TINY COPYRIGHT 2013, RZ EVANS
Jason Bench was sitting on the roots of the big oak, eating his sack lunch and watching the activity of the schoolyard. His body was absorbing the warm sunshine, which felt good after the chilly days they had experienced the week before. It was his week to supervise lunchtime and recess activity; this required not only keeping an eye on the kids but any adult activity in the area. He had finished his sandwich, and as he started peeling the orange, he looked up to see one of Linda McElroy's third grade girls standing in front of him. The girl looked him firmly in the eyes and said, "Hi, I'm Tiny." Jason thought he could see in her eyes a fire of toughness while at the same time somewhere deep there was a bit of hurt, or mayhbe a lot of hurt just hidden away.
"Hi Tiny, I'm Mr. Bench. How are you?"
"I'm ok," said Tiny, "what kind of girls do you like?"
"What do you mean?" asked Jason.
Tiny slowly replied, "What kind of a girl would you and your wife like to have?"
"I'm not married." said Jason.
"If you were married, what kind of girl would you like to have?" Tiny again asked.
"Well, I haven't thought about it," said Jason, "but I guess I would like to have one that was good and minded."
"I can be good," answered Tiny. With that, the bell rang, and the little girl ran for the school door along with fifteen or twenty other children.
Jason encountered Linda McElroy in the hallway a few minutes later. "I just had an interesting conversation with one of your students," said Jason, "a little girl named Tiny."
"She's a delightful child. See me this afternoon, and I'll tell you her story,: said Linda.
Jason had dismissed his fourth graders and was just about to leave the building when Linda McElroy stopped him. "If you have a minute, I'll tell you about Tiny" said Linda. The library was still open and, there was some activity going on, so Jason and Linda had a seat at one of the tables. "Tiny's mother has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She is still working but won't be able to keep it up much longer. The father has been out of the picture a long time, and there is a nineteen year old brother that's into drugs heavily. The case worker has told Tiny that when her mother becomes disabled that they will have to find her a foster home. I think Tiny is trying to find one of her own picking," said Linda.
"That makes my conversation with Tiny even more interesting," said Jason, "I think she was feeling me out."
Linda picked up her books, and as she pushed the chair back to the table she said,"It's really sad; I'll see you later, Jason."
Jason had been lucky enough that when his parents died while he was still in elementary school, there had been a loving aunt to bring him up, but even so there had been a lonesome, vacant feeling in his heart as a child. He could empathize with what Tiny was facing, and her plight occupied his thoughts all evening.
The next week was a busy one, and toward the end of the week, Jason had almost forgotten Tiny's problem. He was in the library again, this time grading papers, when a voice broke into his train of thought, "I have been good all week; I didn't bite Charley not once, even when he pulled my hair again. I haven't told any liies, and I helped Mrs. McElroy clean the board every afternoon." Tiny stood there waiting for Jason to say something.
Jason had to hold his tongue until his brain framed just the right reply to Tiny's statement. He could not bring himself to say anything that would even remotely hurt her feelings. Finally, he replied, "Tiny, you are forgetting that I'm niot married. People think that single men who want to take care of little girls are sick in their minds and want to hurt the little girls."
Tiny quickly replied, "I didn't forget; I'm working on that." With that, the little brown haired girl turned and left.
Each time Jason saw Tiny, his mind turned to his most vivid memory of his mother. As he aged, that precious memory seemed to be fading, and he found it harder and harder to retrieve. Over the last few years the effort was always accompanied by a twinge of pain and guilt. Again his evening was consumed with thoughts of the charming but probably mischievous little girl. The name Tiny had been correctly given to her, for she was a tiny little thing, and in spite of her stoic determination she brought out in Jason the paternal feelings of protector and caregiver.
Another week was passing, and Jason thought how fortunate he was in having a job that he loved so much. He couldn't bring to mind any of his friends that like himself loved their job so much that they couldn't wait to get to work. Each day was so enjoyable. He often did a lot of his preparation and paper work in the library fefore going home. He would finish up what wasn't completed at home, after supper. He was in the library on a Thursday afternoon when he noticed a striking redhead enter and start talking with Susan Mueller, the librarian. As the couple continued their conversation, Jason went back to his paperwork. He was engrossed in some short essays his students had written, when a paper pullet landed on the table in fron of him. Susan was holding a rubber band which had propelled the missile, and the two women were giggling. Susan motioned for Jason to come over, so he slowly arose and walked over. " A fine exam[ple you are setting," laughed Jason.
