Six Brothers, One Table

I love all of my memories from the children’s shelter, but if I had to pick my top three, this memory would definitely be one of them.

This story is about something simple but very special: a family getting to be together at suppertime.

There were six brothers living at the shelter. I cared for the two youngest boys in the preschool wing, while the other four boys stayed in the boys’ wing.

At suppertime, all six brothers would come together in the regular shelter dining room. They had their own round cafeteria table where they could sit together, eat, and enjoy spending time with one another.

One of my coworkers worked in the boys’ wing. We supervised the brothers together, taking turns sitting at the table and standing nearby. Most of our attention was on the boys, but I also remember joking around with my coworker a little during that time.

For about three months, those six brothers had the opportunity to spend suppertime together as a family.

Even back then, I knew there was something special about those evenings. Although the boys were living in different wings of the shelter, there was still a place where they could come together and simply be brothers.

Of all the memories I made at the shelter, this is one I have never forgotten.