Sometimes in life, things happen that we have no control over. There are events in our lives that we can control and some events that happen, whether we want them to or not. Each event, each person, each relationship, are all pieces of a giant puzzle called life. Throughout our lifetime, we try putting different pieces together, hoping to find the perfect fit. This story is about two friends, who represent two pieces of the puzzle. Individually, they are just two random pieces of the universe, but together, they will form a bond that will last forever.
This story began, many years ago. It was April 12, 1993, when Marcus Drake and his mother, Sally, moved into their new house on the Southside of Chicago. It was a small two-bedroom house, but it was all that they could afford. Marcus’s father walked out on them one year earlier, and Sally was trying to make ends meet with just her salary as a registered nurse.
Marcus did not need much room, as he had just turned three years old. As they began unpacking boxes, they were welcomed into the neighborhood by their next-door neighbors, Keith and Linda Spencer. Marcus took a liking to them immediately. He took Keith by the hand, and took him to see his bedroom.
Keith was the regional sales manager for General Foods Corporation, and he spent a lot of time traveling around the country. Linda was an elementary school teacher, but had decided to take a few years off to start a family. She was five months pregnant, and their first baby was due in September.
While Sally and Linda talked, the subject of childcare came up. Sally asked Linda if she knew of anybody in the neighborhood, who she might approach about watching Marcus while she was at work. Sally would be working the 7-3 shift at the hospital, and would need someone to watch Marcus from 6am to 4pm. Linda told Sally that she would ask around the neighborhood. She had an idea, but she wanted to talk it over with Keith, before she said anything.
The next day, Linda told Sally that she and Keith talked it over, and that she would like to take care of Marcus, while Sally worked. Both she and Keith had taken an instant liking to him. They discussed the details of the arrangement. Linda knew that Sally could not afford to pay a lot, but she told her that she needed the experience of taking care of children, and therefore would not charge too much. Sally knew that Linda was keeping the fee low because of Sally’s financial situation, and she was very grateful to her and Keith.
When Sally, asked Marcus if it would be okay if Linda took care of him while she was at work, Marcus said yes, as a big grin spread across his face. And so, a friendship developed between the two families.
From the very first day, Marcus began talking to the baby inside Linda’s abdomen. When she found out that it was a girl, she and Keith decided on the name, Erica. Each day, Marcus would talk to Erica, while gently rubbing Linda’s belly.
Marcus also became extremely close to Keith, as he did not remember his own father. Keith became much attached to Marcus as well. They did many things together. They played catch, built forts out of wooden blocks and did many other guy things.
On Saturday, September eleventh, Linda went into labor, and Keith drove her to the hospital. Sally was working at the hospital, so they took Marcus with them. Since Sally was a nurse, she had told Marcus where babies came from. Keith and Linda agreed to let him stay in the birthing suite with them. That afternoon, Marcus watched with wide-eyed wonder, as Erica Spencer came into this world, kicking and crying as loud as her little lungs would let her.
When Sally’s shift was over, she went to Linda’s room to pick up Marcus and take him home. Marcus, however, did not want to go home. Finally, he conceded, but insisted on saying goodbye to Erica first.
Fifteen minutes later, the bassinette holding baby Erica, was brought into Linda’s room. As Linda, held her daughter, Marcus kissed her on the forehead, and then whispered something in Erica’s ear. Sally could not hear what it was, but Linda did hear and smiled. She later told Sally what Marcus whispered to the baby and Sally laughed.
Once Linda brought Erica home, Marcus became very protective of the baby. When Keith was out of town, or at the office, Marcus acted like the man of the house. He could not bear to see Erica unhappy. He was a big help to Linda. He helped change Erica’s diaper, and helped with her baths, and he was always playing with her and talking to her when she was awake.
Over the next two years, Marcus and Erica were inseparable. When it came time for Marcus to start kindergarten, he did not want to go, but Sally, Linda and Keith convinced him that he would have a lot of fun at school.
They were right. Marcus made many friends at school, and he had a great time. However, as soon as he got off the school bus, he ran next door, to tell Erica everything that he had learned that day.
As Marcus got older, he became even more protective of Erica. They were as close as siblings. They were best friends. By the time Erica was four years old, she was reading at a first grade level, because Marcus constantly read to her. He also helped her with her numbers, colors and shapes.
When Erica started kindergarten, she was at the top of her class. Since she went to a full day kindergarten, she rode the bus to and from school, with Marcus. Marcus was always keeping an eye on her. One day, when two ten year old boys began teasing Erica, Marcus, who was only eight years old and small for his age, stood up to the bullies and told them to stop picking on the younger kids. When all of the other little kids on the bus began cheering for Marcus, the bullies quietly sat back down and never teased anybody on the bus again. Erica, who was sitting next to Marcus, reached over, kissed him on the cheek, and thanked him.
Later that afternoon, after school, Linda also thanked Marcus for protecting Erica. Marcus did not see why everybody was making such a big deal. He just did what he knew was right.
Not only was Marcus close to Erica, but he was very close to her dad, Keith as well. Keith was like a father to Marcus. He volunteered to help coach any sports team that Marcus was part of. They also did many other guy things. They went camping and fishing together, and Keith taught Marcus how to defend himself. He also taught him how to play a variety of sports, how to ride a bike, and how to rollerblade. They built models together, and watched ball games on television together.