boy studying at park
Jade Small
Jade Small
March 14, 2022 ·  7 min read

Woman Often Sees Boy Studying at the Playground until Nighttime and Decides to Approach Him – a Short Story

We human beings are remarkably perceptive people. There are times when we notice something that is not quite right, but how often can you say you did something about it? So many times we turn a blind eye, choosing not to get involved with anything that does not concern us. There are few who take action, who fight for the morals that they live by.

Our story today was inspired by the readers of AmoMama. It is of a fortunate little boy who was living in a very unfortunate situation. This is a story of neglect and abandonment, but also a one of salvation and love. It is to this boy’s biggest surprise and greatest relief when he was approached by a strange woman who was curious enough to know his story.

The boy, named Justin, was not much older than a mere 10 years old. Also, he was noticed by many as a frequent visitor at the park. Most kids who visit the park are accompanied by their parents or a guardian. If they are lucky enough, they might get a push in the swing or a cheer as they slide down the slide. No adult was ever seen with this boy. What was even weirder, was that he always stayed there later than all the other children. Sitting quietly on a bench doing his homework. He would sit there till after the sun had set when most kids had already eaten dinner and bathed for bedtime. The boy would stare at the buildings that surrounded the park. Justin would see faces staring back at home, curious. But, no one came.

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The Park

One of the many people who lived by the park where the boy sat, is a woman named Sarah. She lives with her husband, Jack, and their adult son, Simon. Each day, she would come home each day and saw the boy sitting on the park bench. She could not help but wondered where his mother is, and how she could allow him to be out so late at night. All alone. There might be a problem at home, but the tricky thing is, would it make matters worse for the boy if she got involved? Or, would it actually help him? 

One day, it was raining pretty heavily. Sarah was standing at the window to her apartment, staring angrily out the window, her foot tapping impatiently. She was absolutely furious, the boy was out there in this weather, trying to do his homework. The boy would come to the playground every evening to do his homework, no matter the weather outside. People around always noticed him there and would often question why his parents would allow him to stay out at night to study. Surely this is the last straw she thought to herself, she could no longer watch in vain. She turned to her husband and said she was going outside to speak to him. She grabbed her umbrella, and a second, and went out to finally meet him. 

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Read: Son Who Didn’t Visit His Mother for Years Comes and Sees Her House Destroyed – a Short Story

The Heroin

The little boy saw Sarah coming toward him, and he closed the book he was busy reading, but he did not get up. Sarah stopped right before him, opened the second umbrella, and held it over the boy to shelter him from the rain. She asked him what his name was, to which he replied, Justin. She smiled at him and shook his hand, telling him it was very nice to finally meet him. Her next question was asking why on earth he was sitting out here in the pouring rain. 

Justin studied Sarah’s face, looking for a sign, Sarah wasn’t sure what. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it and looked down at his book, clearly perplexed. She asked him where his mother is, and looked around the park hoping to see his elusive mother coming toward them. Justin kept looking down at his book and told her that his mother was at home, and she was too busy with work so he had to stay at the park.

Appalled, Sarah invited Just to come home with her for a warm meal. Just was so excited, he had not eaten a proper dinner in quite some time.  He explained to Sarah and her husband that his mother was a very busy woman, and she did not have the time for him at home. Her work meant that he would have to wait in the park until she was finished, which was late at night. 

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New Home

Sarah told Justin that he was allowed to come over to their house every afternoon to do his homework. He could even eat some dinner with them until he was ready to go home.  Justin was delighted at the offer. He told Sarah that he had noticed many people watching him in the park, but Sarah was the only one who had been kind to him. From that day onward, Justin would visit Sarah and Jack every afternoon. He shared dinner with them and their son Simon, with him he became great friends. One night, after they had already said goodbye, Justin was knocking on their door again. Sarah was surprised to find him there/ She quickly became furious the moment Justin told her that his mother had refused to answer the door.  Sarah and her husband agreed, it was time to intervene. 

At Justin’s mom’s apartment, a man answered the door and raised an eyebrow at the two of them. Justin’s mom shouted from behind the man that it was only her neighbor and her son. She continued to lie and told the man that they often bothered her late at night, and slammed the door in their faces. Appalled, Sarah took Justin home with him and put him to bed in their guest bedroom. 

New Home, New Family

A few days later, Justin’s mother came past Sarah’s apartment. She had the audacity to ask Sarah to allow Justin to live with her. Her reasoning was that she had started to date another man who despised children. Never did Sara imagine that someone could be so unloving toward their own son. But the reality was, Justin’s mother was not interested in him at all. How could she choose a man over her own son?

Sarah gladly allowed Justin to move in, and over a period of six months. As such, their bond grew stronger and stronger, until Justin was considered to be a member of their family. Finally, Justin had the love and support he so craved. Not long after that, Sarah visited a lawyer, who helped her with the grueling process of removing Justin’s right as his mother. Sarah became his rightful guardian and adopted son. 

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Regret

Sarah gladly allowed Justin to move in, and over a period of six months. As such, their bond grew stronger and stronger, until Justin was considered to be a member of their family. Finally, Justin had the love and support he so craved. Not long after that, Sarah visited a lawyer, who helped her with the grueling process of removing Justin’s right as his mother. Sarah became his rightful guardian and adopted son.  Sarah would pass Justin’s mom in the street near their building, and She would ignore her flat out. This assured Sarah that she was doing the right thing by adopting Justin. But, one day, his mother came knocking on the door, looking all worn out. 

She told Justin and Sarah that the man she was dating had dumped her. So, she was ready to take Justin back. Sarah’s heart sank inside her chest, she had grown to love Justin like she did her own son, hat if he wanted to go back. Relief washed over her as Justin told his biological mother to leave and never come back. He told her that his real mother was Sarah and that he was never going to come back to her. His mom just stood there, shocked. Justin took that as an opportunity to close the door, feeling the satisfaction of doing what she had done to him almost a year before. 

Justin had found the family he was meant to be with. And, this second chance at happiness would never be ruined by a mother who could not afford the love that should be inherent. 

This story was inspired by an original piece of fiction that first appeared on AmoMama. Any similarities between this story and actual people is purely coincidental

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