Short Stories

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Jeremy

Even though his family was an exceptional large family, his parents, however, found room for one more child-him. Jeremy was eight years old when he was adopted. At that tender age, he had already given up hope of finding a home, he was already considered too old for many. Immediately Jeremy felt the love and acceptance of his new sisters and brothers. At last, he had a home.

It was the normal home scene with the scrabbling between siblings. Often, they would fight over the most trivial things, including who most deserved their parents love. Even though they may have had their differences, they were fiercely protective towards each other and always the first to defend one another. Their love for each other was apparent for all to see. Even though each child was unique and different, with different outlooks and opinions, they respected and accepted each other as only family can.

As with most families, they looked to the eldest for guidance and strength, often, mimicking him in their actions. Jeremy was no exception. Oh how he loved his new big brother Joshua. Where ever you saw Joshua, you would see Jeremy tagging behind. Yet, Joshua never seemed to mind. Contrary to most older brothers, he welcomed his new sibling wholeheartedly and would often go out of his way for his younger brother. Under his attention and love, Jeremy blossomed. Slowly but surely, Jeremy changed. Once shy, he became outgoing. Where as he had been unsure of himself before, his confidence grew. Laughter replaced the sadness in his eyes.

It was summer when Jeremy had been adopted and for that few months, he was sheltered away from the world. But summer swiftly came to an end, and it was now time for Jeremy to go out into the world and to a new school. How frightened he suddenly became. Joshua wouldn’t be there with him! Somehow Joshua had anticipated Jeremys forth coming fears. He wrote letters to Jeremy, encouraging his new steps out into the world. Every night, Jeremy would pour over the letters, loving his older brother more and more as he did. The night before Jeremy was to go to school, Joshua came up with a plan. He took his pocket knife and scratched Jeremys palm, while cutting a big gash in his. Jeremy cried at the look of pain on Joshuas face as the knife sliced through his flesh. Yet, Joshua smiled lovingly down at his brother and placed his bleeding palm against the scratch he had made on Jeremy. He explained to Jeremy that he was giving his blood to him so that they could always be together and no matter where Jeremy was or what he was doing, Joshua would now always be with him. Then, Joshua whispered a secret into Jeremy’s ear and Jeremy beamed.

The next morning when Jeremy went to school, he felt a twinge of fear, but as he touched his palm, he smiled. Peace filled him. Confidently and boldly, he walked into his new classroom. Most of the children cast him curious looks. One child, Lucifer, however, was filled with malevolence and in a loud sarcastic voice, he sneered at Jeremy. “So, you are the new child” Then he laughed, “Aren’t you adopted?” “Yes, I am”, Jeremy declared with pride. “So then, you have no real parents or family-you were unwanted” mocked Lucifer. Love blazed from Jeremys eyes as he held up his palm and replied “My parents got to choose me while others have had to take what they got. I may not have been wanted by others, but, they wanted me. I have a real family because we are joined together in love and I am covered by my brothers’ blood.”


Kathleen Ann Shelton

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