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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Inspirational
- Subject: Friends / Friendship
- Published: 01/25/2022
The most understanding boy in the world.
Born 1951, M, from Wilmington NC, United StatesI first met him in fourth grade. He was laying on the ground bleeding. His nose was leaking blood at an enormous rate. His opponent, who just a moment earlier was pounding on that same nose with wicked left and right jabs, was cooling down at the sight of the damage he had done. In fact, every kid watching had gone from blood lust to that same sort of: “this is sick” feeling in the space of just a few heartbeats.
I was new to the school. I didn’t know the hierarchy in the school yard. But I wasn’t afraid of anyone, even a kid forty pounds heavier and eight inches taller than me. So when the fight started I ran over from my lonely perch on the swings to stop the much bigger kid from pummeling the little guy into the ground. I was a tad too late. I pushed the bigger kid away - he didn’t resist- he just sort of stumbled backwards a step or two. His eyes were still on the bloody nose and tear stained face looking back up at him from the ground.
I knelt next to the kid and helped him to sit up. I gave him my handkerchief to try and staunch the bloody snot filled flow of blood from his nose.
“You okay?”
A mumbled: “S’alright. Jub a boken node.”
“That bully broke your nose?!”
I turned my head and gave the bully boy a sharp look. One that said: “Try me, I will be waiting.”
To my surprise, the kid with the broken nose stood up. He looked right at me and said:
“He nob a bully. He jub like to fight. He will be a goob Solber someday.”
With that he walked over to the much bigger kid, shook his hand and said:
“You are too strong to be angry. Sabe it for the Army.”
And he patted the big boy on the shoulder like you would a favorite pet and guided him to turn around and walk away. It looked more like a Benediction than a pat on the back. The big kid turned and walked away. A faint: “So sorry I hit you so hard” carried back to me in my stunned stance. Soon it was just me and the kid with the bloody nose in the playground. I asked him why he was so nice to the big guy.
He waved me and my question off.
“Laber I’b will telb you. It hurts to talk. I need a Nurbs.”
I walked him to his house. His Mother freaked out, thanked me, and drove him to the Hospital. I walked back to my house. I didn’t realize how much blood was on my shirt. My Mom freaked out for a moment too. When she realized the blood wasn’t mine, she asked me what happened. I told her:
“I made a friend today.”
****
I have known Kenny for over twenty five years now and my opinion hasn’t changed. He is the most understanding person I have ever met. He told me (once his nose healed - he missed three days of school because of his nose):
“Most folks aren’t bad people Thomas, like Benny the Fist who broke my nose. He just didn’t realize that he was a natural born warrior. Not a bully.”
I’m not kidding that really was what all the kids at that school called the kid who broke my friends nose. And Kenny was right. Because later in life, Benny "the Fist” Pelicci became a Soldier. He won the Bronze Star, Silver Star and the DMC for Valor. He runs a boxing gym down on Maple Street now that he is retired from the Service. Rumor has it, Kenny loaned him the money to start the place. I don’t doubt it.
In High School I watched him comfort a girl known to the rest of us as a bit of a slut. The "Make Out Queen" is what we called her. She would go out with anyone who asked…and most took advantage of her…and her reputation. Kenny asked her out in front of everyone in School. We were all amazed by that. Kenny was already the most popular kid in school - and he didn’t even play sports. Everyone gossiped about his intentions for the whole weekend. On Monday, we all wanted to hear what happened on their date.
Kenny never said much. All he ever said was:
“Candy’s a good girl. Sweet, shy, and nice. You’ll see. She is going to surprise everyone.”
She did. First, she never dated again in High School. At our Ten Year Reunion she shows up with a Newly Minted Medical Degree…in Psychiatry. Her specialty was girls going through puberty. She had written two books on Maintaining Self Esteem during your teens. And both were dedicated to Kenny. She has her own Podcast now with over a million followers. When you ask her about Kenny…she smiles:
“A good boy that one.”
Then there was Mrs. Mayfield. She lived just two doors down from Kenny and five doors up from my house. She had three little kids when her Husband died. Her husband was a Firefighter and died trying to save two People in an apartment fire. We used to cut her grass, take out the garbage, and shovel her walk…for free. It was Kenny’s idea. Mrs. Mayfield tried to pay us with a quarter one time. Kenny made her keep it.
“We don’t need your money Mrs. Mayfield, but your kids do.”
One time, when we came home from college, we were over at Mrs. Mayfield’s house. She wanted to talk to Kenny…alone. I went out and raked the yard by myself. I came inside to use the bathroom and saw Mrs. Mayfield sobbing into Kenny’s shoulder. He was gently patting her back and softly saying something to her. She straightened up, wiped her eyes and said:
“I knew you would understand.”
