Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: TRIP (08/25/22)
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TITLE: The Relocation of Bobby J | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jennifer Champion
08/29/22 -
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“I bet he is down there, across the tracks.” He points to a grove of trees in the distance.
I squint for a closer look and notice a foot path.
“You’re right. Let’s go.” I give him a quick kiss before putting on my backpack full of bottled water and first aid items.
The temperature is hovering near one hundred degrees and my jeans are sticking to me. It is days like this that I would prefer being in shorts but venturing into a snake and tick infested forest calls for more clothing. I think about Bobby living in the woods in this heat and wonder if he has enough water. As we hike down the hill toward the tracks, we notice a train has stopped.
“Come on, we can cross here.” Patrick said of the space between two rail cars.
He slings the bag of groceries over his shoulder and with one arm, pulls himself up onto the connecting parts of the two cars. Just as he reaches down to help me up, the train starts moving. He jumps off on the other side and rolls down the rocky slope. The train picks up speed and I can barely see him at the bottom of the rocks.
“Are you ok?” I call out to my husband over the squeal of train wheels on the track.
The caboose finally passes, and I run across the tracks. By this time, Patrick is upright and looks sad because the loaf of Sunbream bread we brought for Bobby was flat where he rolled over it.
“Come on,honey. Bobby won’t mind the bread.” I encourage my sweet husband to keep going.
By now, we have been walking about fifteen minutes in the blazing August heat and as we reach the foot path, we both start calling out for Bobby. It isn’t but a few seconds when we hear him answer.
“I’m down here across the creek. Watch out for water moccasins on your way.” Our old friend is alive! It is good to hear his voice, even if it is warning of us of something scary like a poisonous snake.
When caring for the homeless, we never know if we may walk into a camp one day and someone be dead. It is a hard life. Seeing the toothless smile of Bobby makes the travel and risk worth it. As Patrick makes Bobby a bologna sandwich on squished but soft bread, I give him a haircut. As I trim, he tells us how someone had told the police where he was living behind the store, and they came and “relocated” him. It meant he lost everything. He tells us he hid in the woods for several days before venturing out to gather up some things he needed for a new camp.
After an hour of visiting, we give him a new tent and sleeping bag, pray with him and trek back the way we came. Our walk is quiet as our hearts are heavy. The long drive back home is even quieter. It is another summer of serving and we are feeling it more than the scorching heat.
Note from the author: This is based on true events. Our friend Bobby is now living with his sister and is no longer homeless.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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