True Blessings

Chapter Ten

Arnold laid his dinner tray on the ground then sat, leaning back against a pole, letting out a long sigh. The dining tent had available seats at the several long rows of tables, but he left those for people who had been fighting all day to rescue what remained in their flooded homes.

He had a nice warm home to return to. They didn't.

He removed his phone from his pocket to see who had texted him and saw Sammy had, sending him a video.

Sipping from a bottle of water, he tapped the play icon.

At first there was only a blank screen with sound: "Hi, Dad. Last night Grampa, Alice, Pete and I watched the news about the flooding. And I realized, while I'm sitting here sad because you're there and might not be home for Christmas, those you are helping didn't get to enjoy their Thanksgiving dinner and do Black Friday shopping. And they might not have a good Christmas because they may still be in shelters 'cause they have no home! Then, I wished I could be there, helping them as you are. Alice and Pete agreed with me. That's when Grampa suggested we could help."

Now, the screen showed a flier requesting donations brought to the Northwood Church.

"We designed this flier last night and, this morning, me, Alice, Pete and a bunch of other friends took them to the stores downtown today, and asked the managers to display them. All were happy to."

Now, Arnold watched as a door appeared on the screen, and came close to the camera. He watched as it swung open, then turned to show the trailer of an eighteen wheeler, three-quarters full of boxes stacked almost to the roof.

"This afternoon Grampa, Alice and I came to the church to help sort the donations. When we got there, this trailer was only a-quarter full, but it's eight thirty, now, and, look! Because of the fliers, more was donated today than the church collected all last week! But we haven't finished collecting things, Dad!"

The video turned to show a line of cars stopped in front of the church and people carrying boxes to the entrance.

"People are still bringing more!"

Now, Sammy turned the camera to show his face.

"When you dropped me off at the mall, I didn't want to stay with Grampa, but, now, I'm happy I am."

He looked away then back at the camera, grinning. "More cars pulling up, Dad. This one is full of boxes – I think . . . yeah, it's the manager from Petrillo's Grocery."

The scenery behind him began to move as he walked away from the church.

"Last Sunday, I said I had looked up gender dysphoria to learn why Grampa felt like a woman and you weren't happy, warning me not to buy into her bull. But I learned why Grampa feels as she does, and I understand why. She's happy now, Dad, despite the crap she gets for it – like the crap Assistant Principal Wallace gave her at school, Monday.

"I've accepted this is what Grampa is and nothing terrible has happened to me. She hasn't tried to convince me to wear a skirt and do makeup. She keeps telling me how much a handsome man I am, that I'm just like you – that I'm as handsome as you are. She tells me how proud she is of you being in the Guard and asks if I might think of joining when I'm eighteen."

He paused, and Arnold could see a tear streaming down his cheek.

"Will it hurt just accepting Grampa is as she is, Dad? Yes, people laugh at me because of her, but people in Northwood Community Church love Grampa, Dad, and the pastor of the church is transgender, too – and she's a kind lady, also!"