Jude

Jude sat in his rickety plaid chair his grandfather made back in nineteen sixty-four. This chair was one of the only things he owned. As he sat in it, he knew it would soon be thrown in the dumpster with his others belongings. The only belongings he could keep were the clothes on his back, the sneakers on his feet, the bag on his shoulder, the handful of SD cards and phone in his pocket and the camera around his neck.

This camera, Jude just paid for, cost the remaining amount of money in his checkings account, three thousand dollars. If Jude knew that all his money had depleted would he have made a different choice to buy this camera? Probably not. Photography is his life. Well, it was.

Jude, at the age of eight picked up his first camera, a Polaroid 600 Film Camera to be exact, and he knew, his father knew, and if his mother were alive Jude was certain she would know too, photography was his life. Ever since then, twenty years ago, he never left anywhere without a camera close by. And, now, being evicted from his house, Jude still had a camera near him. It was his heart and soul and he was sure he would die if anything happened to it.

The men who earlier took his belongings were back. Jude looked up through glossy eyes and watched them in their neon green shirts and cargo pants fold their arms. “Time to leave.” The shorter of the two said. Jude sighed and stood slowly, never wanted to get rid of that plaid chair. He watched as one man stood in front of the chair and lifted it. Jude’s breath hitched.

“There’s a shelter nearby if you’d like to stay there for the night.” The short one said. He looked down at his watch and then shrugged. “I advise you go now. It gets a little hot and hectic out there.”

Jude knew that shelter. He used to walk by it everyday, passing it just like any other snobby New York citizen did. Once, he stopped and captured a photo of the people in that line. He never imagined it would one day be him standing in that line waiting for a bed to sleep in. He felt sick to his stomach. He nodded at the two men and mumbled, “thank you,” before slipping out of his room.

He didn’t bother to look back because there was no more looking back. He had to look forward. When he exited his old apartment, he noticed the graying clouds that reflected over the Empire State building. The shelter was fifteen blocks away. He knew he would never make it inside, what with the hundreds of other homeless who most likely had the same thought he did, stay at the shelter until the storm dies down.

Jude looked left then right before choosing left, the part of town that was cleaner and had normal civilization. Before he moved he looked up at the clouds on the tall building and he couldn’t help but lift his camera to his eye and snap at the reflection of the building. Without looking at the picture, because he already knew it was good, he walked.

He must have walked for hours because he had already inserted a fresh SD card into his camera. When he looked up from his camera one last time, Jude, stepped back in surprise. He was in Central Park. There were people just like him here. They had stories, just like him. They didn’t have homes, just like him. And they probably had dreams. Just. Like. Him.

Jude pointed his camera at the man sitting on the bench rocking a cart full of everything from newspaper to coats and almost snapped when he heard a voice behind him. “What are you doing?” Jude braced. He turned on his heel and looked down. There was a boy. He had bright eyes blazing and hungry, hair going every direction possible. It was long and matted. His clothes were destroyed and he didn’t have any shoes on. When Jude looked hard enough under the dirt and grime on the boy he could see the beauty in his eyes, the adolescence in his body. “What’s that?” The boy asked.

Jude, bent down and explained to the boy, “this is my camera.”

“What does it do?” The boys head tipped to the side almost touching his ear.

“It takes pictures.”

“Can it take a picture of me?”

“Sure.” Jude backed up from the boy and sat on one knee. He pointed the camera at the boy and to Jude’s surprise the boy tilted his head back up, puffed his chest out and smiled, not caring that one tooth was gone. Jude smiled too as he took the picture. “Done.”

The boy looked up. “Can it get wet?”

“No. Why?”

“Well, it’s about to rain. Right now.” Before Jude could put his camera away the boy gripped his arm and led him away.

“Where are we going?” Jude asked, trying to break free but the boy’s grip was way too strong.

“Safety.” The boy clipped.

Jude looked up at the sky and saw lightning. His eyes got big and without a problem he followed the boy.

The boy led him to a secluded spot. There was a tent, ratted and beaten but held up by three sticks. There were clothes on top of the tent. The boy led him inside. It was surprisingly clean, with a sleeping bag and a huge snacks in the corner. “This is my home.” The boy announced.

