Some kids learn to accept a little boy who happens to be mentally disabled.
I first saw him several months back, and to tell you the truth, he spooked me.
He looked decidedly different than most of us kids, and he acted different, too. He was nine, the same age as most of us, but acted like he was younger--much younger. He acted more like a five year old kid.
The boy's name was Teddy. Teddy Wilson. He was nine, as I said, but was small for his age, rather ugly, in a way. He had a round, moon-shaped face that was doughy in appearance, short, light-brown hair that was rather thin, a thick neck, smallish ears, a puggy nose, a tongue that stuck out from his too-small mouth, and slanted eyes that made him look like he was a Chinaman. His hands were small with stubby, shortened fingers, and when he talked, we couldn't understand him most of the time.
Teddy moved to our neighborhood last year, but we really never saw him. Guess his parents were ashamed to let him out, or else they overprotected him. He went to our school; but none of us really never attempted to befriend him. We were scared of him, afraid of what he might do, because he didn't act right.
When mad, he'd throw terrible fits of temper that scared us. When he was sad, he'd cry; big fat tears would roll down his fat cheeks and into his drooly mouth; his nose would be running like a faucet. It was disgusting. When he'd eat, he'd slop food all over; more would end up on his face instead of in his mouth, and it sickened us to no end. When he laughed, he sounded like a braying donkey; he seemed to laugh at the stupidest things, things that weren't funny to the rest of us.
Sometimes, just for kicks, we'd tease Teddy. We didn't like him; he was not like us, not "normal," and we let him know it. We excluded him from games, yet he insisted on joining. He would follow us like an injured puppy, eager to make new friends. We tried to tell him we didn't want him hanging around; he never got the message. He thought we were playing with him when we'd try to run from him; he didn't know we meant business. He just wanted to be with us; he liked us, whch was more than we could say about him.
We got to know Teddy's family through the teacher's conferences. They were so proud of him; he'd learned how to tie his shoes, learn the alaphabet (or spell his name), or learn his basic colors, and his parents always made a big deal about it.
If you ask me, we didn't really care; he was more like a kindergartener than a fourth grader, and we felt uncomfortable having him in our class. Teacher would spend more time with Teddy, and we'd get jealous; wish we could somehow bash his ugly, piggy face in. We'd never admit it, though; we just acted like we couldn't stand him.
Which we couldn't. He was different, and that alone scared us, made us want to avoid him at all costs.
Then came the day when Griffon got hurt playing baseball. A line drive smashed into his head, and he slumped to the field, unconscious. An ambulance was called, and before it came, Teddy came galumping onto the field in his funny, herky-jerky way, and he tried to minister to the injured boy. He held his head, then his hands, and started praying to Jesus up in Heaven, to make "his friend all better". He was crying, and it moved all of us to tears. He obviously had a loving, compassionate heart, and it changed our outlook towards him.
We saw him as a kid who cared about others, and we soon learned that he was more like us than we had first thought. He loved to laugh, he loved baseball (he couldn't play it though, due to his enlarged heart), he loved laughing at jokes, and he loved reading (Dr. Seuss books, but he was still reaading by this time). He was a great kid with a shining personality, and it wasn't long before we accepted him into our group.
When Griffon recovered from his head injury, Teddy Wilson was the one who'd visit him. He'd see him just about every day, and soon we all became good friends. Pretty soon his handicaps didn't seem so obvious: all we saw was a lonely little boy who only wanted to be loved, wanted to have friends. He was a good kid, and soon we were invitiing Teddy to sleepovers, campouts, all the little-boy things that we dearly cherished. Teddy became very popular with our crew, and we made him our "Official Team Mascot" during our games.
Karen, Karen...This one touch to the core of my heart; brought tears to my eyes. I found myself not like the other kids for being so mean to this little boy, who is not responsible for his appearance or disabilities. I was thinking, "Yeah, but Jesus loves all children...". Then to my delight, Teddy had the opportunity to reveal his tender, loving heart...in prayer to the Father. Oh, how beautiful...how wonderful...! Okay, okay, enough said. Great story, great message: don't judge others by mere looks! (Don't judge a book by its cover!)
What a truly touching write my friend, I agree with Felix, kids and adult can both be cruel...I have found that working with children, sometimes those that are mentally challenged have so much to offer others...we just have to be willing to recognize and accept their gifts! Great write dear friend!
Blessings,
Joyce Bowling
Reviewed by LadyJtalks LadyJzTalkZone
5/14/2007
it's very hard to get to know these kids when they aren't introduced properly. Lady J
Kids and yes even adults can be cruel and though education and changing moral and ethical standards in society have helped a lot and improved things for those mentally challenged the world can still be cruel. I am glad in this story at least there seems to be a happy ending.
Teddy wound up being more than these children expected; they saw something special in spite of his outer appearance. Perhaps they were jealous, wishing they could be like him, reaching out in love...a promising beginning to a new story I'd like to read more of. Well done!
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