An Urban Fairy Tale

Once upon a time, our good friend and neighbor, Maurice, was just trying to get by as a fifteen-year-old in the ‘hood without getting any more counts on his record. To his (and our) dismay, he was jumped (for those story-readers unaware, this is when one or a gang of guys “jump” out, beat a guy up, and try to steal his stuff)….not just once, but twice….in three days. And the second time was much worse than the first. Sad, isn’t it? Our hearts really go out to this dear brother in need. Really. But that’s not the end of the story for little bro ‘Reese…

Now, the best person to take care of a fifteen-year-old would be his mom, right? Ah, but that wouldn’t work, for young Maurice’s mom was busy toiling away at her minimum wage job at the local grocery store. There just aren’t many breaks for people who can’t afford an advanced education and, unfortunately for a substantial portion of the population of Cincinnati, just happen to be a member of an often neglected, often profiled and mistreated minority. She couldn’t leave work or she would lose her job.

So a local pastor was called. “Is Maurice saved? Well, uh, I don’t know…..Um, I don’t think he’s been baptized…if so I’m pretty sure he was a baby….sir, to be perfectly honest I don’t think he’s in much a mood right now to pray a prayer or listen to why he’s going to hell…” So the pastor, sadly, was unable to offer much assistance.

Well, help was definitely needed. Maurice was bleeding, and his nineteen-year-old sister and two-year-old nephew were pretty shaken up. So they tried an elder. That’s his job, right? Take care of the church needs, and Maurice would stumble in every once in a while, especially when they were giving away free food and he hadn’t eaten for a day or two. “Yes sir, he’s pretty badly hurt…well, yes sir, he does live down in the city…yes, that part of the city…I realize it’s not the best neighborhood, but…sir, really I don’t see what that has to do with anything….I’m sorry, too.” Apparently, the elder didn’t want to bring his character into question. Maurice lived in a pretty rough side of town and he did have a bit of a criminal record, and the elder just didn’t know what the congregation would think if they heard he was down there. Honestly, it makes sense….I mean, prostitutes, drug dealers, gang-bangers, and homeless folk run around down there. Just think of the scandal…he may not be reelected for the church board of directors next year.

And then a college student walks by the house. Well, not exactly a college student…more like a college dropout. A white college dropout with tight clothes, tattoos, a nose piercing, and fairly sketchy body odor…Definitely not from this side of town.

Apparently he was visiting an old friend of his, a youth pastor he knew back in high school before his college days of binge drinking, parties, and several rather shady relationships…with both genders. He had been rolling through the stations on the radio in the car one day, stumbled across a very traditional Christian gospel station, and long story short, gave his life to Jesus. It was time to catch up with some old friends.

Anyways, he sees this family on the porch, shuffles up the cracked concrete steps, and asks if he can help (he was a Boy Scout back in the day). Why not, eh? Amidst some very skeptical looks, he receives a nod from Maurice’s sister and proceeds over to the lad. He takes some half-stained napkins from the table, as well as some band-aids and begins to patch up his cuts. Really, the physician’s work being performed wasn’t that impressive at all. But what he did next was. One person at a time, starting with Maurice, the college student begins to hug each member of the family… but not the quick, awkward acquaintance kind of hug. Rather, he embraces each person, holding them for three, four, five full minutes. Maurice opens his eyes and smiles…his nephew giggles and squirms…his sister begins to softly cry. The college kid then slips the sister twenty dollars as the police barge through the door and not-so-politely escort him to the sidewalk. He just smiles and waves…the nephew giggles and waves back, silhouetted by the flashing blues and reds.

So you tell me, who was the neighbor here?
(Some parts of this story are fictitious…many are not)