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Authors: Jim Stovall
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month as well. Some of you will remember them being here during our board of director visits with Mr. Stevens. They are very fine people that we are lucky to have here.”
Then Nathan bowed his head and gave thanks for the food. All of the boys followed suit and were polite and respectful throughout the meal.
As we enjoyed our lunch, Jason asked Nathan, “Have you been here before?”
Nathan laughed and responded, “You better believe it. The first time I came here, I was smaller than the smallest kid at this table. I was in and out of a few foster homes, but when I think of the good things from my childhood, they all happened here.”
“Do you work here now or something?” Jason asked.
Nathan laughed, which sounded like a low rumble of thunder. “Yes and no,” he said. “I guess people would think of my main job as being the tight end for the New England Patriots, but as soon as the season’s over, I do whatever I can to be useful around here.”
Jason seemed shocked and said, “I’m sorry. I thought you were just a limo driver.”
“Well, today I am, and proud to do it,” Nathan responded. “Tomorrow I may be the head maintenance man or disciplinarian here. One of the things we learned from Red Stevens when I was growing up is that we all do what needs to be done because it’s the right thing to do.”
“Well, what am I supposed to do here?” Jason asked.
“I believe Mr. Stevens’ instructions through Mr. Hamilton were to let the boys help you figure out what you’re supposed to do here,” Nathan answered. “So, if they’re done eating, I will take Mr. Hamilton and Miss Hastings to the administration building to discuss next year’s budget and let your lessons begin.”
Nathan slapped Jason on the back with a giant hand and led Miss Hastings and me from the dining room building. As we were passing through the door, I heard Jason calling to us, “Look, I don’t have a clue here. I’ve never been around any kids.”
The young boys around the table all erupted into laughter which could be heard as we walked across the courtyard and into the administration building.
For the next month, Miss Hastings and I did all of the legal and budgetary work required for the coming year. We did have several opportunities each day to look in on Jason, and Nathan told us he would keep us informed.
For the first several days, Jason seemed like a stranger. But, eventually he settled into his duties as father, brother, teacher, and friend to three dozen boys. On the last day, as Nathan was loading our luggage into the limousine, each of the boys came out, one at a time, to tell Jason good-bye. Hugs were exchanged, a few tears were shed, and Jason received a number of gifts which would be considered exceedingly valuable to young boys. I noticed several oddly shaped rocks, a four-leaf clover, and an arrowhead, among other heartfelt offerings.
As Nathan drove us out of the courtyard along the gravel driveway, Jason was turned in the seat waving to the boys until they were out of sight. We sat in silence until we were well along the highway back to Boston.
Finally, Jason spoke. “You know what’s amazing? Not one of those boys has a family, but each of them knew more about a family than I did. I think family is not as much about being related by blood as it is about relating through love.”
The limousine horn honked, and Nathan let out a blood-curdling yell which I am sure serves him well on the football field. “You finally got it!” he shouted. “I thought you were pretty useless when you got here, but I knew that if you were related to Red Stevens, we had a chance. You see, you come from a great family, and so do I.”
NINE
THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER
Laughter is good medicine for the soul.
Our world is desperately in need
of more such medicine.
When you become an octogenarian, you find yourself dealing with your memories and your mortality. I was sitting in my office thinking of all the
Then Nathan bowed his head and gave thanks for the food. All of the boys followed suit and were polite and respectful throughout the meal.
As we enjoyed our lunch, Jason asked Nathan, “Have you been here before?”
Nathan laughed and responded, “You better believe it. The first time I came here, I was smaller than the smallest kid at this table. I was in and out of a few foster homes, but when I think of the good things from my childhood, they all happened here.”
“Do you work here now or something?” Jason asked.
Nathan laughed, which sounded like a low rumble of thunder. “Yes and no,” he said. “I guess people would think of my main job as being the tight end for the New England Patriots, but as soon as the season’s over, I do whatever I can to be useful around here.”
Jason seemed shocked and said, “I’m sorry. I thought you were just a limo driver.”
“Well, today I am, and proud to do it,” Nathan responded. “Tomorrow I may be the head maintenance man or disciplinarian here. One of the things we learned from Red Stevens when I was growing up is that we all do what needs to be done because it’s the right thing to do.”
“Well, what am I supposed to do here?” Jason asked.
“I believe Mr. Stevens’ instructions through Mr. Hamilton were to let the boys help you figure out what you’re supposed to do here,” Nathan answered. “So, if they’re done eating, I will take Mr. Hamilton and Miss Hastings to the administration building to discuss next year’s budget and let your lessons begin.”
Nathan slapped Jason on the back with a giant hand and led Miss Hastings and me from the dining room building. As we were passing through the door, I heard Jason calling to us, “Look, I don’t have a clue here. I’ve never been around any kids.”
The young boys around the table all erupted into laughter which could be heard as we walked across the courtyard and into the administration building.
For the next month, Miss Hastings and I did all of the legal and budgetary work required for the coming year. We did have several opportunities each day to look in on Jason, and Nathan told us he would keep us informed.
For the first several days, Jason seemed like a stranger. But, eventually he settled into his duties as father, brother, teacher, and friend to three dozen boys. On the last day, as Nathan was loading our luggage into the limousine, each of the boys came out, one at a time, to tell Jason good-bye. Hugs were exchanged, a few tears were shed, and Jason received a number of gifts which would be considered exceedingly valuable to young boys. I noticed several oddly shaped rocks, a four-leaf clover, and an arrowhead, among other heartfelt offerings.
As Nathan drove us out of the courtyard along the gravel driveway, Jason was turned in the seat waving to the boys until they were out of sight. We sat in silence until we were well along the highway back to Boston.
Finally, Jason spoke. “You know what’s amazing? Not one of those boys has a family, but each of them knew more about a family than I did. I think family is not as much about being related by blood as it is about relating through love.”
The limousine horn honked, and Nathan let out a blood-curdling yell which I am sure serves him well on the football field. “You finally got it!” he shouted. “I thought you were pretty useless when you got here, but I knew that if you were related to Red Stevens, we had a chance. You see, you come from a great family, and so do I.”
NINE
THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER
Laughter is good medicine for the soul.
Our world is desperately in need
of more such medicine.
When you become an octogenarian, you find yourself dealing with your memories and your mortality. I was sitting in my office thinking of all the
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