several gifts placing them under the tree, saying they are for DeeDee, her family and for Susy. While I think it is great they are giving out presents, my heart pounds harder by the minute because of my anxiety and fear.
“John,” Nancy’s voice is serious, like she is angry at me, and my heart stops. She continues, unaware as she reaches into her giant bag and pulls out a manila envelope. “I have an important document you need to read.”
As I take it from her and open it my hands shake as I think of all the horrid things it might say. Please, I beg silently, do not let the letter say I must live with Wendy again or that she had OD’d and I will need to go live with some horrid relative I’ve never met.
The top page is very official looking and has a fancy seal in the corner of it. I read the pages slowly, and then reread them – to make sure I have read correctly. I drop the papers and start running around the room, like a three year old would. I don’t care that the adults are laughing at me. I run a half a dozen laps around the living room and hug everyone, starting with Nancy. When I get to Ron and Rose, I start crying. No matter how hard I blink, I can’t stop.
“Thank you, thank you!” I sob, rubbing my face with both of my hands. “This is the best Christmas gift of my entire life! Thank you!”
Suddenly I stop, my thoughts racing again which causes more fear. Ron stands, placing a giant hand on my shoulder, “John, what’s troubling you, son?”
“What-t-t about Wendy, my-y-y birth mom? Will-l-l she fight this?” I hate it when I stammer, but this is serious.
Ron sighs and cocoons me in a bear hug. “No, John, she had to sign papers to make the adoption legal so she cannot fight this anymore.” He steps back and places a hand on each of my shoulders to look me in the eye. “John, your mother did not even tell you that she is expecting a baby girl and has married the child’s father.” He pauses to watch my reaction. “I’m sorry, son.”
I shrug it off but the news does hurt. At the same time, I understand we should not expect anything different from my birth mom. I get so angry with her at times even though I know her childhood was horrid with her mom beating her and her dad using her. I guess she doesn’t know any better.
“It’s ok, Ron,” I smile up at him. “I hope she can find some happiness in her life.” The two of us sit by Rose on the couch.
I thank all three of them again and we discuss the arrangements for me to move in with them. It is decided I will stay with DeeDee until the weekend because of school. Over the weekend Ron and Rose will come here to move me and my few belongings to their house. Then in January, when Christmas vacation is over, I will start in my new school. The three of them even like the idea of me keeping in touch with DeeDee and her family.
Once again, my mind starts racing and I must stop and stare.
“John,” Ron’s voice is full of worry, “now what is troubling you?”
“Um-m-m,” I am afraid to ask for fear of rejection. “Um-m-m,” I take a deep breath and slowly let it out, “Um-m-m, is-s-s it al-l-l right if I c-c-c-all you mom and dad?” Once the words are finally out I bend down hiding my face between my legs with my hands on the back of my head.
Ron places a comforting hand on my shoulder. “John, you may call us whatever you want to: mom and dad, ma and pa or even Ron and Rose.” He pauses, “The most important thing is that we love you and will always call you our son.”
Johnny's Christmas Surprise is published in
New Beginnings: A Collection of Christmas Stories.
(Click on title above for Amazon link.)
ALL Rights Reserved
New Beginnings: A Collection of Christmas Stories.
(Click on title above for Amazon link.)
ALL Rights Reserved