Jeremiah, Wise and Truly Wonderful: As Told Through the Eyes of Sister Mary Elizabeth O’Brien

By Linda Porras

Jeremiah is a precocious child, and while very intelligent and advanced in his 3-Rs, he is still an active little six-year-old boy. He sees the world as a wondrous place and unfortunately takes many things he sees and hears at face value. Above all, he wants to please his parents, siblings, and his teachers, but most importantly, God.

In this story, as in the previous book about his life (which is entitled Jeremiah, Great but Small), people in Jeremiahs world learn what it is like to see things through the eyes of a child. They discover how important it is to safeguard and truly enjoy not only Jeremiah, but all children in the short time they are entrusted to us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 8, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543420890

Linda Porras

Linda Porras is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, a teacher, and most importantly, a Christian practicing her Catholic faith. She has written one other book, Jeremiah, Great but Small, which details the story of the child, Jeremiah, from before his birth until his sixth birthday. Linda was born in Riverside, California, and now resides in Fontana, California. Her favorite pastimes are reading novels and The Bible, writing, scrapbooking, loving animals (especially cats and dogs), and enjoying anything to do with the Denver Broncos. She loves her family, all children like little Jeremiah, and her faith beyond measure!

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Throw-Away Kid

M OMMY, I’M HOME! Where are you? Aunt Jennie brought me back from school, but she had to leave right away to get back to her classroom. Mom, are you here? Jeremiah called loudly. I got something to tell you that’s really, really important! Jeremiah, who now had just recently turned six years old, raced through the house in his bright-blue tennis shoes, Mickey Mouse T-shirt, and faded blue jeans. This home was where he had been raised, and he deeply loved it. As usual, he didn’t walk on his short little legs but ran with gusto, his blue-green eyes blazing with excitement!

Jeremiah, I’m in the kitchen, darling, his mother called, clad in her usual boots and Wranglers. Did you remember to tell Aunt Jen ‘Thank you!’ for bringing you home? And, by the way, what’s so important you have to come charging into the house without saying hello?

Hi, Mommy! How are you? I am fine, thanks bunches! And, yes, I said, ‘Thank you very much!’ and, ‘See you later, Aunt Jennie!’ Jeremiah thought for a moment, taking a breath before continuing,

So, you see, he continued, out of breath, this is what I gotta tell you. ’Cause, this great big boy from my school, who comes into my classroom to help with the kids and me, was crying! But he’s really big, like in sixth grade or something!

"Hummm … Okay, Jeremiah, do you know what prompted him to cry? Was he hurt? Maybe we could help him if you give me the details. Now slow down and start from the beginning with all the details, please."

Laurie was used to hearing her child entering a room all excited and knew she’d get the whole story if she just had patience and slowed him down a bit.

Details? I don’t know details, but I know heads-up stuff! See, I just asked him what was the matter, and at first, he said, ‘Nothing’s wrong.’ Then he started to really cry harder, and he told me that those bigger boys I saw with him from the high school down the street were calling him names and pushing him around and making fun of him and—

Now, simmer down and start from the beginning. Where was this boy, and what’s his name? his mother asked, greatly concerned with a furrow in her brow and with a firm arm around her child.

"That’s what I’m trying to tell you, Mommy! He’s this big guy who helps Sister Mary Elizabeth and even other people at our school with our spelling and stuff. His last name is Romeo, and that’s another thing that the bigger boys were laughing about. Then, guess what I heard them yell at him when they were running away? It was a funny name. They called him a throw-away kid! That’s a weird name, huh? Who would throw away a kid?" Jeremiah questioned his pretty mother with wide eyes.

Oh, sweetheart, that’s just awful! I can’t imagine anyone saying anything so hurtful as that! No wonder he was crying! Laurie proclaimed, with tears in her own eyes, tightening her embrace. The very thought of anyone being so cruel just hurt her heart. But her young son continued, They called him a crybaby and pushed him some more! I saw him wipe his nose on his shirt. ’Member, you told us not to do that? he reminded her.

