Little Tyreck

He used to come to our house each morning with his mother. Now he comes alone. He used to be a lively young fellow, alert, even though his speech was so impaired that few other than his family could understand him. Now he is so lethargic, lying around and sleeping. He still nods his head when you ask him a question, like “Do you want an egg?” or “Do you want to go home?” But last night when I took him home, he just sat there where I let him off nearby of his home. I had to reach over and open the door, urging him to go.

He is seven years old, but you might guess him 5. We were shocked last year when we were gone to hear that his mother had died. Jane would come every morning for her “widow allowance” which was only 5 or 10 dollars; Belize dollars- half American dollars. She was conversant, but not very aggressive. She had appeared fairly healthy so that we were surprised when we heard of her sudden demise. She was a friend of sorts, mainly because we saw her every day and she was respectful and responsive in conversation. She rarely had a job, and appeared to be rather minimally motivated to help herself. Or did she more likely feel less motivated because of her hidden illness and immune deficiency?

Her husband, whom we barely knew, had died perhaps a year before. He was Honduran and worked in another town, fishing perhaps, and came here only occasionally. Before he died, he went back to his country to be with his family. The family here did not go to the funeral. Too costly; perhaps even on too short notice for the funeral.  Anyway, he passed off the scene quietly, out of sight, except that he had been here at their house when he was sick. His income and presence was too sporadic for supplying daily needs. But he would buy larger items for the family like bicycles or a kitchen stove on rare occasions when he had a paycheck.

Little Tyreck is not quite alone. He has a brother two years older who is bright and healthy. He stays with his aunt a half mile off when he is not at our place. It is an extended family with 3 houses on the lot, and a total of 15 people, the aunt told us. His older brother Shaqueille has been a regular day-time visitor at our house for a long time. He is bright but for some unknown reason, has just not been able to learn to read. He feels kindly toward his brother and somewhat responsible, although he likes to travel and is currently up north in San Pedro with relatives, likely.

Tyreck still comes to our house every morning. I wonder how long it takes him to walk that half mile. He walks so slowly, it would be hard to walk with him. He likely comes here to get away from the crowd at his aunt's; perhaps to eat food, but he eats less and less. He loves snacks but often will not finish an egg or cereal. His stomach is much extended beneath his loose shirt. Twice this week he complained of stomach ache in the afternoon and we took him home early. He used to walk home alone or his brother took him on a bike. Now he has to be “carried “ home. I used to drop him off at about 2/3 of the way home, but now I must drive much closer to his house. Will he come tomorrow morning? I don’t know. He came late this morning. Sometimes when he is sleeping sprawled across an arm chair, I wonder if he will sometime just not wake up. We seek daily to make him be comfortable, and be understanding of what he says to us, which is little because he knows we will not understand it usually. Better just be quiet.

Time goes on for little Tyreck, but nowhere fast; and how long no one knows, until he moves on as his mother and father did before him. May he perceive our love for him, however difficult it is for us to be sure he feels it. May God also love him as he most surely does, and will welcome him in due season, where he will no longer be an orphan, but a welcome child of the Father.

                                                                                                                               May 2, 2010

                                                                   Epilogue

The day after I wrote the above, Tyreck did not come to our house. So shortly, we went back to visit him. Lethargic as usual, he just lay there so weakly. I told him how God loves him; likely I asked him if he realized that, to which I believe he nodded weakly. It was the time of year we would usually go back to the US for the summer, which we did as usual. A month or so later, we received word that he died. No doubt to rest in the arms of the Lord who loved him, more than anyone here could. He was one of God's special children.