The House Next Door

Delvin, Darius, and Dashawn, 20-year-old triplets that grew up in foster care never knowing their parents. The three of them were dreamers from the womb, always having big plans to do big things but nothing ever panned out. It only brought disappointment after disappointment. The boys kept each other encouraged during downtimes.

Dashawn the youngest of the three was the most optimistic about life and what it had to offer. He always told his brothers that their parents would suddenly show up and give them the life they always wanted. His brothers were not as optimistic about that, but that didn’t stop Dashawn from believing it. He just always believed differently than his brothers but that didn’t stop him from voicing his opinion.

The boys went to school and worked odd jobs until they were able to afford a place of their own. They had been living in shelters and on the street for quite some time. The boys managed to maintain a great GPA along with doing odd jobs to save money so they could afford a place of their own. Darius brought in the most money because he had a job at a fast-food restaurant. Delvin was into sports, so him maintaining a job and playing sports was out of the question. The three were always in agreement about how things would go in their lives.

Ms. Agnus was the woman who ran the shelter that the boys frequented. She knew their story and was always helping them. Her mom had recently passed and left a small house that she decided to rent to the boys for a minimal monthly amount. The boys were ecstatic about finally having a permanent home of their own.

When Dashawn got the news, he decided to see where the house was located to scope out the neighborhood. Walking down the street reading the numbers on houses, Dashawn was ok with the neighborhood because he figured it was better than shelters and the streets. The outside of the house was a little beat up and small in stature. Dashawn wondered if the ceilings were high enough for his 6’4’’ frame or would he and his brothers hit their heads all the time. He laughed within himself as he continued to investigate the windows of the house. Dust covered the outside of the window and the inside looked just as dusty. He knew some cleaning would have to happen and his brothers would probably push it off on him because he had the most time on his hands. Dashawn didn’t mind though, because he knew they were going to be happy there. He didn’t know why, but he felt drawn to that place.

Continuing to look around the back of the house, suddenly startled, Dashawn thought he heard someone call his name from the house next door. He knew he didn’t know anyone from the neighborhood so how could they know him. He had never been to this part of town before. Dashawn shook it off and continued to explore. The shed in the backyard was old and run down but Dashawn decided to go in to see if any furniture or tables had been left that they could use. Being shook again by the same voice calling his name, Dashawn decided it was time to get out of there.

Over dinner that night, Dashawn informed his brothers about the place but that didn’t take away any of the excitement they had about having their own place. They would get the keys in a couple of days, but in the meantime, Dashawn’s curiosity got the best of him but he was going to go back the next day.

Walking up to the house Dashawn wondered who lived in that old house that knew him. Poking around thinking he was going to hear his name being called but being in the shed for more than thirty minutes, he didn’t hear anything, so he decided to leave.

A couple of months had passed, and the boys had made the house their home. Some of the staff from the shelter had given them some used furniture and they were getting by. One day Dashawn was chosen to do the yard work. A lawnmower was left in the shed, so he was attempting to start it so he could get his chores done. Music blaring in his ears, Dashawn is in another world not concerned about anything...until he was jolted by the touch on his shoulder, he almost jumped out of his skin and ran. Swiftly turning in circles to see how touched him, Dashawn didn’t see anyone and thought his brothers were playing a trick on him. Running into the house out of breath, he saw his brothers doing homework. He knew it wasn’t them. Looking up at him, they asked what was going on. He just shook his head and went back outside to finish cutting the grass.

Days, nights, and weeks passed, and the intrigue grew in Dashawn about the house next door. He ended up telling his brothers about what he was experiencing but they just laughed and thought he was imagining things. He was the dreamer, so of course they would think that. He knew it wasn’t his imagination, so he would just stare out of his window at the old house to see if he saw lights or anyone walking around. He never did. After months of staying up late, Dashawn decided to give up and forget it.

It had almost been a year since they had been in the house and Dashawn was walking from the store one night passing the old house when he heard his name called for the first time in months. Looking at the house, he saw the front door open and a very dim light shining. He knew it was his opportunity to meet whoever it was that was calling his name. Leaving his groceries on the porch, he slowly entered the house to follow the light he’d seen. The flickering of the light was coming from upstairs. He followed the light that led him to the attic of this old house. He quietly called out to see if anyone would answer but was afraid, they would. The attic was filled with old artifacts, clothes, and anything you could imagine. Dashawn’s eyes hit the flickering light that he saw at the front door and wondered how it had gotten into the attic. The light seemed to hoover over an old chest. Inching toward it, Dashawn bends down and opens the chest that appeared to be familiar. Suddenly he heard the laughter of children that caused him to jump. Flashes of him and his brothers playing played like a movie reel before him. He had no idea what he was seeing.

Opening the chest, Dashawn coughed at the dust that hit his face. He picks up a picture of three boys that look like him and his brothers, but confusion swept over him like a blanket. He picked up picture after picture of him and his brothers and was torn on should he run and get them or should he stay and continue to go through the chest. His curiosity caused him to stay. Moving the blankets, Dashawn picked up a little black notebook and opened it. A picture of a man holding him fell out and he began to read the words written on the page.

Dashawn if you are reading this that means you have found your history. I am your grandfather, and you were named after me. Your mother and father died in a car crash on your third birthday and my health wouldn’t allow me to care for the three of you. I had to give you up and I am sorry for that. I knew you would be the one to find this because you are like me, a dreamer and optimistic. I wished I could have watched you grow up, but I guess that wasn’t in God’s plan for my life. I never had much, but I left you what I could. There is an envelope in the bible on the shelf downstairs with $20,000 in it for you and your brothers. It is not much, but I hope it helps you three get started with your life. I loved you three from the moment you entered the world. I was the proudest grandfather in the neighborhood but the saddest one as well when I had to give you all up. You will also find birth certificates and a deed to this house. It belongs to the three of you. I wanted you all to know that you have an inheritance and a history even though you grew up not knowing.

Bolting down the stairs, Dashawn almost went tumbling. Frantically looking for the bible, he grabs it and sure enough, the envelope with the $20,000. Running out of the door and into his house, he was talking a mile a minute to the point his brothers didn’t understand him. When he finally calmed down, he explained what he found. His brothers were in shock but didn’t believe him. He took them next door to the attic so they could see for themselves. Rambling through the chest, they all found a picture of their Father and mother along with the grandfather. The three of them begin to weep looking at their childhood that they thought never existed.

They stayed up there all night going through the attic to see what else they would find about the family they never knew. After going from shelters and sleeping on the street, Delvin, Darius, and Dashawn truly had a place that belonged to them.