Asher: Heroes at Heart

by Jordan, Maryann

  He wanted to ask about Penny but did not know how to ask if they had helped her get to heaven. At the end of the school day, Ms. Walker, the social worker, had picked him up, saying, “I’m going to take you somewhere for a couple of days as we work with your mom.”

  Afraid to ask too many questions, he simply nodded. If there was one thing his mom had taught him, life just happened, and he needed to roll quietly with it. For almost two weeks he stayed in three different houses, all with nice people, but he was never given a drawer to put his clothes in. Just as he got used to one house, he was picked up by Ms. Walker and moved to another location. Wondering when he would ever go home and see his mom again, he was afraid to ask.

  Finally, Ms. Walker picked him up one day, and as they were driving to another house, she said, “I have found a permanent place for you. I know you’re going to love it. Miss Ethel is the best foster mother in the entire area, and you are so lucky that she has a place for you.”

  Clutching his bag in his skinny arms, he managed to ask, “What about my mom?”

  She hesitated before answering. “Right now, your mom is not in a position to be able to take care of you.” Glancing to the side, she smiled and added, “But you will find everything you need at Miss Ethel’s house.”

  Having no idea what to expect, he remained quiet and now found himself standing on a wide front porch, Ms. Walker ushering him inside the front door where he was greeted by a tall, thin woman, wearing a simple dress with her hair pulled back in a bun. Her smile was warm, and his stomachache eased just a bit.

  He sat perched on the edge of the dark green sofa, his garbage bag of possessions at his feet, and looked around. Miss Ethel was sitting in one of the cushioned chairs facing him, a basket of yarn next to the chair with long plastic sticks poking out of the basket. He stared at the fireplace nearby, excited about the idea of being able to have a fire on a cold winter day. He had seen pictures of them but had never experienced it. So entranced in looking around at the bookcases filled with books, he almost missed what Ms. Walker was saying.

  “His mother gave up her rights when the judge gave her a choice to go into counseling for alcohol abuse and move out of the boyfriend’s house. She refused, and the state has taken over Johnny’s care.”

  Hearing that his mother no longer wanted him caused him to sit up straighter on the sofa, his gaze pinned on the social worker. He quickly swiped at his eyes, not wanting to cry, when his attention was diverted by a noise coming from the back of the house.

  Running footsteps came to a halt at the door to the living room, and he stared in surprise at five boys, wide smiles on their faces. As his gaze jumped from one to the other, he blinked, seeing two of them look exactly alike.

  “My goodness, boys,” Miss Ethel said. “That’s not how we enter the house. You will have our guests think that I have a herd of elephants here.”

  Expecting Miss Ethel to be as angry as his mom used to get, he watched as her smile stayed wide.

  “Boys, come to meet your new friend.” She introduced Zander, Rafe, Cael, and the twins, Jaxon and Jayden. All of the boys offered a welcoming grin as she introduced him. “This is Johnny.”

  “Asher,” he corrected. Surprised at what had come over him, the desire to be someone different caused his mouth to overcome his shyness. He always thought his middle name was odd, but being introduced to five boys, each with interesting names, he wanted to be someone other than Johnny. “It’s my middle name,” he explained, now concerned that he might have done something wrong. He stared in fear at Miss Ethel, hoping she would not be mad.

  She peered at him from behind her wire-rimmed glasses for a moment, her expression comforting. Inclining her head toward him, she said, “Asher. I think that’s a perfectly wonderful name.”

  Warmth spread throughout him, and he breathed easier for the first time in weeks. Maybe even longer than that. As Mrs. Walker hugged him goodbye, he wanted to ask more about his mom but was afraid to with the others in the room. Now, alone with Miss Ethel and the other boys, he turned and looked up at her, wondering what to do next.

  “Boys, it’s time for me to fix dinner, so I’d like you to take Asher outside to play.”

  Cael ran over and grabbed his hand and said, “Come with us!”

