A Gift

by Chris Wesolick

When I was a kid, I never played any kind of sports and was  into drugs and alcohol before I was in my teens.  During those times, I lied and stole from my parents on numerous occasions.  My first month at EAI, I went with some of my fellow clients to play SRC Softball.

The park was near my family’s home so I asked my parents who were babysitting my niece to bring her out so she could see me play.  When they arrived I was already playing in the outfield so all three of them sat on the bleachers together.  I guess my niece quickly became bored because within minutes she had my father escorting her to the playground.  Not my mom though, she remained in the bleachers with a smile on her face so big I could literally see it from left center field.

I soon realized that not only had I stolen from them physically but I had also stolen from them emotionally.  My mother never had a chance to see her little boy play ball it was a joy I had robbed her of.  Although, at 30 years-old, I consider myself a man, in her eyes I’ll always be her little boy.  So thanks to the EAI Alumni Association, she finally got to see me play ball and some of that joy was returned.