Day 81
Over the weekend the boys and
I picked our way through the mess we like to refer to as “the basement” and
created a pile of gentled-not-used-anymore toys to donate.
I like to give to the
FreeStore in Over-the-Rhine because it serves people in our city’s poorest
neighborhood. Like the name
implies, people in need can walk in and take what they need at no cost.
As we drive up Liberty to the
store, the streets are filled with residents enjoying the unseasonably warm
temperatures. A policeman directs
us to pull behind some orange cones to unload.
“Not that!” F. cries. “I like that!” The “that” is a plastic garage that’s
taking up precious real estate in our playroom.
“Remember how we talked about
giving toys we don’t play with to kids who didn’t have as many toys as
us?” People are filing out of the
store pushing half-full carts.
I want the boys to learn that
while they might not have everything they want they have enough. They also have a lot more than other people.
“I want you to look around,” I
tell the boys as we circle back towards the expressway between graffiti-covered
buildings.
“Some families who live around
here might need food. Others might
need clothes.”
“Lots of kids who live here
might not get any presents for Christmas,” I quickly add, “except the one from
Santa.”
“Boys, what do you
think?”
“If I lived here I’d ask Santa
for a pepperoni pizza,” A. says. I
want to ask if that’s because it’s food that’s fun to play with.
I hope the child who gets the
plastic garage enjoys it as much as a slice of pizza.
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