"Dear God"-True story about one of our young guests

Dear God, it Is Me

Dear God,

Well, today was moving day. This morning I said goodbye to my best friend of 7 years,

Duke my golden retriever. His new family seems nice, but I already miss him so much my

heart hurts. As dad put the last box in the U-Haul, I said goodbye to my neighborhood hide-

n-seek and I can run faster than you friends. We took all our things to storage including my

favorite Legos and a picture of Duke and me. Mom said it wouldn’t be in there long and we

would find another home soon. Tonight, I am laying in a soft motel room bed and mom and

dad are in another. Dad said we will be here for a few days and then we will go somewhere

else. I am not sure where, but they have a plan. It’s getting late so I better go to sleep

before I know it, I will be awake to go to school. Love you, Timmy

Dear God,

I am sad. I have changed schools to be closer to the family shelter where I live. My school is

huge, and I know nobody. Dad said we won’t be here long, but I am already ready to leave.

I am laying on a top bunk right above mom. Down the hall, I hear yelling and someone

throwing things. Someone just yelled, “shut up people are trying to sleep.” When, at last, it

quietest down, I hear a familiar sound that is heard every night. It’s mom trying to go

unnoticed as she wipes her tears away. The sniffle she tries quietly to do is noticed by

several who turn to look at her. I want to ask mom what is for breakfast, but I will see the

same expression of heart break as she tells me she doesn’t know. Maybe the bus will drop

me off early so I can run and get the last box of frosted flakes from the cafeteria. Nobody

likes the frosted flakes so I bet there will be one there. Those ladies are nice. When they

see me coming, they have my supplies ready, a bowl of frosted flakes cereal, a small thing

of milk, a piece of fruit, and if am lucky a small paper cup of my favorite, apple juice. I think

they may know that I am hungry. Thank you for listening, Love, Timmy

Dear God,

I don’t know what to say. I am laying in the back seat of our car with my blanket wrapped

around me, as tight as it can be, to keep me warm. Dad just turned the car off and I know it

will get cold, so I pull tighter on my blanket to make sure all of me is covered up. They lean

their seats all the way back and this is where we will be for tonight. You will find us in the

back of the parking lot at the big gas station on Main St. I heard mom say this is a better

spot because they are open 24 hours so we can use their restroom in the morning to wash

up. Oh, and I had to change schools again when our time ran out at the shelter. They only

let you stay for an amount of time before you must leave so another family can move in.

Well, I can hear mom crying, she gave up keeping quiet, so I better try to close my eyes and

try to sleep. Bye, Timmy

Well God today is a bad day. Mom and dad are always yelling, and I am pretty sure they

forgot they had a son. I am back here in the backseat with the blanket over my head. Dad is

waiting for his friend to pick him up and mom is by the trunk throwing all dad’s stuff out.

Mom says we are going to grandmas in Ohio to get away from this place she calls

“something hole.” Not sure what that meant but to grandmas we go. I never got to say

goodbye to dad because we drove away the same time he did. Well, I really don’t feel like

talking anymore. See you, Timmy

PS: One more thing, Why God is my life like this? I had a home, fun friends to play with, a

best friend I called Duke, and my dad. I guess grandmas is my home now. I like it here

because she makes good cookies but sometimes my mouth doesn't want to smile when

mom tells me it needs to. I just want to go back a year ago and have nothing change.

Maybe I will talk to you soon, Timmy

~Stefani