“How’d you get all this stuff?” Jude asked, perplexed.

“There’s a woman who comes here sometimes and brings me this stuff. I really like her. She teaches me everything. When we do math and I get the answer right, she’ll give me something. But even when I get it wrong she’ll give it to me later. Every time she comes she asks me to stay with her. But I don’t. I like to move around. I have a feeling she would keep me locked up.”

“What’s your name? I’m Jude.”

“Haven. Like safe Haven. it means safe place.” Haven shrugged and scooted closer to Jude. “Can I see your…pictures?” Haven asked.

A crack of thunder exploded and the rain began to pour. It must have rained for an entire day. Haven and Jude began best friends in that period. Jude showed Haven every single last picture he owned. He taught him how to point and shoot and how to record videos on it. Then, Haven began telling Jude about himself. He told him about his life. How when he was seven he was thrown away to fend for himself by a psychotic mother who drank and smoked every hour of that. He told Jude he was eleven and had been living on his own for four years, making friends with the local homeless. He also told Jude about how he wanted to be a captain of a big ship and live on a boat for the rest of him life.

When Haven said that Jude remembered the new job he had interview over the phone for a couple of weeks ago. How he wished he would be able to take Haven with him. “Why don’t you want to live inside a home?” Jude asked. Haven had shared a Snickers with him that the lady had given him.

“I do. But no one wants me.” Haven shoved the candy bar in his mouth and chewed.

“What about the lady who talks to you?”

“I considered it once. Then, I followed her home and there was a big man who was at the door. He had a cigarette in one hand and a Bud Light bottle in the other. I found out from the lady that the man was her husband. I do not want to live with the male version of my mother. When someone wants me who won’t hurt me, I’ll go with them without a second glance.”

Jude looked at Haven.

So they talked for a long time until Haven fell asleep. Jude closed his eyes and woke up with a bird chirping and his phone ringing. He looked over at Haven who was turned on his hide, chocolate leftovers all over his mouth. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and pressed Accept to the unknown number. “Hello.”

Hello. This is Sarah from Carnival Cruise lines for a Jude Sampson.

Jude’s heart raced. He peeked back at Haven and then slipped out the tent and onto the wet grass. “This is he.”

We here at Carnival would like to thank you for your application and over the phone interview. We would like to congratulate for your new job as a photographer on our ships.

Jude gulped. He thought about Haven and how he would love to take me his dreams come true.

If you wish to accept this offer we provide on ship housing and food.

The immediate thing that came to Jude’s mind was, “I have a son. Will he be able to come?”

Do you have any other family that could take your child?

“No. We’re homeless.”

Let me ask.

While the woman put Jude on hold, Jude thought about if he could really put up with a life with a child he didn’t even know. Could he take on the role as a father when they both never had one before? Would they even let him bring his child? He realized then and there that yes he would be a father and he would take Haven with him on a cruise ship. It was his dream and it was like Jude was his angel ready to save Haven’s life. If Carnival said no, he would decline then and there. He sent a short prayer to the Big Man and knew he made a hard decision and he hoped that Haven would go along.

Mr. Sampson?

“Yes?” Jude ran his fingers through his hair.

Carnival, under your predicament will allow you and your son on board with us. We don’t usually do this but we are about changing some ways. When you come up to the closest port near we will have you fill out forms for the both of you. It was as if a weight was lifted off his shoulders. Jude looked up as the tears began streaming down his face.

“Thank you. I’ll be there as soon as possible.”

The lady gave Jude directions and a time to be back by and Jude hung up.

When he got back to the tent, Haven was still sleep. Jude nudged him and then watched him stir. “Hey buddy. Listen. I have some news.”

“You’re leaving. Aren’t you.?” Haven shot up.

“No.” Jude began to explain his conversation and his plans. “And I know we just met but I want to make your dreams come true. So,” he put on a big smile, “what do you say?"

 

And so, two weeks later, Haven and Jude, who both made huge decisions, smiled and waved at the cruisers as they boarded the fun ship.