A Stolen Childhood

















This is a story... no. Not A story. MY story. My name is Blake Williams and I live in New Orleans. The place that many people think black people take over and cause trouble. Lies. Sometimes true, but in my case false. I am seventeen years old and a senior at East Jefferson High. I have a little brother, Jeremy Williams, he is twelve years old and he go to Jefferson middle. Our mother selfishly throw us to the curb about three years ago. Well... not literally she just left and never came back. We got a letter in the mail from her:


Dear Boys,



I'm sorry to leave like this, but I can't do it anymore. I had you too young

Blake and Jeremy you were a huge mistake. I can no longer afford you or the

house. I am leaving. Don't look for me.





- Sandy

I obviously never showed that to Jeremy... it would break his heart to know that his own mother didn't share the love he had for her. It broke mine. When I turned ten my own mother didnt know it was my birthday, nor was she there. Thats when I knew. Thats when I knew she didnt love me. I will not make him go through what I had to go through. I will do anything to keep him safe. ANYTHING. He is my world and he will not feel the pain I feel and felt. On that note let me tell you a little about me, a little about him, and a little about us. When I was fourteen I had a great out of the home life. Out every weekend, lots of friends, lots of girls, anything really. Downside was my home life. I went out every weekend for a reason. My mother was a whore to put it lightly. She's was a prostitute most probably that's the only reason Jeremy and I are here... on this earth. Most kids are conceived through love, but not us. She never realized how much that affected me, nor did she care. When Jeremy was born I knew I had to grow up very quickly. Yes, I was only five but I already knew Sandy didn't care, and I already knew I had to. Jeremy was a aggravating little brat, but I loved him and protected him when no one else would. Then what I never thought would happen... happened. Sandy left. I never thought she would go that low... but she did... she went there. When she didn't come back after a day, I knew she wasn't coming back. Jeremy asked where is mommy at least once a day... so I lied. Told him she went on a business trip and would be back soon. About a year later he started to gather that she was never coming back. He would have found out sooner if he thought about how she treated him and put all the pieces together. She treated him better than she treated me thank God, but still treated him terribly. Which was unacceptable. I am honestly glad she left. I'm glad there is no longer a woman in his life that makes him feel horrid about himself, makes him feel like he is nothing, makes him feel like he is unloved. He needs something much much more than that. He needs something and someone to take care of him, love him, support him, giving him everything he wants, give him a great education, get him a car when he turns sixteen, get him a puppy when he loses someone close to him, things that all other kids get. I know I can't give him any of that. Yes, love I can give him, but nothing that really matters. I tried. I really did. I worked three jobs at seventeen, I woke Jeremy up at seven a.m. every morning so he would get to school early, made him every meal, and tried... tried so very hard to get him things he wanted for Christmas and his birthday. I wish I still had him.

While doing all of this for him and myself, I got a little lost along the way. I met someone. Jessica... Jessica Burn. God that girl. She was everything I ever wanted. She was that nerdy type, you know? stayed up reading books until two a.m, wore glasses, laughed at her own jokes, talked to herself, in love with those nerdy little tv shows. Puts a smile on my face just thinking about her. Jeremy even liked her. I stayed with her for about a year and then she found out things I didn't want her to find out. She discovered that my mom left and we were living by ourselves. She found out that I was working three jobs just to pay rent and keep us feed. She also found out I was stealing. Not jewelry or anything like that, but food. Bread, fruit, canned food, anything to keep Jeremy strong and healthy and full. She was not okay with that. She actually broke it off. Said she didn't want to be with someone who broke the law like every other stereotypical black man. I understood that totally and completely... but that didnt make it hurt any less. Jeremy would ask about her and would ask the next time she was coming over to hangout with him. I couldn't do anything but cry. I slipped into a depression. Which is pathetic I know but I really did love her. the depression was actually so bad that I completely stopped doing anything. I was fired from all three of my jobs and Jeremy had to start walking to school. Jeremy come into my room after school one day in tears. He climbed into my bed and poked my noses. I opened my eyes to see a quivering lip and puffy green eyes. I asked what was wrong and what happened at school. All that came out and all that I understood was " Why don't you love me anymore? " I cried... immediately. I assured him that I was still his big brother that loved him more than anything in the world and that I will always be here for him. Always. Told him that no one could take me away from him and no one could make me stop loving him. I promised him.

He got into my arms and I tried to calm him down. I was successful. So Successful that he told me he was extremely hungry and that he hadn't eaten in days. I immediately jumped out of bed and went to the grocery, Jeremy trailing behind. I grabbed a couple of apples, chicken, and mac n cheese, but then realized I had no money... at all. I took a chance. I took a chance and told Jeremy to give me everything, told him to get far ahead of me and start running just in case I did get caught, he wouldnt be. He obeyed. I told him to go and he started running, i counted to ten and started running behind him. I was tackled. It happened so quickly, I didnt know what was happening. All I heard was Jeremy scream. Hearing that I did everything to get to him. Just looking at him I punched, I tugged, I kicked. I picked Jeremy up and told him to run as fast as he could and to not look back. This time he didn't obey. I was tackled again and this time I couldnt get up. I just watched as they put Jeremy into a cop car and me right behind him. Next thing I knew I was in court with Jeremy up next. They told me that in assaulted an officer and stole food for a grocery. Next thing I heard was Guilty. Then Jeremy scream again. He shouted, " You promised Blake! You promised! You promised you wouldn't be taken away from me." All I could say was that I was sorry and that I loved him... and then i was taken.

It's been 11 years since I was pulled away from him. Today I'm getting out. I'm getting out to find him. To find my world.