"You notice that the last student left five minutes ago," said Susan, "I wouldn't do that in front of the kids." Then she said, "Jason, I want you to meet a librarian friend of mine, Stacey Swearengen. Stacey works over at Spurger Annex; she dropped off a new book I have been wanting to get my hands on. Jason, why don't you walk Stacey out to her car; I have about five more minutes of work here."
Jason was still talking to Stacey when Susan came out and waved to them as she drove off. He had been hoping to meet someone like Stacey ever since he had moved to Centerville. The girls he had met so far were either materialistic, bitter about something, or cackled like chicken little. Here was a seemingly warm, mature, and pleasant woman that was very, very attractive. As far as looks went, he was sure she outclassed him. She accepted his invitation to take her out for dinner the next night, and after an enjoyable dinner that Friday evening, he asked her out again for the next weekend; she accepted. Jason was ecstatic.
Two weeks later, Jason was in the library when Tiny appeared at his table. "Hi," said Tiny.
"Hello," replied Jason, "you are looking very pretty."
"Thank you," said Tiny, "mother brushed my hair last night for a long, long time."
Tiny looked at Jason intently and asked, "Do you have a girl friend?"
"I hope so," said Jason.
"What does that mean?" asked Tiny.
"Well, I have met a girl, and I like her very much. I hope she likes me," said Jason.
Tiny smiled and said she had to go. After every conversation he had with Tiny, Jason felt as if there was a warm hand reaching out to him, waiting.
He continued to see Stacey and loved everything about her. He was thankful for Susan introducing him, and he didn't worry about whether he was set up or not because he felt Stacey was the girl he had been waiting for, but there was something that was bothering her. Several times he felt that she was going to ask him something important but for some reason changed her mind at the last minute. He began to wonder what secret she was afraid to share. He even wondered if it might have been a previous marriage. If that was it, she should know him well enough by now to know that it wouldn't stand in his way. He even began to wonder if it was something more deep and mysterious,like a father in prison, or a mother in a psychiatric ward. She hadn't really said much about her parents.
It was again his week to supervise school yard activities. The weather had vastly improved and more children had chosen to play outside. This time he had barely opened his lunch sack when Tiny appeard. "Does you girl friend like you?" asked Tiny.
"HI Tiny, I sure hope so," said Jason.
"What's her name" asked Tiny.
"Her name is Miss Swearengen," replied Jason.
"I know her," said Tiny, "isn't she beautiful?"
"She certainly is" said Jason,"how did you meet her?"
"Mother works a little late on Wednesdays and she picks me up at Spurger library," said Tiny.
"How is you mother?" asked Jason.
"She gets tired real easily,"said Tiny.
"Tiny, do you have any grandparents?" asked Jason. The little girl sighed and shook her head. "Any aunts or uncles?"
Again Tiny shook her head, and said, "Just Lewis and he doesn't come home very much."
"Lewis is you brother?" asked Jason.
"Yes," replied Tiny.
"Tiny, is there anyone you are close to? I mean anyone who is around a lot," asked Jason.
"Just Menard," said Tiny, "but Mrs. Blackwell said he's not a stable sort."
"Mrs. Blackwell is the case worker?" asked Jason. Tiny nodded, and Jason continued, "what does noat a stable sort mean?"
"He's a bookie," said Tiny.
All that evening Jason mulled lthe situation over and over, and by bedtime he decided that he wanted to helpTiny; he wanted to be there for her when the time came that she needed someone to comfort her during her mother's deteriorating health and in her passing. He didn't know how to approach Stacey about this, however. He felt in his heart that Stacey was capable of those same caring feelings, but a twinge of doubt existed in the back of his mind. Maybe this other problem that Stacey seemed so concerned with would prevent her from reaching out. Maybe he expected too much. He went to bed that night with the decision to postpone saying anyting for awhile.
After seeing Stacey regularly for several weeks, one Saturday evening, Stacey asked Jason if their relationship was progressing. "Do you have any deep feeling for me Jason?" she asked, "because if you do there is something I want to talk to you about; I have been selfish in a way , and I didn't let you know that here is someone else I care for. This person is very important to me."
"Listen Stacey, the two weeks you were out of town, I missed you terribly. I am in love with you, and I know you would be happier with me than this other man. I want us to be married. Will you marry me Stacey?"
"There's not any other man, Jason. The person I am talking about is a nine year old, sweet little girl named Tiny Seekers. I want to marry you, but I'm concerned about Tiny. All foster homes are not the same, and I am afraid that she might end up in an unhappy situation. If you dont feel the same, I'm going to try to foster her by myself."
