The Guilty Phone Call

 A dear young friend called me tonight just random-like. I could tell by his tone immediately that something was not quite right. He is usually such a happy kid. I asked what's up and he said something was really bad. I asked what was bad, was it with "somebody", or "some thing". He replied it was "some thing". I listed my typical reply that material things are just things and can be fixed or replaced. But indeed people are important, and that is who or what I care about most.

 So he admitted the Ipad I had given/loaned him (after his was lost following our recent vacation together) well mine got broken. I knew that he was at a sleep-over with his best buddy, apparently it happened there. He said the iPad got set down in a bad place, and somehow an accident happened. We can assume some sudden impact occurred, boys jumping about or wrestling? So yeah, the screen was cracked.

  He was concerned that it's probably going to cost a lot of money to repair it. I explained that it was an older model that I no longer have a need for. Plus, I was not worried about it ever coming back to me. He continued to express grief and such, but again I re-assured him that "He" is far too important to me, than to be upset about something that was broken by mistake.

  I told a short story of a time in my life when I went through a relationship break-up (did not explain it was with a guy),  a job change and the agony of blowing the engine in my car, which all happened in a two week span of my younger years. It was at this juncture in life I realized that machines can be fixed, new jobs can be found, and loved ones in life need extra special care no matter what.

 I continued to remind him to cheer up, and don't stress over it, because it's people that I cherish, not devices or machines. He told me he had told his Mom first, and I am pretty sure she told him he needed to come clean with me on the event. He was a brave young man, and told the truth.

 In the end, he seemed to relax, and with my kind words, of assurance he knew our friendship was not to be tested by a minor mishap. I am really glad that I said the things I did and the timing in which it came about. I sure as heck don't want him feeling guilty over a device that didn't cost me a dime.

 Now there is also the part of me in which I recall picking up his phone or iPad off the floor in his room, and placing it some place safer. It's happened a number of times. So honestly I am not surprised the loaner iPad got broken, considering how careless he is with personal devices. But what the heck, he is 13. Kids are like that.

 I sincerely hope he does not spend any money putting a new screen on it or anything. I'd rather he save his money for his long awaited gaming computer.

So Yeah, I bet I'll get a big hug for this one.

Anonymous