Tim Takes Up His Cross
Children's Story
Tim was never allowed to go anywhere with his big brother, Fred. Fred had no time for little kids, so although he was mostly quite kind to Tim, when he was with his own friends he never wanted Tim around.
Tim understood Fred's feelings and mostly kept out of the way, although he longed to be part of Fred's gang and to be included in Fred's activities. There was something exciting about Fred, something which often led him into trouble with Mum and Dad, but which made him seem grown-up and sophisticated to his young brother. Tim idolised Fred, and would do anything for him.
When Tim heard the window creak open late one night, he felt his heart thump with excitement. He knew immediately that Fred was sneaking out, whilst Mum and Dad were safely asleep in bed. Almost without thought, Tim slipped out of bed and into his clothes. Within seconds he too was out of the window and down the drainpipe, just in time to see his brother disappearing round the corner.
Keeping in the shadows, Tim ran silently after his brother, more excited than he'd ever been in his life before. When Fred met up with two more members of the gang, none of them noticed young Tim lurking a few metres away. They all moved off in the direction of the empty warehouse, and Tim began to suspect what was about to happen. He'd noticed a syringe and some empty papers in his brother's room before now, and he knew the warehouse was a favourite spot for drugs.
Tim wondered whether his brother would let him try some drugs. He'd already had a go at sniffing, but it hadn't been much fun. At nine years old, he felt ready to move onto something a little more sophisticated.
The older boys levered open a window in the old warehouse and were inside in a trice. But just as Tim pulled himself up to the window in their wake, the warehouse was flooded with light and a loud alarm began to blare out. Tim was terrified, and dropped back to the ground. As he dropped back, to his horror he heard a shot. When Fred emerged from the warehouse he was carrying a gun which he flung away into the bushes by the window.
All the boys fled back to their homes, with Tim creeping quietly back into his bedroom now more anxious than ever not to be seen by Fred.
When he learned next day that a security guard had been killed at the old warehouse, Tim was deeply shocked. He didn't know what to do. It soon became clear the police had no clue as to the identity of the killer, so Tim was the only one was knew what had happened.
It all felt too heavy for Tim. He wanted to tell his parents, but he didn't want to shop his brother, and he thought the knowledge might kill his mother. Deep down inside, he thought perhaps he ought to go to the police himself, but that might mean his beloved brother spending the rest of his life in prison.
Tim grew listless and tired and lost weight. He couldn't eat and he couldn't sleep, and most of the time he wished he was dead himself. But gradually he became more and more sure of what he must do, only he was terrified of doing it.
One day he took a deep breath, and visited the police station. He poured out his story, knowing his family and all his friends would probably hate him for ever more for his actions, but just feeling he had to be honest anyway.
Fred was arrested and went to jail, and it was a terrible time at home and in the village. But it was also a turning point in Tim's life. Suddenly he never wanted to touch drugs again. Suddenly he knew his own honesty was more important to him than anything else, and he had a kind of vague inkling that his actions had actually been loving actions towards his brother, for Fred changed in prison, and emerged some years later as a mature and responsible adult.
The family had to move, because life in the village became unbearable, but when they came to terms with it all, Tim's parents supported him fully. Tim grew up to become a social worker, and spent his life helping kids like his brother who got into trouble. He had a hard life, but he was always known for his honesty and love and compassion towards everyone in need.
And he slept contented every night.
Tim understood Fred's feelings and mostly kept out of the way, although he longed to be part of Fred's gang and to be included in Fred's activities. There was something exciting about Fred, something which often led him into trouble with Mum and Dad, but which made him seem grown-up and sophisticated to his young brother. Tim idolised Fred, and would do anything for him.
When Tim heard the window creak open late one night, he felt his heart thump with excitement. He knew immediately that Fred was sneaking out, whilst Mum and Dad were safely asleep in bed. Almost without thought, Tim slipped out of bed and into his clothes. Within seconds he too was out of the window and down the drainpipe, just in time to see his brother disappearing round the corner.
Keeping in the shadows, Tim ran silently after his brother, more excited than he'd ever been in his life before. When Fred met up with two more members of the gang, none of them noticed young Tim lurking a few metres away. They all moved off in the direction of the empty warehouse, and Tim began to suspect what was about to happen. He'd noticed a syringe and some empty papers in his brother's room before now, and he knew the warehouse was a favourite spot for drugs.
Tim wondered whether his brother would let him try some drugs. He'd already had a go at sniffing, but it hadn't been much fun. At nine years old, he felt ready to move onto something a little more sophisticated.
The older boys levered open a window in the old warehouse and were inside in a trice. But just as Tim pulled himself up to the window in their wake, the warehouse was flooded with light and a loud alarm began to blare out. Tim was terrified, and dropped back to the ground. As he dropped back, to his horror he heard a shot. When Fred emerged from the warehouse he was carrying a gun which he flung away into the bushes by the window.
All the boys fled back to their homes, with Tim creeping quietly back into his bedroom now more anxious than ever not to be seen by Fred.
When he learned next day that a security guard had been killed at the old warehouse, Tim was deeply shocked. He didn't know what to do. It soon became clear the police had no clue as to the identity of the killer, so Tim was the only one was knew what had happened.
It all felt too heavy for Tim. He wanted to tell his parents, but he didn't want to shop his brother, and he thought the knowledge might kill his mother. Deep down inside, he thought perhaps he ought to go to the police himself, but that might mean his beloved brother spending the rest of his life in prison.
Tim grew listless and tired and lost weight. He couldn't eat and he couldn't sleep, and most of the time he wished he was dead himself. But gradually he became more and more sure of what he must do, only he was terrified of doing it.
One day he took a deep breath, and visited the police station. He poured out his story, knowing his family and all his friends would probably hate him for ever more for his actions, but just feeling he had to be honest anyway.
Fred was arrested and went to jail, and it was a terrible time at home and in the village. But it was also a turning point in Tim's life. Suddenly he never wanted to touch drugs again. Suddenly he knew his own honesty was more important to him than anything else, and he had a kind of vague inkling that his actions had actually been loving actions towards his brother, for Fred changed in prison, and emerged some years later as a mature and responsible adult.
The family had to move, because life in the village became unbearable, but when they came to terms with it all, Tim's parents supported him fully. Tim grew up to become a social worker, and spent his life helping kids like his brother who got into trouble. He had a hard life, but he was always known for his honesty and love and compassion towards everyone in need.
And he slept contented every night.
