The wonderful gift of Christmas- A Christmas story - Part 6

  

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"My name is Maria."  

Jonah's mom said and smiled faintly.  

"I'm Terrence."  

 They sat together silently, while the little girl sat on her mom's lap.  

"Why do you stay with him?" Terrence asked and sounded terribly annoyed.  

"He provides for our family.  If I left him I would have nowhere to go?"  

"So, you would rather live in such hell, than be happy or to make sure your kids are safe?"

Maria blushed. "I don't know how to get out of this situation. I've tried to leave once and he nearly killed me. I was so glad when Jonah got away..."

"So you would let your own child sleep outside without anyone looking out for him, just so that you can have a roof over your head?" Terrence asked angrily.

"No it's not that..."

Terrence was annoyed and he couldn't believe the ignorance of this woman...but, she was Jonah's mom and he was a good person, so somewhere Maria had to have some sense in her.

"I can help you get out.." Terrence said and looked at her.  

" I'll do anything to get out of there. I'm just scared."

Terrence and Maria chatted all the way to the hospital. Terrence told her all about himself growing up in a house with an alcoholic father. He told her about his own mother, that nearly lost her life because of the abuse. 

Then Terrence told her something, that he had never told anyone, but for some reason he suddenly trusted her enough and he wanted her to know where he came from.  

"My wife left me, and she took my daughter with her. I have no idea where they are. I lost my job in my search, and that is how I landed here.... on the streets. I lost everything, but nothing is worth anything if you lost a child. I would give everything to see her again.  It's been two years now."

Maria looked at him with a sad expression on her face. 

"I'm sorry Terrence. I am so happy that you found me.... and thank you for looking after my baby."

Terrence pressed the button for them to get off at the next stop. They walked in to the hospital together and Terrence inquired at the reception where Jonah was. It took a while to locate him.  

Maria couldn't wait to see Jonah and walked ahead hurriedly, while Terrence carried the little girl. 

Jonah was sleeping when Maria walked into the room. She started crying when she saw the fragile little boy lying in the big hospital bed. Her emotions took over, and she started crying uncontrollably.  

Terrence walked in to console her.  A nurse came to check on Jonah and to see what the commotion was about. She asked Terrence to take the little girl outside, while she spoke to Maria.  

Jonah had pneumonia and he was being treated with antibiotics to help him gain his strength. She told Maria to wait for social services, as they had no other choice but to contact them. 

Jonah looked terrible when he was brought in and he was malnourished so that was the procedure to follow.  

Maria nodded, and went to sit down next to the bed. It was her fault that her child was in this condition and she couldn't blame anyone else. 

She took Jonah's hand and couldn't believe that she was sitting next to his bed. She has always prayed for him to be safe, and knew that God sent an angel called Terrence to look after him when she didn't.  

Her motherly instinct kicked in, and she suddenly didn't care what happened to them. She knew she had to get away from Jack, and she would no longer allow ANYONE to mistreat her children.

She called Terrence back inside and when he walked in, Jonah opened his eyes for the first time. 

"Terrence, you saved me..." was all Jonah said before he saw his mom. 

"Mommy...how did you get here...I missed you so much!"

Jonah started crying and suddenly had more color in his cheeks than he had before.  

Terrence went to sit on the other side and took Jonah's hand. 

"Hey mate, you gave me a fright.  How're you feeling?"

"I'm okay Terrence, I'm better now that you and mommy is here." Jonah smiled. 

Jonah looked terrified when the social worker walked in. He knew what that meant, and he looked at his mom and then at Terrence.  

"They can't take me away again Terrence, they just can't."

He looked at his mom with frightful eyes and she told him to be calm, and promised that she would not let them take him away.  She asked Terrence to stay with Jonah and his sister, while she spoke to the lady from Social services outside.  

The social worker was extremely forthcoming and she took Maria down to the cafeteria for some coffee. Maria told her everything about from when her husband died up to now. Terrence sat patiently, while he waited for her to come back.  

Jonah fell asleep again, and while he slept, Terrence drew pictures for his sister with a pen and paper that he found in the drawer next to the bed. She was laughing at all the funny pictures  and ran to her mom laughing when she walked in. 

"We're getting out today."  Maria told Terrence. She explained everything that the social worker said and that the social worker was going to drive her down to the police station immediately to get a restraining order against Jack. 

"I trust you Terrence. Would you mind looking after Mindy while I go with the social worker?  Jonah is safe here, and Jack doesn't know anything about him being in hospital. You could take her to the park and get her some ice-cream."  

She handed Terrence some money, but he declined.  He still had the fifty dollars from Jack and that would be more than enough for ice-cream. Maria left with the social worker and told Terrence that she would be back as soon as she could.  She would meet him back at the hospital. Terrence walked to the bus stop with Mindy.  He wanted to go and show her the Christmas tree.  

-To be continued