Matthew part 2

Ten years earlier

It had been four months and she was fading fast. Danielle continued writing her daily letters to Matthew. She wanted him to have something of her when she was gone. He didn’t know. She wrote the letters while she was at school. Three thirty, he would be home soon. Time to gather her strength to be strong for him.

Matthew knew. His mom was trying to be strong for him. And he was trying to be strong for her. A big burden for a six year old. As he walked home from school, he thought about how long his mom had left. He never knew how to ask. When he walked in the house, she was there, with a smile on her face, like always.

Present day

“Excuse me?” The woman said.

Matthew realized he had been standing there daydreaming. “Sorry.” He replied. “It’s no problem; I remember not being able to walk too.” Matthew smiled at the six year old.

The woman looked at him for a second, as if trying to figure him out. “Thanks. Not everyone is so understanding. Have a great day.” And she walked past him.

The six year old looked at Matthew as the woman passed him. Then he realized he was being left behind. “Momma, wait up! I want M&M’s!” Tyler said as he ran past Matthew to catch up with his mom.

What an odd looking family Matthew thought as he walked around later that day. He knew Tyler called the woman momma, but he couldn’t be her son. She was white, Tyler was black. The girl was white, but too old to be the woman’s daughter. The other boy looked Asian. And the woman didn’t have a wedding ring on. How strange. Matthew thought about this peculiar family off and on whenever he saw kids running around, trying to figure them out.

Matthew sat down on the park bench and watched the kids playing. He got his back and reached for his sketch pad. The one thing his father gave him. Talent. Matthew only knew three things about the man that was his father, he was an artist, he left his mom when he found out she was pregnant, and he died when Matthew was 4 by a drug overdose. Matthew did not think of his father often, but it would have been nice to know more about him.

For three hours Matthew drew. He drew the kids. He drew the trees. He drew the moms sitting and talking on the bench across from him. Art was his solace. Even in the horrible foster homes and group placements, art was the one thing they could not take from him. It was his, and only his.

This became the routine. Matthew would sit at parks and draw the scenes and wash his clothes once a week at different gas stations. Not much of a routine, but he liked being left alone. He had been on the streets for five weeks. And he knew no one cared enough to look for him.

This Saturday found Matthew on one of “his” benches at his favorite park. His mom used to bring him here. He did what he always did; he got his sketch pad and began to draw. No one ever bothered him. However, this day was different. Matthew was drawing the swings today. He was trying to get the little girl’s hair just right it flew behind her. Then he felt someone sit next to him. He looked over and saw Tyler, the little boy from the gas station. Matthew didn’t know how to respond, but Tyler had no such problem, “Hey! That’s cool! I wanna learn to draw like that.”

Matthew smiled, but still didn’t know what to say. Then the woman appeared. “Tyler! We did not come to the park for you to bother this young man. Leave him alone.” She took Tyler’s hand and started to walk away when she finally placed Matthew. “Oh, right. Sorry honey, Tyler remembers everyone he meets, or even just runs into. He is a people person.” She let go of Tyler and let him sit back down. The younger boy and teenage girl were not with her this time. Matthew looked around and spotted them walking around the park with a dog, a very big dog.

Matthew finally found his voice, “No problem. I was just surprised.” He looked at Tyler, “My name is Matthew.” And he stuck his hand out. Tyler looked proud to be considered grown up enough to shake hands. He took Matthew’s hand and said, “Nice to meet you. I’m Tyler and I am six years old.” His mom laughed. Tyler looked up and pointed, “That’s my mom. Her name is CJ.” The woman looked at Matthew and smiled and she held her hand out. Matthew shook her hand while he thought about how she still reminded him of his mom.