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“Honestly, Mr. Bull, we don’t need clothes or toys,” said Alvin, one of the teenagers. “I mean, maybe the younger boys need stuff, but Mr. Ted provides for us. What we really need is more space, but I don’t even wanna complain about that. This is the first place I’ve ever even had my own bed. Clean sheets, warm blankets, hot water, and three hot meals a day. I’m not complainin’.”
“And we appreciate that,” said Bull, “but we want to provide some surprises for the little ones for Christmas. We don’t want them addicted to electronics. We want things that will help them, maybe that are fun and educational.”
“You don’t ask for much, do you?” laughed one of the other older boys, Josiah.
“I guess we do, don’t we?” smirked Code.
“Can I make a request for us older boys?” asked Josiah.
“Of course,” said Miller. “Anything.”
“Well, sir, we’d like it if maybe someone could start a training program for us older boys. Maybe something that would help us with sports in school or just being in good health. You know, running, lifting weights, that sort of thing. And for those of us that want to join the service, then maybe you can help us with that, too. I mean, train us for that. We know that you all train men who want to be in Special Forces or those who are thinking of professional careers in athletics, but we’d like that as well.”
“You boys want to join the military?” smiled Bull.
“Yes, sir. I mean, most of us. We all do okay in school. We’re not stupid or anything, but we see what you all do. We hear about it. That’s what we’d like to do, too. One day, I hope to come back here and work at the school. Help other boys.”
“That’s amazing,” smiled Code.
“I would be dead if it weren’t for y’all,” said Alvin. “I was so angry at my mama for bein’ strung out on drugs all the time, and there I was robbing people and headed down the same path. Had Mr. Ted not seen me on the side of the road, all busted up from a bunch of older kids, I would have died. I’ll never forget that.
“I’ll never forget how he didn’t lecture me. He didn’t make me feel guilty. He got Mr. Wilson and Doc to come patch me up, and they were just as nice as him. Ms. Sara, she brought me the most amazing food every day while I was healing. But it was Mr. Ted that really changed my life. Working with him and Ms. Bree, I was able to forgive my mama. And myself. I see a future now that I didn’t see before.”
Bull wiped his eyes, turning to look away from the young man. He knew they were impacting lives, but he just didn’t realize how much. This. This is why they did what they do.
Alvin nudged his friend, Josiah. They both smiled, nodding their heads.
“I’m glad we got to tell you this, Mr. Bull,” said Josiah. “I’m hoping you can help us.”
“We will definitely help you,” said Bull. “And I think we might be able to help with the space issue. You boys start talking to the younger ones and see what they might want from Santa.” The two boys chuckled, and Bull frowned.
“Why are you laughing?” asked Miller.
“Sir, Santa isn’t real. We keep it up for the little ones, but we know it’s Mr. Ted and you all that bring the gifts.”
“Son, Santa is as real as you or me. Trust me, I walked in on him one night. It wasn’t a good thing,” said Miller, shaking his head.
The boys laughed nervously, then gave a serious expression to the older man. They didn’t want to offend him, but Santa real? Seriously?
“Sir, I want to believe you. Lord knows we’d all like to believe someone like Santa Claus is out there, but you have to understand where we’re coming from. I mean, just you all being here asking about gifts for the boys lets us know it’s you that brings them, not Santa.”
Damn, thought Miller. I blew that one.
“I believe I can help you,” said Matthew, walking toward them with a smile on his face, somewhat hidden beneath his full white and gray beard.
“Pops! What are you doing here?” asked Miller, standing to hug his father.
“I hear things,” he smirked. “In fact, I heard that young Alvin and Josiah no longer believe.”
“It’s not that, sir. I mean, it is, but, well, you have to see how difficult it is to believe in such a thing,” frowned Josiah.
“I can see where it might be a challenge,” nodded Matthew. “Take a seat.”
The boys took their seats, but Matthew noticed that the older men did the same. He wanted to laugh but knew that it was a compliment to him that they obeyed.
“Centuries ago, there was a man by the name of Saint Nicholas of Myra. Some knew him asNicholas of Bari. He was a Christianbishop originally from Greece. Now, this was way back during the Roman Empire.”
“Wow,” said Alvin. Matthew nodded, smiling at the young man.
