Giovanni quickly took a liking to me and became my constant shadow at the day camp. He'd walk around holding my hand and sometimes sit in my lap. If he was upset the women that worked with me would come and find me to talk him down however Giovanni was rarely upset. He was usually smiling, typically in a good mood.
He used to ask if I could come to his house and play. I wanted to but I feared how it would look and what his mother would say about a then 22 year old guy wanting to play army guys with a 6 year old. Giovanni came to the camp one week and announced on a Monday that Friday would be his last day at the camp. He was never picked up by his mom but by another relative who'd hurry in and make Giovanni rush to get going. I was feeling very sad that I would not get to see Giovanni day after day. The ladies that I worked with me thought I would be relieved to have this kid that followed me everywhere leaving but I wanted him there.
Giovanni begged me to exchange phone numbers with him but I didn't really know his family and I feared what they would think if he had my phone number or if I called. I could have talked to Giovanni all day but as a young man I knew how it could be perceived.
An entire month goes by after Giovanni leaves the program and I still missed him greatly. One day I was in the grocery store and I heard a voice ring out and feet pattering towards me. "I thought I'd never see you again!" it was Giovanni, he ran to me and hugged me around the waist. It was a tight hug, I hugged him back and when he finally let go I could see that he was beaming from ear to ear with his winsome smile. "Mom, mom this is him!" "Well, I have heard quite a lot about you. He's been begging me to take him to the camp just to visit you."
His mother and I shook hands, I told her that I really enjoyed having her son in the camp and I missed him. "Can he come over for dinner tonight!?" Giovanni interrupted. "Not tonight but if we exchange phone numbers maybe he can come next week. "Maa-uumm!" Giovanni whined. We exchanged phone numbers and his mom gave me their address as well. Giovanni was a little disappointed that I wasn't coming that very night but excited that I would be coming over. I was elated.
Sooner than I thought I got a call from Giovanni's mom, only a day had passed. "Giovanni is really looking forward to this are you free Friday?" "Yeah, let me check and call you right back." I was free but I didn't want to seem as eager as I actually was. I literally put on a timer and called back 30 minutes later to say that I was free and would love to come.
Giovanni lived alone with his mom in a small one bedroom apartment. His mom slept on a fold out bed in the living room. Giovanni had a nice little bedroom. The apartment was very clean. His mom apologized over and over that that she was cooking leftovers and TV dinners. We had Mac and Cheese, some really crispy Bacon and Hungry Man meals. I can't forget that first time, all the details are etched into my memory. "My mom makes the best bacon!" Giovanni was like a tornado running around the small apartment wanting to show me his toys, he even wanted to make me coffee.He pounced up in my lap and quizzed me if it was a good pot of coffee. I assured him it masterful. We ate dinner and then Giovanni invited me to his room to play.
"Well, I don't mind but it has to be okay with your mom" She was happy to let me play. We went in his room and played together for over an hour. I got on the floor and really got into role playing with the action figures. I was leaving and Giovanni did not want me to leave. "He has to go, he's coming back don't worry." his Mom said.
End Part 1
Anonymous
(Submitted using Guerrillamail.com)
Please post part 2 .Thanks
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