  An hour later, after having run and played in the yard with a sense of freedom he had never felt, Asher sat down at the large table, his eyes wide as Miss Ethel placed dish after dish in front of them. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, applesauce, and big fluffy rolls. He was not sure that he would like the green beans but did not want to disappoint Miss Ethel, so he put some on his plate anyway.

  This meal was unlike any he had ever had at home, and he was overcome with uncertainty. As though she could sense his feelings, Miss Ethel said, “I want you to be comfortable at my table, Asher. I make sure all my boys use their best table manners, but if you’re not sure about something, then all you have to do is ask.”

  In a small voice, he said, “I’ve never used a knife before.” His heart squeezed in preparation for the other boys to laugh at him, but each just smiled in encouragement as Miss Ethel walked around the table, and bending over his shoulder, showed him how to use his knife.

  He ate as much as he could, looking around in surprise at how much the other boys ate. It was beginning to dawn on him that Miss Ethel did not seem to get angry the way his mom did, but he was still nervous about disappointing her.

  She smiled and said, “I hope you enjoyed the dinner, Asher. Eating good food will help you grow big and strong.”

  He looked back at the food longingly and shook his head. “My mama always said I was a runt and would stay a runt,” he confessed.

  Zander looked up in shock and said, “She shouldn’t have said that. It’s not nice to call someone names!”

  Eyes wide, he was both surprised at the show of support from Zander while having never considered the possibility that his mom might not have been right.

  “Zander,” Miss Ethel said, a slight edge to her voice. “While I agree with your sentiment, it’s not our place to tell Asher that his mother was not right.” She looked over, gaining Asher’s attention, and continued, “What I will say is that you are still very young and have a lot of growing to do. You’ll always have plenty to eat here, and I think that you’ll find with a healthy diet you’ll be able to grow into a wonderful, strong young man.”

  He sat up straighter, her words giving him hope until it dawned on him that she seemed to think he would be staying until he was a young man. He opened his mouth to ask her about that then snapped it closed. I’ll ask her later when no one is around.

  He soon learned that everyone helped with meal cleanup, but instead of seeming like a chore, it was fun. Together, they quickly cleared the table, rinsed off the dishes, loaded the dishwasher, and wiped off the table.

  “While the rest of you finish your schoolwork, I’m going to take Asher upstairs to show him his room."

  Following Miss Ethel up the steps, he was amazed at how large the house was. There were two bedrooms upstairs, each with bunk beds and a separate twin bed. A large bathroom was at the end of the hall. There was a smaller bedroom with a single bed and an attached bathroom.

  Miss Ethel explained that she considered it to be important for the boys to have a place where they felt like they became family. “This room has the older boys, Zander, Rafe, and Cael. Across the hall is where Jaxon and Jayden sleep. As you can see, there’s a bed in here for you as well. If this makes you uncomfortable, then you can have the single room while you get used to everything.”

  Staring up at her in awe, he said, “I’ve never had my own bed before.”

  He watched as she blinked rapidly as though she had something in her eye. Unsure if she was waiting for him to answer, he said, “I’d like to be with Jaxon and Jayden, please.”

  Patting his shoulder, her smile wobbled before widening. “Oh, Asher, I think that’s an excellent plan.” She helped him emp
ty the plastic bag that contained his meager belongings onto the bed. Other than the worn, too-big clothes and a toothbrush, his only other possession was a picture storybook.

  “Oh, do you like stories?” she asked.

  He nodded, hoping she was not going to take the book from him. He watched warily as she held it and then placed it carefully back on his bed.

  “Then you’ll love bedtime, where we always read.”

  He nodded, breathing easier as he reached out and touched the book, loving the feel of the hard cover underneath his fingertips.

  She showed him the drawer that was for his underwear, socks, and pajamas and assisted with hanging up his few shirts and pants.

  “I think that we’ll take a shopping trip soon so that we can get new clothes for you. I know that it’s important when going to a new school to feel like you look your best.”