Two weeks later, and Kenny walked Mrs. Mayfield’s oldest daughter down the Aisle. Even though Kenny was younger than her by almost five years, he made a splendid “Fill in Dad”. Kenny wore Mr. Mayfield’s Firefighter Badge over the left pocket of his Tux, and carried his Helmet in the arm that wasn’t held by the Bride. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Even the Groom leaned over to whisper in Kenny’s ear (loud enough for the whole church to hear)”
“Thanks for understanding, Kenny. I know he is smiling up there.”
Then there is my own story.
I met a girl. Isn’t that how most friendships end when you are in college? She became my best friend. We moved in together. Later we got married. And then it happened. We had our first child. I was ecstatic until I saw the blood type. It wasn’t my baby. I knew it. She knew it. She told me in tears with the baby girl suckling at her breast.
“I didn’t want to tell you. I was hoping she was ours. Yours. I got drunk once when Baron came to town while you were deployed. I was lonely…and he pulled that old charm that made me his girl in High School out. We did it once for “Old Times Sake.” It was no big deal. I forgot about it until I caught. Then I thought there wouldn’t be a very good chance of him being the Father. Not with just one time. Please…forgive me. Can’t you?”
I stormed out of the Nursery. I ignored the looks from her parents…and mine. I could still hear her sobs when I got on the elevator. I don’t know why, but I drove straight to Kennys. I poured out my story. My anger. My pain. Kenny listened and then he asked me one question:
“Do you still love her?”
“Yes.”
“Then listen to me. The baby deserves no blame. No child is a mistake. Baron might be the biological Father. YOU are the DAD. She was drunk, lonely, and you were thousands of miles away. She fell short just one time. Just once. And I believe she won’t ever make that mistake again. Go tell her you love her. Tell her the baby is beautiful. And be the best Dad and Husband you can be. When that baby grows up, she will know who her father was…but who her DAD is.”
I did just that. We raised our daughter - together. I trust her. She trusts me. And our daughter trusts us both. When I told my wife why I came back to the Hospital that day, she cried a bit. Then she told me:
“Kenny is the most understanding human being I have ever met.”
I agree. And he is my friend.
The most understanding boy in the world.(Kevin Hughes)
I first met him in fourth grade. He was laying on the ground bleeding. His nose was leaking blood at an enormous rate. His opponent, who just a moment earlier was pounding on that same nose with wicked left and right jabs, was cooling down at the sight of the damage he had done. In fact, every kid watching had gone from blood lust to that same sort of: “this is sick” feeling in the space of just a few heartbeats.
I was new to the school. I didn’t know the hierarchy in the school yard. But I wasn’t afraid of anyone, even a kid forty pounds heavier and eight inches taller than me. So when the fight started I ran over from my lonely perch on the swings to stop the much bigger kid from pummeling the little guy into the ground. I was a tad too late. I pushed the bigger kid away - he didn’t resist- he just sort of stumbled backwards a step or two. His eyes were still on the bloody nose and tear stained face looking back up at him from the ground.
I knelt next to the kid and helped him to sit up. I gave him my handkerchief to try and staunch the bloody snot filled flow of blood from his nose.
“You okay?”
A mumbled: “S’alright. Jub a boken node.”
“That bully broke your nose?!”
I turned my head and gave the bully boy a sharp look. One that said: “Try me, I will be waiting.”
To my surprise, the kid with the broken nose stood up. He looked right at me and said:
“He nob a bully. He jub like to fight. He will be a goob Solber someday.”
With that he walked over to the much bigger kid, shook his hand and said:
“You are too strong to be angry. Sabe it for the Army.”
And he patted the big boy on the shoulder like you would a favorite pet and guided him to turn around and walk away. It looked more like a Benediction than a pat on the back. The big kid turned and walked away. A faint: “So sorry I hit you so hard” carried back to me in my stunned stance. Soon it was just me and the kid with the bloody nose in the playground. I asked him why he was so nice to the big guy.
He waved me and my question off.
“Laber I’b will telb you. It hurts to talk. I need a Nurbs.”
I walked him to his house. His Mother freaked out, thanked me, and drove him to the Hospital. I walked back to my house. I didn’t realize how much blood was on my shirt. My Mom freaked out for a moment too. When she realized the blood wasn’t mine, she asked me what happened. I told her:
“I made a friend today.”
****
I have known Kenny for over twenty five years now and my opinion hasn’t changed. He is the most understanding person I have ever met. He told me (once his nose healed - he missed three days of school because of his nose):
“Most folks aren’t bad people Thomas, like Benny the Fist who broke my nose. He just didn’t realize that he was a natural born warrior. Not a bully.”
I’m not kidding that really was what all the kids at that school called the kid who broke my friends nose. And Kenny was right. Because later in life, Benny "the Fist” Pelicci became a Soldier. He won the Bronze Star, Silver Star and the DMC for Valor. He runs a boxing gym down on Maple Street now that he is retired from the Service. Rumor has it, Kenny loaned him the money to start the place. I don’t doubt it.