Jason Bench was sitting on the roots of the big oak, eating his sack lunch and watching the activity of the schoolyard. His body was absorbing the warm sunshine, which felt good after the chilly days they had experienced the week before. It was his week to supervise lunchtime and recess activity; this required not only keeping an eye on the kids but any adult activity in the area. He had finished his sandwich, and as he started peeling the orange, he looked up to see one of Linda McElroy's third grade girls standing in front of him. The girl looked him firmly in the eyes and said, "Hi, I'm Tiny." Jason thought he could see in her eyes a fire of toughness while at the same time somewhere deep there was a bit of hurt, or mayhbe a lot of hurt just hidden away.
"Hi Tiny, I'm Mr. Bench. How are you?"
"I'm ok," said Tiny, "what kind of girls do you like?"
"What do you mean?" asked Jason.
Tiny slowly replied, "What kind of a girl would you and your wife like to have?"
"I'm not married." said Jason.
"If you were married, what kind of girl would you like to have?" Tiny again asked.
"Well, I haven't thought about it," said Jason, "but I guess I would like to have one that was good and minded."
"I can be good," answered Tiny. With that, the bell rang, and the little girl ran for the school door along with fifteen or twenty other children.
Jason encountered Linda McElroy in the hallway a few minutes later. "I just had an interesting conversation with one of your students," said Jason, "a little girl named Tiny."
"She's a delightful child. See me this afternoon, and I'll tell you her story,: said Linda.
Jason had dismissed his fourth graders and was just about to leave the building when Linda McElroy stopped him. "If you have a minute, I'll tell you about Tiny" said Linda. The library was still open and, there was some activity going on, so Jason and Linda had a seat at one of the tables. "Tiny's mother has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She is still working but won't be able to keep it up much longer. The father has been out of the picture a long time, and there is a nineteen year old brother that's into drugs heavily. The case worker has told Tiny that when her mother becomes disabled that they will have to find her a foster home. I think Tiny is trying to find one of her own picking," said Linda.
"That makes my conversation with Tiny even more interesting," said Jason, "I think she was feeling me out."
Linda picked up her books, and as she pushed the chair back to the table she said,"It's really sad; I'll see you later, Jason."
Jason had been lucky enough that when his parents died while he was still in elementary school, there had been a loving aunt to bring him up, but even so there had been a lonesome, vacant feeling in his heart as a child. He could empathize with what Tiny was facing, and her plight occupied his thoughts all evening.
The next week was a busy one, and toward the end of the week, Jason had almost forgotten Tiny's problem. He was in the library again, this time grading papers, when a voice broke into his train of thought, "I have been good all week; I didn't bite Charley not once, even when he pulled my hair again. I haven't told any liies, and I helped Mrs. McElroy clean the board every afternoon." Tiny stood there waiting for Jason to say something.
Jason had to hold his tongue until his brain framed just the right reply to Tiny's statement. He could not bring himself to say anything that would even remotely hurt her feelings. Finally, he replied, "Tiny, you are forgetting that I'm niot married. People think that single men who want to take care of little girls are sick in their minds and want to hurt the little girls."
Tiny quickly replied, "I didn't forget; I'm working on that." With that, the little brown haired girl turned and left.
Each time Jason saw Tiny, his mind turned to his most vivid memory of his mother. As he aged, that precious memory seemed to be fading, and he found it harder and harder to retrieve. Over the last few years the effort was always accompanied by a twinge of pain and guilt. Again his evening was consumed with thoughts of the charming but probably mischievous little girl. The name Tiny had been correctly given to her, for she was a tiny little thing, and in spite of her stoic determination she brought out in Jason the paternal feelings of protector and caregiver.
Another week was passing, and Jason thought how fortunate he was in having a job that he loved so much. He couldn't bring to mind any of his friends that like himself loved their job so much that they couldn't wait to get to work. Each day was so enjoyable. He often did a lot of his preparation and paper work in the library fefore going home. He would finish up what wasn't completed at home, after supper. He was in the library on a Thursday afternoon when he noticed a striking redhead enter and start talking with Susan Mueller, the librarian. As the couple continued their conversation, Jason went back to his paperwork. He was engrossed in some short essays his students had written, when a paper pullet landed on the table in fron of him. Susan was holding a rubber band which had propelled the missile, and the two women were giggling. Susan motioned for Jason to come over, so he slowly arose and walked over. " A fine exam[ple you are setting," laughed Jason.
