The Caregiver (closed for maria1966)

[xPassionx]

The alumni of 2016 cheered and threw there graduation caps into the air and laughed as they came raining back down on therm. The crowd was full of friends and relatives and all of them were 'wooing' and clapping for the young graduates.

Now the party begins.

The former seniors all mix and mingle and discuss with bright smiles what they'll be doing next. Relatives and friends hug and congratulate there accomplished young ones.

One young man in particular after talking and laughing makes his way to the catering. As he fills his plate he hears a familiar voice from behind him.


"Malcome!"


He looks over his shoulder.

 

[maria1966]

Mrs. Annie Morgan

age: 43

hair brunette shoulder length

Height 5 feet 7 inches

weight 130 pounds

bra: 32F and yes they are natural

smile: bright and friendly

When Mrs. Annie Morgan saw her star pupil Malcome in the buffet line she ran up to him and she hugged him. "I am so proud of you I knew you could do it." Then she looked around for the young man's father then she said quietly "I can't believe that man did not show up for your graduation."

 

[xPassionx]

Malcome smiles upon seeing his favorite teacher coming. He throws his arms around her as she runs into him and takes him into a motherly embrace. Her arms are wrapped tightly around his neck, squeezing him.

"Oh, I am so proud of you! I knew you could do it!"

A huge smile comes across Malcolm's face and he squeezes her back with a certain amount of strength. Her chin is resting against his shoulder and her head is leaning against his. He can smell her perfume.

She stops hugging him but keeps her hands on his shoulders and neck as she looks around. Her glowing expression crumbles and becomes melancholy as she realizes that Malcome's father didn't bother to arrive.

"I can't believe that man did not show up for your graduation."

'No...It's not a big deal...' he says in a failed attempt to brush it off.


Malcome try's to hide his sadness, but he can't hide anything from Mrs. Morgan.

 

[maria1966]

"Yes its a big deal you only graduate from high school once. From the stories you have told me about him I am willing to bet that he is probably at home drunk as a skunk. So what do you say we get something to eat that buffet looks fantastic."

 

[xPassionx]

Malcome knew that she was right about his father. Sadness washed over him that no one besides Mrs. Morgan was here for him. He wished more that his late mother could be here. He wished that she could be here for a lot of reasons. Before Malcome is able to feel depressed, Mrs. Morgan snapped him out of it. He smiled at her and they shimmied along the line. They were close together and rubbed against each others shoulders as they filled there plates.

They found themselves a table and sat down together, just the two of them.

 

[maria1966]

"Here I have something for you Annie reached into her purse and retrieved a small package.

"I know how much you like pocket knives and tools and I know that you really like my Leatherman tool so I bought you one just like it."

"Its the Leatherman super tool 300 and it comes with its own belt pouch so you don't misplace it I hope you like it."

 

[xPassionx]

Mrs. Morgan reached into her purse and handed the young man a small narrow box. Malcome smiled at her and took the box. He lifted the cover and pulled out the chrome multi-tool and examined it. Besides the pliers it had a bottle cap opener, a knife, nail-file, a saw, a wire-cutter, stripper, and two different screwdriver heads.

"Oh, Mrs. Morgan. This is a wonderful gift."

He turned and threw his arms around his teachers neck and pulled himself close.

"Thank you".

 

[maria1966]

"Your very welcome Malcome now think we should finish eating before our food gets cold."

"Speaking of cold how are you going to get home? its to cold and dark out their now to walk home and I know your father has forbidden from getting your driver's license."

 

[xPassionx]

Mrs. Morgan wrapped her loving arms around the young man and patted him on the shoulder. She was so proud of her protege. Given everything he's had to deal with he managed to come out the other end a success in her eyes.

"You're very welcome, Malcome. Now I think we should finish eating before our food gets cold. Speaking of cold, how are you going to get home? It's too cold and dark out their now to walk home and I know your father has forbidden you from getting your driver's license."

He explained to her that he wouldn't be going to college in the fall because his father didn't save up any money. Malcome did whatever work he could to save up but the total amount wouldn't even cover one semester. He tried applying, but as soon as his father found out he demanded that he withdraw his application, and when Malcome didn't, his father stole the money he had saved up and spent it on booze and drugs. Malcome was devastated when he found out and spent hours in his room crying until his father in a drunken stupor barged into his room and slapped him in the head selling him to 'shut up'.