  He could not remember the last time he had been shopping, and the idea appealed to him. He so wanted to look like the other kids in class. Looking up at her, he nodded with enthusiasm.

  “Lovely,” she smiled. “We’ll take the twins with us when we go. They need some new things as well.”

  Excited about the chance to go to a store, he followed her down the hall. In the bathroom, she ran water in the bathtub, handing him a towel, soap, and bath cloth. “Do you need help with your bath or washing your hair?”

  He looked up, his brow knit, and replied, “I can take a bath by myself, but I’ve never washed my own hair.”

  Nodding, she said, “Then I’ll help you wash your hair and then leave you while you finish your bath.”

  Agreeing, he pulled off his shirt and heard a quick intake of breath from her. When he looked up, he could tell her gaze was on his arms and the red, puckered scars. Tightening his arms around his waist, he hesitated, uncertain of what to do.

  “My dear boy, never be afraid here. In this house, you will be protected and loved. That I can promise.” She sucked in a deep breath and continued, “I’ll step out, and you can finish getting undressed and into the tub.”

  A few minutes later, she came in and knelt at his back, scrubbing and rinsing his hair. Standing, she said, “When you’re finished, put on your pajamas, and we’ll get to know each other a little bit more.”

  Luxuriating in the warm water, he splashed and played for just a few minutes until he pulled the plug and climbed out. Once in his pajamas, he moved back to his room, seeing Miss Ethel sitting on his bed.

  “Come sit with me for a little while before the other boys come up,” she encouraged.

  He quickly obeyed and loved the feel of the soft mattress. “It’s not lumpy like the sofa I used to sleep on. In the last couple of weeks, I had to share a bed with some other children.”

  Patting his leg, Miss Ethel said, “I want you to understand, Asher, that this is now your home. I know I’m not your mother, but I hope that you will be happy here with us. If you let them, the boys will become not only your best friends but your brothers."

  Scrunching his nose, he asked, “What about my real mom? I heard Mrs. Walker tell you that Mom had signed something, but I don’t know what that means.”

  “One thing you will learn about me is that I’ll always be honest, giving you information I think you can handle,” she said. “Right now, your mom is making some very difficult decisions, and some of them might not be the best decisions. From what I’ve been told, your mom’s boyfriend was not very nice to you—”

  He immediately crossed his arms in front of his body out of habit. She reached over and gently touched his arm, her fingertips softly soothing.

  “And because he was driving his truck while drinking alcohol, he was arrested and is in jail.”

  His mouth dropped open, and a sense of happiness filled him at hearing those words. Immediately contrite, he then wondered about his mom.

  Once again, as though Miss Ethel could read his mind, she said, “It’s okay to be glad that Tim has to deal with his problems, but your mother was also arrested for child endangerment." Before he had a chance to ask, she continued, “That means that she was not always providing you with the best environment for you to be raised in. And right now, she does not foresee that she can take care of you in the right way. So, you are now mine to raise and love." Giving his arm another squeeze, she asked, “What questions do you have for me? I want you to feel free to talk to me about anything.”

  He thought about that for a moment then asked, “Is Mom gonna come and make me leave here?”

  Shaking her head, she said, “I do not foresee that happening, Asher."

  He nodded, his stomachache lessening with the idea that he could stay in this house, have brothers to play with, good food to eat, and a real bed to sleep in. He wondered if Penny could see him now. She said that when you went to heaven, you could see those down below. The idea that she was watching him made the ache hurt less.

  The evening only continued to get better as all six boys piled into the older boys’ room and Zander read to them from a large book. No one made fun of him for being skinny, having hair that stuck out, or ears that were too big.

  Zander had chosen Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. His voice wove the tale of a young girl finding refuge with seven strange men who opened their hearts and home to her. When the story was finished, Miss Ethel asked questions, and he watched with interest as the other boys discussed the lessons learned.

