Crutchie lied in his bed, twisting and turning, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in but he just couldn´t relax. It was weird really, he usually doesn't have problems falling asleep but this night was somehow different. The sleep just wouldn't come over him this particular night, he didn't feel sleepy at all. There was no need for closing the eyelids, he just wasn't tired. After countless and countless of tries of getting comfortable, he sat up straight in his bed groaning soft not to wake up the others, took his crutch under his arm and limped his way to a bed at the other side where his big brother and best friend lied.
Crutchie shook the boy softly while whispering is name:
"Jack? Jack?"
The older boy opened his heavy eyelids and groaned softly.
"Crutchie? What is it?" he asked with a sleepy voice.
"I can't sleep, can you tell me a story?" the younger boy asked.
Jack moved to make place for Crutchie to lie on the bed. He leaned his worn out crutch on the other boy's bed and lied down at the spot that Jack had made him.
"Once upon a time, there was a little boy. This little boy was an orphan, just like you and me, and his name was Jacob. Jacob was just four years old when he lost his parents, he had nothing left and had to live on the streets. He learned a lot during those years on the streets, where to find the best food, what lake was the best to clean yourself in and how to fall asleep in the most uncomfortable places. It took a while to get used to this new life, but after a while he could adjust to the life he had been thrown into so fast. However, four years after becoming an orphan, something changed his life forever. When Jacob was eight years old, a particular little boy came into his life. He was just six years old, and his name was Charles. Little Charles was lost and scared, he reminded Jacob of himself when he just had lost his parents. The young boy had, just like the older, lost his parents and been thrown out on the streets. He was looking for an orphanage, but the closest orphanage was many miles away and the poor little boy was just too week to walk all the way. So Jacob decided to take care of the young boy himself. Charles followed Jacob back to his current hideout where Jacob slept.
"Here, get some sleep, you must be tired. It's not the most comfortable bed but it's better than nothing" he said to Charles, pointing to a mattress.
Charles, who hadn't said anything since Jacob found him, asked:
"But where will you sleep?"
"I'll sleep on the floor, don't worry about me, I have been in far worse situations where I had to sleep on a cold hard metal floor so I'm used to these kinds of stuff" the older boy replied. Charles felt sorry for Jacob and could feel this lump or rock in his chest, that he had had since he was abandoned, lifting and lose some weight. This boy was ready to give up his bed for a stranger he just met? That was truly amazing and kind.
"Thank you" Charles said softly, barely audible, but Jacob picked up the words that were formed through the young once mouth.
Both of the boys went to sleep, and next day they were ready to face whatever fears that would come at them. They were ready to face them together. Together forever."
Jack stopped, he looked down at a sleeping Crutchie and smiled a little, remembering the first time they met. Then he realized how tired he was and closed his eyes, letting sleep take over his body, and the last thing he was thinking of before falling asleep was his best friend and brother.
Crutchie.