Yes, and then, what happened, darling? Laurie knew she would have to follow up on this problem in a hurry so that it comes to an immediate end. She would also have to enlist her husband, her brother-in-law (Father Jake), and several members of the community.

See, like I was telling you, those great big guys pushed him down and then ran away fast when me and the lady across the street from the school saw them. We raced over to him (even though you told me I had to stay at the school sidewalk), and we asked him if he was okay. That’s when he really, really cried lots! He said he was tired of getting called those names, just ’cause he was something called a foster kid, Jeremiah carefully explained to Laurie.

Oh, now I see where those boys got the hurtful name ’Throw-Away Kid.’ That’s just awful, and must have made him feel like no one wanted him. What a terrible feeling that would be! I’m so sorry he had to endure that!

She knew she would have to get started on this matter right away, now that she knew more about the problem.

"Oh, yeah, I ’member now. His first name is Charlie, and he’s pretty nice to me and my buddies and even the girls too! And, Mommy, he’s so smart! He can spell long words like ‘elementary’ and ‘unitedstatesofamerica’!"

Darling, you know that last one isn’t just one word. It’s four, but I do understand what you mean. Do you know where Charlie lives? Is it close by our ranch?

Laurie tried to pull every last detail from this child before proceeding.

Yup, on the other side of the Sinclair, where we found Jason that time he fell in the hole. And I ’member Jason cried too, even though he was big then, right?

Wait a minute. I wonder if the Sampsons could be his foster family. I know Mrs. Sampson, and she’s a wonderful person and mother! Let me give her a call and see if we can make some sense out of this situation.

After a long phone conversation, Jeremiah’s mom came into her son’s room with some news.

Jeremiah, you were so right in coming to me with this! I can’t tell you how proud I am of you! Most little boys your age would have been afraid to check out why this older boy was so upset, but you came to his rescue. I wonder why the neighbor lady didn’t tell anybody, though. Maybe she thought it was none of her business, and the situation would just go away. You know, that was so brave of you! Jeremiah’s mom exclaimed. I’m meeting with Mrs. Sampson and also your uncle, Father Jake, to get to the bottom of this injustice.

What’s a ‘in justus’? Is it like something good or something bad? the boy inquired.

Slowly, Laurie explained, An injustice is when something happens that is terribly wrong. What is right is when someone speaks up about it like you did. Because of your telling me what’s going on, we are on our way to getting things straightened out.

’Oh-kay! But can I come too? And can that boy, Charlie, be there with me? I think he’s sooo cool! I don’t want him to cry or get beat up anymore!

Proudly, Laurie added, I certainly want you both to be there. After all, you are an eyewitness to the problem. If you boys tell your story to Father Jason, and Charlie’s foster mom, then it will help Charlie explain what’s been happening to him. Again, thanks, darling, for your bravery!

Yup, I’m brave all right! But guess what, Mommy? he said with his head down in shame. I kinda cried too, when I saw Charlie with his tears all over his face. I guess maybe that means I’m a big crybaby too! he confessed.

No, sweetheart, that’s what we call empathy.

Huh? the child questioned.

Smiling, his mother hugged Jeremiah tightly again and whispered, "Empathy is when you feel sad for someone else, and it hurts your heart too. That’s what real caring is all about!"

But I wasn’t on any path, Mommy. I was on the sidewalk. And I patted his shoulder just like Daddy does when I lose a ball game, and he calls me ‘sport’.

That’s a good thing too, Jeremiah. Touching someone nicely on their shoulder shows you care. It makes them feel better, don’t you think?

After coordinating with everyone she could think of to remedy this situation, the child’s mother was satisfied the community could begin to right this terrible wrong.

The following day, everyone was assembled with the boys’ parochial school principal, Father Jason. Everyone actually called him Father Jake, as a sign of love, not disrespect.