As Malcome talked about it he started to get upset. His voice started to crack as he was on the verge of tears, but he ceased talking about it to not completely ruin the mood. Plus, he didn't want Mrs. Morgan to worry about him. Malcome sadly had lost his mother quite a few years ago in a tragic car accident. She wasn't anything like his father. She was his light in the darkness. He always kept a gold locket around his neck with a picture of his mother inside it.

However, he wasn't able to hide anything from Mrs. Morgan. Her heart broke for him. Everything he's had to endure for years and now his chances at a future away from his torment had been cheated. She grabbed Malcome by the wrist and pulled him into a loving embrace. She held his head into the crook of her neck and ran her fingers through his hair.

 

[maria1966]

When Annie heard Malcome say that he would be unable to attend college because his father had stolen the money he had saved up she muttered to herself

"That son of a bitch someone should tear him apart finger by finger and limb by limb."

"Its going to be alright Malcome your going to be alright." Annie looked around "Malcome if things ever get really, really, bad at home just come to my house and I will take you in do you understand me?"

 

[maria1966]

"Malcome did you hear me? I said if things get really bad you can come to my house and I will take you in."

 

[xPassionx]

Mrs. Morgan's words breathe content in Malcome for a moment as she holds him in a motherly embrace. He can't remember the last time anyone said something so kind to him. He smiles as Mrs. Morgan fluffs his hair. He could stay like this for hours, but he remembers that they're not alone and sits up and wipes a tear from his eye.

"Thank you, Mrs. Morgan."

 

[maria1966]

"Your welcome Malcome your very welcome" Then they sit down and resume eating their food.

 

[xPassionx]

"So, what are you plans now the semesters through?"

 

[maria1966]

"Well Malcome since school will be out for the summer in a couple of days I will just enjoy the summer. since you will be unable to attend college what will you do? Will you get a job so that you can rebuild your savings?"

 

[xPassionx]

Malcome lets out a discouraging sigh.

"Yeah. I haven't had any luck finding a job though. I've been looking for quite a few weeks now. So...I guess I'll be home a lot."

Despair washes over the young man at the thought of having nowhere else to go.

"Unless I can find other places to go. My father...nevermind."

 

[maria1966]

Annie looked into Malcome's eyes and she said "you can stay with me I have an extra room that can serve as your bedroom."

 

[xPassionx]

Malcome looked at Mrs. Morgan silently for a few moments and realized that she was really serious about it. He thought of how wonderful that sounded. At this point he'd take anything over his own home. He shakes his head and looks away.

"I can't..."

 

[maria1966]

Annie places her soft hand under the young man's chin and she say's "yes you can Malcome your 18 years old and in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of god you can do whatever you want to do within reason of course."

 

[xPassionx]

His heart flutters as she puts her hand on his face. He puts his hand on hers and lowers it. "I'll think about it."

 

[maria1966]

After they finish their talk the resume eating their food then Annie goes back for a second plate "Wow the school did a nice job putting his buffet together."

 

[xPassionx]

He joins her in line and fixes a second plate for himself. As they shuffle along the tables of food they both reach there serving spoons into the spaghetti dish and clang them together. Mrs. Morgan nudges him with her shoulder.

'Hey!' she says playfully and they have a good laugh about it.

After they reseat themselves and clear there plates, Malcome speaks.

"Um...Would it be too much to ask for you to give me a ride home, Mrs. Morgan?"

 

[maria1966]

"No not at all Malcome and I will make sure to park far enough way from your house so that your father won't hear my car is that alright with you."

 

[xPassionx]

Malcome smiled at his teacher for her forethought and concern for him.

"Yes. That would be okay, Mrs. Morgan."

They both gather there belongings and walk together to her cobalt Station Wagon. They secure themselves to there seats and they're off. They continue to chat on the way to Malcome's house.

"You know, now that I've graduated, you're not my teacher anymore...Annie."

She looks at him and smirks and they both have a good laugh.

When they arrive across the street at Malcome's house he turns to her.

"Thank you, Annie. For everything. I hope that we don't loose touch now that I'm not your student anymore."

 

[maria1966]

" Your welcome Malcome and We won't lose touch now remember if it gets really bad here at home just come to me alright and I will take you in my door is always open to you." Then she gives him a big hug good luck in their.