(Jasper)
He must hear the dislike in my voice because he raises his eyebrows. "You don't like your name?"
"It is a biblical name. You know… the story where God asks a father to kill his own son, Isaac, to prove his loyalty or something like that."
He wrinkles his nose. "That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Why would God ask for that? I thought he was supposed to be loving and all that shit."
I pick at the seam on my jeans and wish I had better answers. "I don't know. My dad reminds me of that story all the time. Like he would kill me if God told him to. I hate my name."
"Then I am not calling you Isaac. How about Jasper? It sounds a little like the ending of your name."
"Jasper… okay. What is your name?"
"Hudson Rutherford. How old are you?"
"Almost thirteen. You?"
"I just turned thirteen. You are really tiny." He wraps an arm around me in a protective way.
"The doctor said it is because I was born so early. I was born at twenty-six weeks. They said I might grow later than other kids." I shrug, trying not to show how much it bothers me. I am almost thirteen and not even four feet tall. "You are really tall."
Hudson sighs. "Yeah, my dad is tall too."
I remember he had been crying earlier. "Why were you crying?"
He stays quiet for a moment. "My little brother died a few weeks ago…"
I wrap my arms around him and hold him tightly. "I am sorry. Why did he die?"
"He got cancer when he was little. He was always weak and sick. My parents did everything to save him, but he died," Hudson whispers. Tears fall down his cheeks, and I wipe them away the way he wiped mine.
"Then my parents decided we needed to move. I had to leave all my friends and everything that reminded me of him." He stares into the distance. "I miss my brother. Even if he was sick all the time, he still talked to me. I was never alone."
His voice is filled with sadness, and it makes my chest ache. "I know I am not anything special, but you can talk to me if you want. You will not be alone."
Hudson hugs me against his chest and kisses the top of my head. "You can be my little brother. We can be there for each other."
I am not sure I want to be his brother, but I do want to be his friend. There is a connection between us that I have never felt before. It feels like we were meant to meet. "I am not sure my dad will approve, but I can meet you here. Where do you live?"
He points toward the area where the rich families live, far from my side of town. "That way."
"I live on the other side… where the poor people live."
Hudson gently lifts my chin so I am looking into his blue eyes. "I don't care about that. We can build a little shelter here and meet whenever we want. Maybe you can sneak over to my house sometimes. We have a pool and can go swimming. Do you think your dad would let you?"
My dad will want to meet his dad and go on and on about religion. "I don't know. He does not let me do much unless it is church."
"We will figure it out. Maybe my dad can talk to him," Hudson says, giving me a hopeful smile.
Something warm grows in my chest. Maybe Hudson is the best friend I have always wanted. "How will we build something out here?"
"I will get my dad to help." He looks around the space. "We need something with a roof so we stay dry when it rains."
"Can we have snacks?" My stomach growls loudly.
Hudson grins. "Yes. My mom always gives me snacks."
I lean against his chest again. Even though the day is hot, I feel cold. "I wish my parents were like yours."
"What did your dad beat you for?"
"I brought home a book from the library that was not Christian," I say quietly.
Hudson's shoulders tense. He lets out a frustrated sound. "Then I will bring you books here. It will be our secret."
A huge smile spreads across my face, and he smiles back. I have found my person. As long as I have him, I can handle anything.
We stay there for a long time, me sitting in his lap while he tells me funny stories about his brother. We laugh, and he cries a few more times.
It is hard to walk back home when all I want to do is stay with him, hold on to him, and beg him to take me to his house.
Before we go our separate ways, he gently slides my glasses back onto my face. "Can you meet me here tomorrow?"
"I can, but not until after church. My dad usually takes a nap around two, and that is when I can sneak out."
Hudson leans forward and kisses my forehead. "I will see you then, buddy."
THE NEXT DAY
I manage to slip out of the house after Dad falls asleep in his recliner. I run as fast as I can, praying Hudson is real and not something my mind invented. The moment I see him sitting in the clearing with a backpack, my knees almost give out with relief. I do not slow my pace until I reach him, and he quickly pulls me onto his lap so I do not fall.
"Easy there, Jasper, you almost fell on your face."
A huge grin spreads across my face when he calls me Jasper. "Thanks for catching me. I was scared you wouldn't come."
"I will always be here." He hugs me before letting me sit between his legs. Then he pulls a book from the backpack. "I thought we could take turns reading this together." He hands it to me. "I brought snacks too."
It feels like heaven. I open the book, lean back against him, and start reading aloud. I did not think I would ever be brave enough to read to someone else, but with his arms around me, I feel like I can do anything.
When I finish a chapter, he gives me Cheez-Its and a bag of M&Ms. He reads the next chapter, then pauses to hand me a juice box with the straw already pushed in. My parents would never buy snacks or juice boxes, and the simple kindness fills me with warmth.
After more reading, we take off our shoes and socks and wade in the shallow creek. Eventually we know we have to go home, but neither of us wants to.
"My mom and dad want to meet you. Do you think you could come over tomorrow? My dad does not start his new job for a week, and he can help us build something out here."
I bite my lip, unsure if I can tell my parents the truth. "I will figure something out. How will I let you know?"
He picks up a strange-looking rock. "Don't you have a cell phone?"
"No." I have never even held one.
His eyebrows pull together. "I will show you which house is mine, and you can walk over whenever you can."
We wade a little longer before putting our socks and shoes back on. Hudson kneels and ties my shoelaces, even though I know how to do it. I think he likes taking care of me, and the feeling makes my throat tight.
He puts the backpack over his shoulder and holds my hand, guiding me across some big rocks in the creek. It takes only about twenty steps before we leave the trees on his side, and I see the huge houses behind them. Hudson stops and points to the closest one.
"That darker brick house is ours. See the pool behind it?"
The woods sit higher on the hill, so I can see the backyard clearly. There is a large pool with a waterfall and another smaller house beside it.
"Do you live in the smaller house or the big house?"
"Smaller house?" Hudson looks at the building again. "Oh, you mean the pool house. That one is just for guests or parties."
The pool house is almost as big as my entire home. He must be really rich. A woman steps out onto the patio and waves at us.
"That is my mom," he explains, waving back. "I will walk you across the creek before I go home."
He keeps holding my hand until we are on my side of the creek again. I cannot stop myself from stepping forward and hugging him. I smile when he kisses the top of my head.
"Be safe and run home quickly, okay, buddy?"
I nod, staring at him until I cannot see him anymore. Then I run toward my house.
I
"Where have you been?"
Please, God, do not punish me for this lie. "I was in the woods talking to God. I felt like praying more."
Dad actually smiles. "It is about time you take your faith seriously. Next time, take your bible with you."
"Yes, sir. I will do that tomorrow."
"Good. Now go read and memorize some scripture until your mother makes supper."
I hurry to my tiny room and fall onto my small bed. I pull my bible onto my chest just in case Dad walks in.
All I can think about is Hudson and how he held my hand and hugged me. I wish I were at his house instead of here, alone.
I cannot wait for tomorrow.