"You notice that the last student left five minutes ago," said Susan, "I wouldn't do that in front of the kids." Then she said, "Jason, I want you to meet a librarian friend of mine, Stacey Swearengen. Stacey works over at Spurger Annex; she dropped off a new book I have been wanting to get my hands on. Jason, why don't you walk Stacey out to her car; I have about five more minutes of work here."
Jason was still talking to Stacey when Susan came out and waved to them as she drove off. He had been hoping to meet someone like Stacey ever since he had moved to Centerville. The girls he had met so far were either materialistic, bitter about something, or cackled like chicken little. Here was a seemingly warm, mature, and pleasant woman that was very, very attractive. As far as looks went, he was sure she outclassed him. She accepted his invitation to take her out for dinner the next night, and after an enjoyable dinner that Friday evening, he asked her out again for the next weekend; she accepted. Jason was ecstatic.
Two weeks later, Jason was in the library when Tiny appeared at his table. "Hi," said Tiny.
"Hello," replied Jason, "you are looking very pretty."
"Thank you," said Tiny, "mother brushed my hair last night for a long, long time."
Tiny looked at Jason intently and asked, "Do you have a girl friend?"
"I hope so," said Jason.
"What does that mean?" asked Tiny.
"Well, I have met a girl, and I like her very much. I hope she likes me," said Jason.
Tiny smiled and said she had to go. After every conversation he had with Tiny, Jason felt as if there was a warm hand reaching out to him, waiting.
He continued to see Stacey and loved everything about her. He was thankful for Susan introducing him, and he didn't worry about whether he was set up or not because he felt Stacey was the girl he had been waiting for, but there was something that was bothering her. Several times he felt that she was going to ask him something important but for some reason changed her mind at the last minute. He began to wonder what secret she was afraid to share. He even wondered if it might have been a previous marriage. If that was it, she should know him well enough by now to know that it wouldn't stand in his way. He even began to wonder if it was something more deep and mysterious,like a father in prison, or a mother in a psychiatric ward. She hadn't really said much about her parents.
It was again his week to supervise school yard activities. The weather had vastly improved and more children had chosen to play outside. This time he had barely opened his lunch sack when Tiny appeard. "Does you girl friend like you?" asked Tiny.
"HI Tiny, I sure hope so," said Jason.
"What's her name" asked Tiny.
"Her name is Miss Swearengen," replied Jason.
"I know her," said Tiny, "isn't she beautiful?"
"She certainly is" said Jason,"how did you meet her?"
"Mother works a little late on Wednesdays and she picks me up at Spurger library," said Tiny.
"How is you mother?" asked Jason.
"She gets tired real easily,"said Tiny.
"Tiny, do you have any grandparents?" asked Jason. The little girl sighed and shook her head. "Any aunts or uncles?"
Again Tiny shook her head, and said, "Just Lewis and he doesn't come home very much."
"Lewis is you brother?" asked Jason.
"Yes," replied Tiny.
"Tiny, is there anyone you are close to? I mean anyone who is around a lot," asked Jason.
"Just Menard," said Tiny, "but Mrs. Blackwell said he's not a stable sort."
"Mrs. Blackwell is the case worker?" asked Jason. Tiny nodded, and Jason continued, "what does noat a stable sort mean?"
"He's a bookie," said Tiny.
All that evening Jason mulled lthe situation over and over, and by bedtime he decided that he wanted to helpTiny; he wanted to be there for her when the time came that she needed someone to comfort her during her mother's deteriorating health and in her passing. He didn't know how to approach Stacey about this, however. He felt in his heart that Stacey was capable of those same caring feelings, but a twinge of doubt existed in the back of his mind. Maybe this other problem that Stacey seemed so concerned with would prevent her from reaching out. Maybe he expected too much. He went to bed that night with the decision to postpone saying anyting for awhile.
After seeing Stacey regularly for several weeks, one Saturday evening, Stacey asked Jason if their relationship was progressing. "Do you have any deep feeling for me Jason?" she asked, "because if you do there is something I want to talk to you about; I have been selfish in a way , and I didn't let you know that here is someone else I care for. This person is very important to me."
"Listen Stacey, the two weeks you were out of town, I missed you terribly. I am in love with you, and I know you would be happier with me than this other man. I want us to be married. Will you marry me Stacey?"
"There's not any other man, Jason. The person I am talking about is a nine year old, sweet little girl named Tiny Seekers. I want to marry you, but I'm concerned about Tiny. All foster homes are not the same, and I am afraid that she might end up in an unhappy situation. If you dont feel the same, I'm going to try to foster her by myself."