Inquiring how long this abuse had been happening, Father Jake was appalled when he learned that it had been going on for several weeks, apparently when these students from the local high school thought no one was watching. From the descriptions of these hoodlums, Father Jake knew that one boy most likely was the one who lived down the street from the Sampson home. He also had an idea who the other one was, and where he lived too. As principal of St. Andrews Catholic School and a valued member of the community of Evergreen, he decided it was his duty to visit the boys’ parents and get to the bottom of this.

Long ago, Charlie’s aunt had enlisted Father Jason to assist her in watching over Charlie. Perhaps, he thought, he should have paid better attention.

But prior to the meeting (when Jeremiah was with his new older friend outside the principal’s office), Charlie approached the younger boy and snapped, Hey, twirp! You weren’t supposed to tell anyone about this! Now those guys are really gonna kill me next time, for sure! What were you thinking, huh?

Jeremiah looked down at his hands and then up to Charlie with tears in his eyes, answering, But Charlie, I’m not ’posed to keep secrets from Mommy and Daddy, and ’specially God! Those guys were hurting you and making you cry, and I’m too little to stop them for you. ’Member, I’m only barely six!

After a few seconds’ thought and a chuckle, Charlie grabbed the child in a guy-hug, poked him in the shoulder softly, and replied, Yeah, hey, well, it’s okay. I keep forgetting you’re just a little kid and don’t know any better. But I hope Mr. and Mrs. Sampson won’t want to give up on me and send me to another home. I kinda like them as foster parents. They give me stuff for no reason, like a new shirt, cool tennis shoes, or even a video game when it’s not even my birthday or Christmas. I’m not used to that!

Wow! I get great stuff like that when it’s not anytime special too. Maybe they will ’dopt you? My mom said foster parents do that sometimes, Jeremiah said, looking up to the older boy, full of hope.

Nah! the boy said. "They’re too old to adopt a kid, and I’m too old to get adopted. Most people want babies or small little kids to adopt. It sure would be great, though, to have a home that I don’t have to pack up and leave every six or eight months or so. My suitcase is all worn out, and I have to put my clothes and stuff in one of those black trash bags. It makes me feel like garbage when I cram my junk in it!"

My daddy’s got a suitcase in the storeroom by the Christmas stuff, and the baby Jesus in his manger. I’ll bet he would let you use that next time.

Charlie shook his head. "That’s just it! I don’t want there to be a next time!" he emphasized.

After hearing the facts from Charlie and Jeremiah, and later that afternoon when Father Jake called Laurie, he told her that he had contacted the parents of the offending boys, as well as the teens themselves, and had talks with them at their homes. After much discussion, the boys both reluctantly admitted to their crimes, and promised to stop the abuse, plus they would apologize to Charlie and his foster parents. Father Jake further had them agree that they were going to do some big-time community service around the church and town to emphasize the reason why they had to stop bullying, no matter who was on the other end.

The next day, Jeremiah found his father in the barn. The child got up atop a bale of hay and looked his dad straight in the eye, saying, "Daddy, we gotta do something really, really big for my buddy, Charlie! I want him to be my brother for keeps! Can we ’dopt him for reals and let him come live with us? He can even sleep in my room and get my kitty, Jackie, to like him a lot, so she’ll purr in his ear too, every night when we go to sleep. Please, Daddy, please?" Jeremiah pleaded so seriously.

Well, sport, this is more than just a big favor, his father said. You already have a big brother, Jason. And Charlie is eleven or twelve years old. Are you sure you would want another older brother to bug you? After all, Jason is fourteen now and closer to Charlie’s age. And what about what both Charlie and Jason would think and what they would have to say about this? And l wonder, too, what your mom’s reaction would be. She especially needs to be in on this discussion.

"Mommy loves everybody! She lets me have stuff that’s good for me, and Charlie is super good! ’Sides, Charlie wants to have a forever home, so he doesn’t have to pack his stuff in a trash bag and be junk and feel like a throw-away kid and—"

"Slow down, Jeremiah! Let’s go talk with Mommy first, and then take this one step at a time. We need to discuss this with all the rest of the family members. And, what’s