In High School I watched him comfort a girl known to the rest of us as a bit of a slut. The "Make Out Queen" is what we called her. She would go out with anyone who asked…and most took advantage of her…and her reputation. Kenny asked her out in front of everyone in School. We were all amazed by that. Kenny was already the most popular kid in school - and he didn’t even play sports. Everyone gossiped about his intentions for the whole weekend. On Monday, we all wanted to hear what happened on their date.
Kenny never said much. All he ever said was:
“Candy’s a good girl. Sweet, shy, and nice. You’ll see. She is going to surprise everyone.”
She did. First, she never dated again in High School. At our Ten Year Reunion she shows up with a Newly Minted Medical Degree…in Psychiatry. Her specialty was girls going through puberty. She had written two books on Maintaining Self Esteem during your teens. And both were dedicated to Kenny. She has her own Podcast now with over a million followers. When you ask her about Kenny…she smiles:
“A good boy that one.”
Then there was Mrs. Mayfield. She lived just two doors down from Kenny and five doors up from my house. She had three little kids when her Husband died. Her husband was a Firefighter and died trying to save two People in an apartment fire. We used to cut her grass, take out the garbage, and shovel her walk…for free. It was Kenny’s idea. Mrs. Mayfield tried to pay us with a quarter one time. Kenny made her keep it.
“We don’t need your money Mrs. Mayfield, but your kids do.”
One time, when we came home from college, we were over at Mrs. Mayfield’s house. She wanted to talk to Kenny…alone. I went out and raked the yard by myself. I came inside to use the bathroom and saw Mrs. Mayfield sobbing into Kenny’s shoulder. He was gently patting her back and softly saying something to her. She straightened up, wiped her eyes and said:
“I knew you would understand.”
Two weeks later, and Kenny walked Mrs. Mayfield’s oldest daughter down the Aisle. Even though Kenny was younger than her by almost five years, he made a splendid “Fill in Dad”. Kenny wore Mr. Mayfield’s Firefighter Badge over the left pocket of his Tux, and carried his Helmet in the arm that wasn’t held by the Bride. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Even the Groom leaned over to whisper in Kenny’s ear (loud enough for the whole church to hear)”
“Thanks for understanding, Kenny. I know he is smiling up there.”
Then there is my own story.
I met a girl. Isn’t that how most friendships end when you are in college? She became my best friend. We moved in together. Later we got married. And then it happened. We had our first child. I was ecstatic until I saw the blood type. It wasn’t my baby. I knew it. She knew it. She told me in tears with the baby girl suckling at her breast.
“I didn’t want to tell you. I was hoping she was ours. Yours. I got drunk once when Baron came to town while you were deployed. I was lonely…and he pulled that old charm that made me his girl in High School out. We did it once for “Old Times Sake.” It was no big deal. I forgot about it until I caught. Then I thought there wouldn’t be a very good chance of him being the Father. Not with just one time. Please…forgive me. Can’t you?”
I stormed out of the Nursery. I ignored the looks from her parents…and mine. I could still hear her sobs when I got on the elevator. I don’t know why, but I drove straight to Kennys. I poured out my story. My anger. My pain. Kenny listened and then he asked me one question:
“Do you still love her?”
“Yes.”
“Then listen to me. The baby deserves no blame. No child is a mistake. Baron might be the biological Father. YOU are the DAD. She was drunk, lonely, and you were thousands of miles away. She fell short just one time. Just once. And I believe she won’t ever make that mistake again. Go tell her you love her. Tell her the baby is beautiful. And be the best Dad and Husband you can be. When that baby grows up, she will know who her father was…but who her DAD is.”
I did just that. We raised our daughter - together. I trust her. She trusts me. And our daughter trusts us both. When I told my wife why I came back to the Hospital that day, she cried a bit. Then she told me:
“Kenny is the most understanding human being I have ever met.”
I agree. And he is my friend.
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Help Us Understand What's Happening
Kevin Hughes
01/29/2022Thank you JD!
Everybody needs a Kenny or maybe we should all be a little bit more like him. Lol
Smiles Kevin
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Gail Moore
01/26/2022Wow, great piece. Everyone needs a Kenny in their life.
Truly fabulous piece :-)
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Kevin Hughes
01/27/2022Thank you Gayle and I agree. I wish I could be as understanding as Kenny.
Smiles, Kevin
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Lillian Kazmierczak
01/26/2022What an amazing firend you have in Kenny. Everyone should have a Kenny in their life. I hope Kenny was just as lucky as you in life and love! What a wonderful tribute to Kenny!
I really enjoyed your ode to Kenny!
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Kevin Hughes
01/27/2022Thank you Lillian,
Kenny’s probably a composite of some of the good people I’ve had in my life. But if I ever meet them I will pass on your compliments. Lol
Smiles Kevin
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