Harvest of Friends
Carl Sanderson Edwards
Carl could not remember a time he cried so much. Maybe when his ma died. At least when that happened he had his family to lean on for support. But now he felt alone, with Grace comforting Alicia and Isaiah running off for somewhere to drink.
And John...John was gone.
He could remember one night, back when they were still all living in Walnut Grove, Carl sat up with John and the two talked about visiting California together. John could write about seeing the ocean and Carl could explore the cities. It was a dream that would never be fulfilled.
There was a hesitant knock at his door. "Carl?"
John was dead. Some freak accident, the letter said. Nevertheless, Carl had lost his big brother.
"Carl." Grace entered her adopted son's room and went to sit beside him on the bed. She noted his bright red eyes and dried tears. "I'm here now."
Carl leaned his body against Grace's, but needing his own mother's touch more than anything. First his father, then his mother and now John. "Why did this have to happen?"
"I don't know." Grace wrapped her arms around the boy. "You know John loved you and he always wanted the best for you and Alicia. We're going to be hurting for a while and that's okay."
Tears began to form again in Carl's eyes as the realization that John was gone finally set firm in his mind. "I missed him every day he was away. Our mother wanted us to stay together after she was gone. Why did this have to happen, ma?"
Grace sighed. She had no idea what else she could say to ease the boy's pain. "Life...can seem unfair at times. I'm so sorry, Carl."
He took a deep breath in. "I just want my big brother back."