The Brooks Of The Brownstones
(By Gary Patterson)
(1)
John Brooks walked over to the fireplace, and gazed at the photos on the mantle. His daughter Mary walked into the living room, unexpectedly, and asked her father, "Dad, what are you looking at?" The question caught him off guard, but he answered, "Oh, just looking, just reminiscing! "How did you kids grow up so fast?" "It seemed like just yesterday, you were playing with dolls, and having fun in the sandbox!" "Where did the time go?" Mary considered the question, and responded, "It's inevitable Dad, it's what kids do! "You didn't expect us to stay little forever did you?" John answered, "Yes, why would that have been a bad thing?" Mary answered, "Are you saying, you don't like us now that we are grown up?" John, not knowing just how to answer, replied, "You know I am proud of how you and your brothers turned out." "Time just seemed to shoot by, and with our busy lives now, we just don't seem to have fun together like we did. "Not to change the subject, but what are you doing here?" "That didn't come out right, I mean, shouldn't you be at the courthouse, defending your client?" "Shouldn't you be at the church, doing what you do?" Mary responded. John remembered that Mary had some regrets about growing up as a PK, a "preacher's kid." "I'm waiting for your mother, she is supposed to be opening up the day care today." "I tell you what, you talk about time going by fast; where has summer gone?" "Here it is September, and we are needing to get the fall ministry projects going." Mary fell back in the recliner, stretched her legs out, and acted as if she was glad this "church stuff" was not her problem. "Well!" Mary scoffed, "It was your idea to start this, as you call "a mission church." "I don't know why you weren't satisfied with pastoring a regular church? "Why you had to go, and start your own work, is beyond me?" "You don't make as much money as you did before, and now you have to pay for your own health insurance. "When you were pastoring a church, everything was "comfortable", "predictable", "easier." "And God knows, less dangerous." And Mary added, "Those people you meet and try to work with are dangerous!" "I know, I've had to defend some of them!" "What were you thinking, by starting this?" John looked directly at his daughter and replied, "Mary, God did not call me to be involved in a ministry that is "cushy and comfortable." "He called me to a ministry that is to meet peoples'needs! He called me to a work that is to be evangelistic, and a work that serves the people." "Having a church board breathing down my neck, concerning every program we had going on, and trying to please two hundred people all the time, was not rewarding, or fulfilling, and in the long run, not enjoyable!" Yes, this "mission church" is a challenge, but it is both exciting, and rewarding." "It is what I look forward to, every morning when I get up." "I love helping people, and being there for them." "And I know that you can relate to that, because that is what you enjoy about your job as well." "I know you make really good money, but I also know, that with you, it's not about the money, It's about helping people." "The way I look at it, if we can't make a difference in people's lives, just what real purpose do we have in this life?" Mary thought for a moment, and responded, "Wow dad, you can get real dramatic in the mornings." "I get it that you want to be more involved, and not wanting to kiss up to the people in the church, but some of the people out there on the street, can be real problems." "They don't want you to meddle in their lives." "They just want to be left alone in their miserable existence." "If you start to press them, and end up at the wrong place, at the wrong time, they will think nothing of taking your life." "I'm asking dad, is it worth your life? Before John had an opportunity to respond, his wife Molly came into the living room, and plopped down on the dining room table, a bag of toys, and her sack lunch for her noon meal. She looked over at John and Mary, with a questionable look, and asked, "You guys have the day off today?" "It must be nice to be able to stand around, while the rest of us have work to do!" "What were you guys discussing anyway?" John quickly grabbed his coat, and moved slowly toward the front door, "Nothing that can't be tabled for another time. "Mary, would you lock the door before you leave, your mother and I are headed for work." And oh by the way, you have a great day." Mary, turned to go to the kitchen, and before John and Molly exited out the door, she said, "This subject isn't over, we are going to talk about this!" And in a short moment, the house was quiet.
Brooklyn Heights is a posh residential area of elegant brownstones. It's known for its tree-lined promenade along the East River, with unrivaled views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. The neighborhood also attracts visitors and local families to the landscaped walkways and playgrounds of waterfront Brooklyn Bridge Park. Locals gather at the longstanding bars and restaurants along Henry Street. (AI)
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A bicycle speeding with fury, zigzagging through the back streets of Brooklyn Heights, carrying two riders, who are brothers as different, as different can be. The owner of the bike, and the older brother, is Brandon Brooks. He is twenty-five years old, a very independent and ambitious young man. He is determined to get his passenger, his younger brother Robert "Bobby" Brooks to the bus stop on time. Robert, or "Bobby" as he goes by, is twenty-three years old. He is a young man, who is autistic, but is able to step around his condition very well.
As he holds on tightly to Brandon's shoulders, he shouts out, "Slow down Brandon, we're not going to be late, for heaven's sake, we left twenty minutes early!" Brandon slowed down a little and responded, "Now you listen here, you saw how mad dad was yesterday, when I didn't get you here on time, I am not going to let that happen again!" He weaves the bike to the left, to head down one more block to the bus stop. He applies a little more pressure to the pedals as they make their way to the shelter of the bus stop. When they finally get stopped, Bobby shakes himself free from the bike, and Brandon leans his bike up beside the bus shelter. "There we made it in good time, you're not going to miss the bus today!" After getting his bearings, Bobby looked straight at Brandon and said, "Well, what are we going to do until the bus comes, twiddle our thumbs?" "OK" Brandon responds, "So we got here a little early.""There's nothing wrong with that!", "Maybe we could talk a little." "Why don't you tell me how you pulled off getting accepted by the New York Police Department 's "Victim's Unit?" "How in the world, does one who is autistic, land something like that?" Bobby, looking a little offended, speaks right up, "Where have you been? Don't you remember my counselor at school recommended me for this job, because I am good with people!" "I just finished my training to help people after they have experienced some terrible things!" "You know I do very well with people!" Brandon stood by his bike contemplating what Bobby just said. "Bobby, are you sure you can handle this? "This is not just people at school, these are people who are victims of some horrible crimes in New York City!" "How is someone with a condition like yours, going to help people who have been scarred for life?" Bobby became very defensive, "Listen Brandon, just because you are a very good singer, musician, and song writer, does not mean you have all the talent in the family!""I have talent too, and I am going to show you just how much talent I have!" Brandon held his hand up and said, "OK, OK, don't get so bent out of shape, I believe you!""I'm just afraid for you.""It seems like a very overwhelming job, not to say that it is very dangerous!""I just hope it won't be too much for you!"
Just as the bus came around the corner, and stopped to open the door for Bobby to get on, Bobby's last words were, "Don't you worry, I'll handle it just find, and I'll make mom and dad proud!""And I'll show you, and the whole world, that "little Bobby" will make a difference in this world!" With that Bobby got on the bus, along with the other passengers. Brandon reached for his bike, and watched as the bus took his little brother to the big apple, New York City.