My Carl: A Journey Home
Chris Bower

THE BOOK

Christian, a single parent of teen-age twins, is too old to think about taking on another child, especially one with Carl's secrets. But who could turn down a boy who believes you are his last hope? Christian could not, especially after the manipulation his 14-year-old sons and others use to help Carl.

As with young Carl, the horrors of abuse does not end when a child is rescued, that is only the beginning, which is where Carl's story begins. The horrors of his previous life of abuse racks Carl as it does so many children like him, and there is no guarantee of a happily every after ending.

Sample

It was shortly after 10 p.m. when what I thought might have been the doorbell snapped me back from the nap I had slipped into. After "one of those days" at work I spent most of my evening doing all the last minute things a single parent does two weeks before Christmas. After I tucked my 14-year-old twins into bed, I crashed in my recliner. Dead to the world, I settled back to watch the local news. I only made it through the first couple of headlines before nodding off.

"It's exactly 32 degrees right now!" was the last thing I remember hearing.

I had to shake my head a couple of times. Was that the doorbell or the seldom-used, more responsible side of my brain, telling me to go drip my outside pipes before they froze and burst? Bandit, our King Charles Spaniel's high-pitched bark told me it was the doorbell. All 22 pounds of his fighting weight came storming down the hall to fend off whatever intruder was encroaching on his turf. Binki, our almost five-pound Dwarf Rabbit was right behind, covering his friend's flank.

A second, seemingly longer chime further confirmed some fool was outside. Reminding myself not to be too harsh, that whoever it was had to be somewhere between slow and just plain stupid to come calling this time at night unannounced, I dragged my 50-year-old slightly overweight bottom out of my wonderfully comfortable recliner.

I was totally unprepared for what I saw as I peeked out the door's spyglass. A boy named Carl, a friend of the twins and frequent visitor in our home, was at my door. Wearing only jeans, tee shirt and a light jacket, the 12-year-old was jumping up and down shivering like a leaf in the wind. Forgetting to turn on the porch light, I grappled around the doorframe trying to find the emergency key to the door's deadlock. I finally got the door open just as Carl struck his third, even longer chime of the doorbell.

The thin blond boy rubbed his hands against his upper arms and chest as he looked up at me with his 10-miles-deep blue eyes that had always fascinated me.

"Ah, are Jerry or Jeff home? S-sir?" Still engaging my brain, I started to tell him, No, stupid, my 14-year-olds were out partying all night like on any school night, but opened the screen door, telling him to come inside out of the cold. As soon as he came inside and I got a look at him in a lighted room, I knew this kid was in some traumatically major trouble. His face and hands were bright red - so red his usually bright freckles had disappeared. His hands and knees were trembling terribly, those beautiful eyes of his bloodshot. His tear-wet cheeks and frightened look made him appear more like a terrorized animal than the polite little boy who had visited us so often …

* * *

"I have to inform you it looks like this could stretch out to be a rather protracted case. We don't picture placing Carl back with his parents anytime soon, if ever. If what we found this morning is authenticated, we suspect Carl needs to be moved to a Residential Treatment Facility. We could move him into a shelter or if you won't mind keeping him a day or so, we can get him directly into a treatment setting." (The caseworker said)

I reflected briefly, and not fully realizing it something inside of me responded. "We don't think it would be good for him to go through something like that over Christmas. I want to keep him until after the holidays. Can we do that?" Pausing, I added, "If this protracts as you predict you will have to find a home for Carl, but not over Christmas. I can't take on raising another kid, but let's wait till after the New Year to move him." …

* * *

"You don't want to go and live with a mom and dad that will love you and take good care of you, that will not hurt you?" (The Judge asked). Getting no response she continued, "You don't want to go live with your mom and dad again do you? What do you want?"

"I don't want a mom and dad!" Carl answered. Looking directly at me he said, "I just want a pop. Well, a pop and a gramps!" …

Every eye in the room was suddenly glued on me. I could have sworn half of the Supreme Court Justices from all of history was glaring down at me from above.

DEDICATION

Every day thousands of helpless children have their innocence, their childhood robbed from them because of abuse. This story is dedicated to them, and the loving, dedicated adults that strive to rescue these youngsters, and to repair their

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My most sincere thanks go out to Preston, Melissa and others for their tireless efforts and support, without which I doubt I would have finished this work.

To my friends and family who not only offered words of encouragement, advice and support, but tolerated my sometime eccentric behavior during this, please know that you are remembered and always appreciated… Thank you.

THE AUTHOR

Chris Bower was born in San Antonio, Texas. The younger of two sons in a military family, he lived in several areas of the U.S.A, and two foreign countries while growing up. As an adult he for years taught vocational subjects to adults and older children, he became a computer technician, which is his current vocation.

Mr. Bower has for most of his adult life served as a volunteer with youth organizations, and for several years was a foster parent that helped abused teenagers while they lived in his home.

A new writer, Chris has used his years of experience in working with teens and preteens to create this work. As a Occupational Education teacher and a foster parent for abused teenagers, his incite into how troubled youngsters think and react to adults trying to help them allows him to develop his characters such that they seem as real as life.

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