Not One but Two

 

            Menander was the only child and grew up knowing only comfort, wealth, luxury, and always getting what he wanted whenever he wanted it. On occasion he would listen to himself grumbling and complaining that he was bored, that he no friends, and wishing that he could do something that would distract him and occupy his ever-active mind. After three or four times of this type of complaint, he began to receive a back hand slap from his father with a reminder to never complain because he had more than most children his age.

               Whenever he received this sort of chastisement and correction, he would hide away in his room, continue complaining to himself, and wondering what life was like for other children who did not know or appreciate comfort and wealth. He pulled himself from the floor, flopped onto his bed and stared into the ceiling, feeling a combination of frustration and boredom.

               “Ugh, time to take a shower,” he said to himself. Setting the temperature slightly above body temperature, he stepped out, dried himself, dressed and descended to the kitchen to cut himself a piece of cheesecake with cherry topping. He sat alone at the kitchen counter having no desire to join his parents in the sitting room to listen to more chastisement and words about being thankful.

               He finished his dessert; hand washed his plate and fork and returned them to their appropriate places in the cupboards. Knowing that it would not be wise to simply disappear for the evening, he peeked into the sitting room, said goodnight, and thanked his mother for the cheesecake. Padding upstairs, he brushed his teeth, slipped into his oversize bed, and immediately fell asleep to dream about a life without comfort, safety, or loving parents.

               Menander woke the next morning to find himself in a lumpy, thin, and cold bed, surrounded by dozens of children in similar beds in the orphanage. Vigorously rubbing his face, he rose from his cold and uncomfortable state to get dressed in his state supplied, stiff and scratchy clothing. Like soldiers in a barracks, he and the other children walked in unison to the dining hall to eat a small portion of lukewarm porridge and cool water.

               “Wow, so this is what it is like,” he thought. “I am so confused. Has everything else been simply a dream? I guess I’ll just go along with what everyone else is doing and see how the rest of the day plays out.” He finished his porridge, rose from his seat and joined the rest of the children in the play yard behind the building. A rousing game of kickball started where Menander was chosen first to slowly watch the two teams build up, one obviously stronger than the other.

               The two dozen children ran in an aggressive manner, each team scoring the occasional point. Menander watched Boris, the school bully viciously kick and punch another student for being stupid and ugly. “Wow, that is just so wrong,” he said to himself. “Do I dare stand up to Boris or simply let it go. I know I could take him down and teach him a lesson. Now is the time to do the right thing.”

               He stopped running, aligned himself directly behind Boris, out of his line of sight, and rushed up to him to kick him directly in the groin and watch him collapse to the ground in agony. “Don’t pick on the little kids,” he growled at the large and ignorant fellow student. “Bad actions always lead to bad actions coming upon you.”

               The kickball game came to an end with Menander’s team winning, which was immediately followed by their return into the building for lunch. All twenty-four children shuffled into the dining hall and seated themselves upon the cold metal benches to wait until lukewarm soup and baloney sandwiches were ready. The lunch bell sounded, they rose from their places and stood in line to receive their plastic molded lunch trays laden with bland and lukewarm food.

               He finished his lunch, returned his tray to the collection window and was immediately confronted by the headmaster of the orphanage. “Menander, I need you to come with me,” he said. “I saw what you did to Boris and we need to talk.”

               “Yes, sir,” Menander answered. Boy and headmaster walked through the dining hall, ascended the stairs and entered the headmaster’s office.

               “I understand your desire for justice and kindness for the weak,” he said, “but we cannot have violence like that. I have been speaking to Boris about his abuse of the other students, so please allow me to do my job and don’t assault the other students.  Oh, one other thing. There is a husband and wife that are coming in this afternoon and they are interested in meeting with you. Please be ready by three o’clock to meet them. One of the secretaries will come for you when they arrive.”

               “Yes, sir, I will be ready,” he answered. “I think I will go take a short nap so I am rested and attentive when they arrive. Thank you, sir.”

               Menander removed his shoes, collapsed on his bed, and fell asleep, while the other children came and went from the bedrooms. At two-forty-five, the alarm on his watch sounded, pulling him from sleep. “Ah, perfect,” he said. “This will give me a few minutes to freshen up, use the bathroom, and be ready to meet these people.”

               As he rose from his bed, he slipped on his shoes, did those things that needed to be done to then return to sit on the side of his bed and wait for the secretary to retrieve him for the meeting. He and the secretary walked into the headmaster’s office to see the young couple waiting for him facing the other direction. He walked in, introduced himself, shook hands with the husband and exchanged a hug with the wife. The husband slid a chair from the opposite side of the room to face them in order to have a conversation to learn about one another.

               With his mind swirling, he stared at their faces and was stirred inside as she realized that these were the people from his dreams about a large, comfortable, wealthy home filled with love, protection, and kindness. The conversation between Menander, the husband, the wife, and the headmaster lasted for a few minutes over an hour.

               “Menander, you should go to your bedroom, pack all of your things, and we will take care of the paperwork for you to join the Johannsen’s in their home. Be quick and have everything ready. When the paperwork is complete, we will have all of your possessions brought to their car so you can move on with your life. Congratulations, my boy.”

               He could feel himself tingling inside, wondering if the house in his dreams would look anything like the Johannsen’s home. “I guess I’ll find out in a few minutes,” he thought to himself. “Yes, sir, I’ll go right away and be ready. Thank you.” Menander once again shook hands with the husband and exchanged hugs with the wife.

               He sprinted up the stairs, entered his bedroom, and quickly packed all of his possessions and clothing into a suitcase and two boxes. Trembling with excitement, he sat on the edge of his bed, waiting for the Johannsen’s to arrive and go to his forever home. He stood up, did a bit of stretching, said goodbye to the other orphans, and promised to write them on occasion with the expectation that they would write back as well.

               He and the Johannsen’s loaded his things into the trunk of their car and drove away, as he looked back one last time at the orphanage that he thought would always be his home until he reached adulthood. The car pulled into the driveway in a wealthy neighborhood and with a thrill in his heart, he realized that the house from his dreams was an identical match to this home before him.

               Mr. Johannsen carried his two boxes and Menander carried his suitcase to follow them up the stairs into his large and comfortable bedroom with its own private bathroom.

               “You can place your suitcase on the bed, Menander,” Mrs. Johannsen said. “After lunch, you and I can unpack and help you get settled.” She took him by the hand and the three of them walked down the stairs into the kitchen for a robust and warm lunch.

               “Thank you so much for choosing me,” Menander said. “I have been dreaming of having my own family for several years now. Please forgive me if I don’t get everything right. It will take me some time to adjust and learn what a family feels like.”

               “Don’t concern yourself with that, young man,” Mr. Johannsen said. “We understand that this will be a time of learning and transition for you. We will work through this together. Both you and I and Mrs. Johannsen all have a great deal to learn. I know this will be a good time for all of us.”

               “Oh, my goodness, this food is so good,” he said. “The food at the orphanage is usually lukewarm and very plain. I know I will be saying thank you many, many times as I learn to be part of the family.”

               “We are very happy that you are here with us,” Mrs. Johannsen said. “Let’s finish our lunch and then you and I can unpack your things, help you get settled and see if there is anything you need to feel at home. We can always go shopping any time there is a need.”

               The meal was complete, Menander and Mrs. Johannsen ascended the stairs, unpacked his things and embraced in a warm, mother son type of hug. “I think we should go shopping to buy you some new clothes,” she said. “This will be so much fun. I am so excited to take on this responsibility as your mother and help you feel comfortable. Let’s go talk to Mr. Johannsen and make a trip to a few stores.”