showed him the sticks. He was jubilant . He was so happy, until he saw Ethan’s signature on them.
“What the hell is this!?” he said.
“Don ’t worry, Ivan there is always a negative.”
Ivan s creamed. He read it out loud, “Ethan wuz here.”
He thumped the wall. “What does the other one say?” He read that one out too, “don’t blame the rash....”
“Just ignore it , Ivan and ask God to forgive him.”
“I only lost because of the rash!” If it wasn’t for the rash I’d be the fastest 15 year old in California!” he screamed.
Ivan kept the sticks for two weeks until he decided the torture was enough. He couldn’t stop thinking of Ethan when he played with them and he felt forced to throw them out.
~~~~
Ethan was all good to go. His bags were in the car and all he had to do now was grab his drink bottle and say bye to the Taylors. They were all sitting down, the four girls and Mrs. Taylor. Ivan was still in bed and Stan was out.
Ethan faced them . They were all looking at him. To his surprise he felt a bit of compassion. They were all dressed in silly, yellow colored clothes just staring at him.
“Okay Ethan ,” Mrs. Taylor said, “no need to be so dramatic. Say your goodbyes and be off…and say thank you.”
Ethan looked ahead and he felt pride. He felt like a little warrior.
“Thank you for the shelter,” he said, then a big smile broke out, “I’m off to see my mom.”
He glowed, he shi ned and most of them hated it. Jane, the boy looking one looked more perplexed, like she couldn’t understand what love was or understand Ethan. The others were just jealous at him shining.
Ethan then left . He walked off like a little film star, he had a swag in his walk, he felt proud. He felt like he was walking through the light. He knew God was with him, she always was, she was shining through him, and off he went to never see those haters again. He forgave them but his focus was now on his beautiful mom.
~~~~
Ethan was dropped off to the bus stop where he took his bus to San Francisco.
It was amazing how he felt. He felt so happy and strong. Just knowing where he was going to be, made him loving and forgiving. He didn’t care about the Taylors as he had his life to live and that was his joy and focus.
He got off the bus in San Francisco. He was helped with his bags and he looked for his mom. And there she was in the distance. Her dark hair was flowing in the wind, she was on crutches and when their eyes met her face broke out into the most beautiful smile Ethan had ever seen. He had to run to her. Tears rolled down his face and he ran into her and they hugged. Ethan sobbed uncontrollably. It was both joy and sadness from missing her so much. There was also a part of him that wanted to care for her too. He loved her so much that he would do anything for her, and when he looked up at her, he saw all her strength and love. He could tell in her eyes she had been through a tough time but there was love and depth and she told him how much she loved him.
“ I love you Ethan, I love you. I love you.”
Over the next few days they both talked about their experiences. Ethan told her nothing else mattered now as his wish had been granted and she was back in his life.
Life slowly turned back to normal. Elisabeth had a huge financial hit from what happened and was unable to work for a year, with another operation required to remove a plate from her leg.
They were broke for a couple of years. But during that time they always had their needs met. The universe always provided, often just at the last moment. They had little money but Ethan’s innocents always helped. He used to say to Elisabeth when they had little or no money, “we live in a cool house, we have enough change to go for a walk and buy a drink and I have you, and you have me...that’s all I need! And we have pretty cool friends too.”
That always made Elisabeth determined to get ahead and she did. She worked
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