Only a Boy

He is 10 years old. A child, a beautiful blonde haired , blue eyed boy named Logan. A little boy who loves a girl named Krista. The feeling is mutual. His mother, Laurie is my best friend. His sister, Kelly is Krista's best friend.

It was a night that we would laugh about for years to come. Laurie told Krista she needed to tell her something. Krista saw a serious face on this second mother of hers and her heart raced. Something was wrong. Laurie told Krista she had been to the doctor and had a condition. Krista began to cry, sure she was going to hear bad news....only to find out that Laurie and her husband , Pat were expecting a baby. Her 12 year old eyes lit up with excitment and in the midst of her tears a smile spread across her face. From the moment Logan entered this world, Krista was crazy about him. She loved him as if he was her own little brother and he loved her.

Krista moved to the states in April of 2004 and she came home for Christmas. We didn't tell Logan but planned to surprise him. Finally the day came that she came home. We drove out to their farm and down the road a ways we pulled over and stopped the car. I popped the trunk and Krista climbed in. We closed the trunk and drove into the yard. I hurried into the house and told Logan ,who was about 6 years old, that I had a present for him in my trunk. We went out and I opened the trunk and Krista sat up...he screamed and threw himself into the trunk with her.

That next year she was arrested the beginning of December. Christmas was coming. In the midst of her tears and the uncertainity of life she was worried about a Christmas present for Logan. I bought him a soft stuffed polar bear. I wrapped a box in brown paper and addressed it to him. He knew that she was in jail but was thrilled when his mother brought the package into the house. He opened the present and hugged the bear. He has slept with the bear for the past 3 years...every single night. A nightly ritual has developed as he goes to bed...he has a picture of Krista beside his bed , he looks at it and says good night to her and snuggles with his bear. His "Krista Bear".

She has stayed in contact as he writes her and talks to her on the phone. She sends him letters with pictures she draws. Her fear is that he will forget her...it has been 3 years since he saw her.

Just a few weeks ago Pat , Laurie , Logan & I made the trip to go see her. We wondered how it would go...would he be shy? Would he be scared in a prison? Krista worried that he would be upset. We got into the visitation room and Logan asked for a roll of quarters. He wanted his own money to buy Krista treats from the vending machine. He slipped the coins in his pockets and watched for the door to open that would allow her to come in. It swung open and she walked in...a smile across her face as Logan rushed towards her. His arms open wide as he hugged her. She bent over to embrace him as she wept. He held on and snuggled into her arms. We all cried. The bond was there. We sat at a table and he sat as close as he could. His blue eyes so alive as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a roll of coins. "Want a treat, Krista?" he asked. She smiled as she nodded. They got up and went towards the vending machine hand in hand. She stopped at the point she could go no further, he let go of her hand and without missing a beat he asked her what she wanted.

It was a week end of laughter, of tears , of stories, of watching a little boy bring so much joy into a young woman's heart. The other women inmates were taken with this handsome boy who was so loving. They talked to him and he responded with the ease of someone who doesn't know judgment but only unconditional love. They smiled and you could see the lines of worry and pain leave their faces for just a moment...he is only a boy but he taught a lesson that many need to learn. A lesson in loving. He went to the motel that night and from his suitcase he pulled out a special item he had brought from home...his "Krista Bear".