A Home For Timmy (boyxboy)

Chapter 2: A Home for a night.

Chapter 2

I turned the key in the lock and pulled open the door, stepping aside to allow Jason to pass before I entered and closed it behind us. The first thing I did was to flip on the light switch, then I watched him as he looked around, his eyes wide as he took it all in.

I glanced around the spacious room, trying to see it from his eyes; the lived-in leather couches, cream carpeting, and scratched up coffee table that was home to a stack of used magazines and an empty beer can, the large flat screen TV mounted on the olive colored wall, and the remote control lying on the floor by the couch.

The walls at least were clean after having repainted it a week ago, and the smashed mirror that had once stood in the corner of the family room was lying in pieces outside in the garbage can. My time here had made me productive, and as a result I spent more time cleaning the place than I did anything else, but even I couldn’t transform it into perfection.

The child-Timmy, turned in his father’s arms, looking around the room as we did. He had woken up when we were only a block away from the house, and had simply sat on his father’s lap, sucking his middle and index fingers without a sound. Now his small face mirrored his father’s expression as he looked around with fingers still trapped securely in his mouth.

 I couldn’t tell if he was so quiet because that’s how children were at that age, or if it was because he found himself in a strange place, but his little round face was too adorable not to have me melting as I stood there. I’d always had a soft spot for children, there was just something about their innocence, and general cluelessness that made me want to drop everything and try make them smile.

Timmy didn’t glance my way though and I didn’t attempt to get his attention.

“Come on, I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping.” I said, and led him out of the room and through the kitchen, where I deposited the food I’d picked up at the drive-thru on the way over. Then I led them down the hall and up the stairs. Jason followed me without a sound, his wet shoes making squishing sounds against the tiles.

 I stopped briefly in the hallway when we passed the upstairs bathroom, and pulled out two large towels and washcloths from the in-wall cabinet, then I led them to the room that would be theirs for the night. When I pushed the door open, flipped the switch and stepped in, he finally set Timmy down, but I noted that he held his small hand firmly in his. The little boy stared up at me with his large brown eyes – his favorite fingers still nestled safe and warm in his mouth.

I smiled at him and he twisted away from me, hiding his tiny body behind his father.

“There’s a bathroom through there.” I told Jason when I pried my eyes away from the little thing and pointed to the door to the far corner of the room. “You guys can wash up while I go share your food.”

Jason looked around uncertainly, then bit his lip before meeting my eyes. “I forgot our clothes at the house.” He said regretfully, and I looked him up and down, taking in the filthy outfit he walked around in. I couldn’t imagine how the rest of his clothes looked, and suddenly I pitied him and his child. People should never be forced to live like this.

“That’s alright, I’m sure I can find you something to wear. Give me a sec.” I assured him, handing him the towels and washcloths before I exited the room.

I walked the short distance to my bedroom and toed off my wet shoes, before I padded over to the closet. I had nothing that would fit either of them, so I just pulled out two T-shirts and a pair of shorts with elastic in the waist, then dipped into the far corner of a drawer and pulled out two brand-new toothbrushes.