My Antoine Almost a Decade Later

Antoine 

Antoine

Antoine

Just walking out to my driveway I saw two men exchanging my recycle bin. When one pointed at me and said, “I know you.” He lifted his sunglasses and there he was. Antoine, my Antoine all grown up and right here in front of me. I am sure I startled the gentleman with him as I rushed to hug this heart child of mine. I was honored to be his teacher for 4th, 5th and 6th grade at Mountain School. But my heart for this kiddo and his mom has lasted a lifetime.

Seeing him again after what we soon determined was eight years flooded both of us with emotion. We survived his father’s abandonment, his bad choices, my son’s suicide and so many other unbreakable heartstrings. We chatted for a few moments, hugged and hugged and I held his face in my hands just absorbing the fact that he was there, he was healthy, happy and doing well. After he left I shared with Ron and a friend how special this young man is to me. A few hours later he knocked at our door and wanted my phone number so he could bring his three kids to meet me. His son now eight years old was just born when Antoine brought him to my class to meet. That was the last time I saw them. It was the time I shared that we had lost our Ryan and Antoine sat on the floor crying with me over the loss. Too many times his mom had almost lost him. He grieved as much for the pain she had gone through as for my heartache.

Yesterday we reminisced how he snuck a shar pei puppy to school with its little head peeking out of his backpack. He was bringing it to me for my birthday. Others were surprised when I took Nixon home with me. Antoine’s face beamed as he handed me that adorable ball of cuteness. That is his heart to give to others. Substance abuse almost robbed the world of this incredible man. He is still that same giving heart. When I spoke with him about others struggling he told me to have them contact him and he would help. He attributes his turn around in life to Victory Outreach who took him in and then allowed him to help others. What a guy. I saw his greatness in an eleven year old boy and was so thrilled to reconnect to this twenty seven year old man.  I can’t wait to see his mom and meet his kiddos. We need to have a picnic in Noni’s park when the snow melts. Until then.

In Him,

Joyful

2-8-19A