Chapter 3
When we arrived in Dallas, Ms. V pulled up to a nice house two-story house. As we got out of the car Ryan turned to me and said,
“What if he doesn’t like us Jason?”
“Everything will be fine Ryan.” I reassured.
As we walked into the house Mr. Robert was sitting in the family room watching tv.
“Robert, I’m home,” Ms. V said.
Robert turned and looked at us all and said, “Oh who do you have with you Virginia? Can I talk to you in the other room please?”
Mr. Robert and Ms. V went into the other room and closed the door. I listened as they spoke.
“Virginia, what were you thinking bringing those boys here?” Mr. Robert said.
“Robert, what was I to do? The boys were on the side of the road begging for help,” Ms. V replied.
“Where did you pick them up?”
“On a back road I was taking through Pennsylvania so I could avoid a traffic jam that was on the main interstate.”
“Well, what are we supposed to do with them Virginia?”
“Robert please! You should have heard Jason and Ryan’s story of what they had been through at this boys’ home they were in. I couldn’t just leave them on the side of the road. I’m at least gonna need a few days to help the boys settle in and go down to the police station so the boys can tell what happened to them.”
“Okay sweetheart. They can stay for a few days while we figure everything out with Child Services. I guess I should go introduce myself.”
Ms. V and Robert came back in the family room where Ryan and I were waiting.
“Hello boys, I’m Robert Armell.”
“Hi, Mr. Armell. I’m Jason and this is Ryan.”
“No please call me Robert, okay?”
“Okay.” Jason and Ryan said together.
Ms. V took Ryan and I upstairs and showed each of us our bedrooms.
“Okay Ryan this is your room.”
“Thank you,” Ryan responded.
“You’re welcome I will come check on you in a while and let you know when dinner is ready. Okay, Jason your room is down the hall there to the left.”
“Thanks, Ms. V.”
“I’m gonna get that food started okay? “Come find me in the kitchen if you need anything” Ms. V said.
“Okay,” I said.
It was strange going to bed that night in an unfamiliar place, but a few days later, Ms. V took Ryan and I down to Social Services. As I sat between Ms. V and Ryan in the waiting room I looked around at the other children sitting, waiting to be seen. Their sad faces had me hoping everything went well today. Ms V dressed us both up in hopes of making a good impression. I wore a blue, buttoned up shirt, dress khaki pants and black shoes. Ryan sat next to me dressed in a white shirt, blue jeans, and black Chuck Taylor sneakers. Ms. V was dressed in a nice navy-blue suit with a white blouse and matching heels. She honestly looked very nervous as she was biting her nails. A short, chubby woman with bad skin and big thick glasses came into the waiting room and called our names.
“Mrs. Armell, come with me please,” she said to Ms. V.
As we walked down the hallway past the rows of cubicles, Ryan looked at me with a look of concern. I put my arm around him to assure him everything was gonna be okay. I whispered in his ear, “don’t worry, I would never let them tear us apart.”
As we entered the social worker’s office, Ms. Virginia, Ryan and I sat down on an old couch that looked like it needed to be thrown in the garbage.
“Hi, I’m Miss Burns, and I’ve been assigned your case. I have looked over all the information that was provided by you and the District Attorney’s Office. I know your husband was deployed yesterday, but he did come down a few days ago to sign the required adoption documents. As long as neither boy has next of kin to come forward and contest the adoption, then it will become legal as soon as the judge signs the petition we send over to the court. So, Jason and Ryan are now officially your sons!”
Miss Burns stood and shook Ms. V’s hand.
“Congratulations and good luck,” she enthused.
“Thank you so much Miss Burns. Come on boys let’s go,” Ms. V said with a smile.
Ms. V stood and hugged Ryan and I with tears streaming down her face. When we got in the car Ms. V called Ms. V called and left a message for Robert to call home. The phone rang a few hours later.
“Oh Robert, I am so happy the boys get to stay with us. You know I always wanted children, but God has now blessed us with these boys because He knew we couldn’t have any of our own.”
“You’re right honey! I know I’m away right now, but I want you to know I love you! Let me talk to Jason for a minute.”
“Of course, and I love you too.”
Ms. Virginia handed me the phone as she started the car.
“Hey Jason, I would be there right now if I could. I wanted to let you know that I am very happy you and Ryan get to stay with us. You are the man of the house while I’m away, so I’m leaving you in charge to take care of everyone. I will be home as soon as my tour here is over,” Robert said.
“Don’t worry I can handle everything. Stay safe Mr. Robert.”
Within days Ms. V had contacted the police and news media. Ryan and I both got to tell our stories of what we had witnessed at the Graveyard State Boys Home. Both of us testified against Captain Johnson and Warden Litwalk. Captain Johnson testified against Warden Litwalk for a reduced jail sentence, but it didn’t benefit him for long. He was stabbed to death in the prison shower by another inmate a month after he arrived. Later I found out Warden Litwalk took the easy, cowardly way out by hanging himself in his cell. The media attention from the case helped many of the boys from the home get adopted by good families from all around the country. Graveyard State Boys Home was shut down permanently.