  And when story time was over, Miss Ethel went to each boy and tucked them in. When she came to him, she sat on the side of her bed once again as he snuggled under the covers.

  “I know your mind is troubled with things that no little boy should ever have to worry about. But for tonight, sleep well, my handsome Asher.”

  And while there was so much he did not understand about what was happening, the sheets were warm, and the bed was soft, and for the first time in his life, sleep claimed him easily.

  4

  Twenty-four years later

  Asher walked the young couple through the house, barely listening as they oohed and aahed over the upgrades. Their opinion was inconsequential to him since he knew exactly how nice it was. He only bought houses with good bones, something that Cael had taught him. Whereas Cael flipped houses, Asher renovated them and then rented. He had torn up old carpet and laid hardwood floors. He had gutted the kitchen and bathrooms, refinishing them with new tile, new floors, new cabinets, and new fixtures. The walls had been freshly painted and the windows replaced. Having done all the work with some help from Cael, he knew exactly how nice the house was.

  It was the sixth house he had purchased and completely remodeled, and if this couple wanted it, they were going to need to act quickly.

  The young wife glanced nervously at him, her eyes dropping to his neck before moving to his arms. Knowing she was staring at his visible tattoos, he swallowed a grin. Asher wondered what she would think if he pulled off his shirt to reveal the rest of his tats. Many of his tats were of flowers, the inspiration being Miss Ethel’s Gardens. The words ‘self-made’ were tattooed across his abs as a reminder that he alone was in control of his destiny, not his biological parents. And on his lower abdomen were a pair of angel wings in memory of his childhood friend.

  Not about to get into a discussion of his tattoos with the young couple, he walked away. While she turned to her husband and they made their way through the rest of the house, he caught sight of his reflection in the kitchen window. Tall, muscular but lean, his longish hair standing mostly on end, tats on display, he knew he did not look like the typical real estate entrepreneur. Not that he gave a fuck what they thought of his looks.

  A few minutes later, they walked back into the room, sharing a look between them. “Have you decided?" he asked. "I don’t like to rush people, so I want you to be sure. I do have two more showings for tomorrow but wanted to give you dibs since you were the first to contact me.”

  “We really like it,” the woman began, before being interrupted by her husband.

 
“How negotiable on the price are you?" the young man asked. “I looked at comps in the neighborhood and—”

  “Good, then you won’t waste my time with an insulting counteroffer,” he said, his voice soft but with an edge of authority. “The rental is within reason for a newly remodeled home in this neighborhood. It’s take it or leave it.”

  “No, no,” the man hastened, glancing at the woman who was shooting an irritated look at him. “We’d love to have it. You’re right, the rent is perfect.”

  “I’ve already checked out your references and credit,” Asher said. “All that’s needed is for you to sign the rental agreement after reading it carefully, and then I’ll need first and last month’s rent, plus the deposit.”

  Handing them the contract, the couple took it readily. Nodding, the man said, “We’ll have this for you tomorrow with the check. Will that be acceptable?”

  Dipping his chin once, he agreed. Walking them out, he locked the door carefully behind him as they drove away. Feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket, he pulled it out and saw a group text from Miss Ethel. A full-fledged grin graced his face. She had eschewed new technology, saying that she did not need to be tied to a phone. But after falling several months ago, scaring he and his brothers, she agreed to their gift of a cell phone.

  Zander’s wife, Rosalie, had taught Miss Ethel how to send a text. Rafe’s wife, Eleanor, then showed her how to send a group text. Thrilled, Miss Ethel soaked up what the others explained to her. Cael’s wife, Regina, set up a group for the men and another group for the women, including Jaxon’s fiancé, Morgan, and Jayden’s fiancé, Ruby.

  Opening the text, it was Miss Ethel reminding them to come to dinner. Chuckling, he knew that none of them would miss the monthly dinners together. Climbing onto his motorcycle, he fired it to life and roared down the road.