Tommy and the Tramp

Clickety-clack! clickety-clack! Tommy and his sisters watched as a long freight train rolled down the tracks near their house. “I think it would be a lot of fun to ride on a train,” said Tommy, wistfully.

“Where would you go?” asked his little sister, Ruth.

“I would go far, far away and have lots of adventures. Just look! There’s someone sitting in an empty boxcar! Wouldn’t that be fun?”

“He’s a tramp,” his big sister, Mandy, said scornfully. “They are dirty and lazy, and don’t live anywhere!”

Tommy was silent. He watched the man until the train carried him out of sight. “I wouldn’t be dirty and lazy,” he told Ruth. “I would be an explorer like Daniel Boone and come back with lots of stories to tell you.”

That evening, at the supper table, Tommy announced his plans. “When I get big I’m going to ride trains to new places. I’m going to be an explorer and have lots of adventures!”

“That’s because we saw a tramp on the train today,” Mandy explained. She rolled her eyes. “I told him that they were lazy, but he wouldn’t listen to me.”

“Hopping freight trains is against the law,” Papa said seriously. “Just last week I passed a police car up the street. He had caught two people trying to get on the train.”

“Well, I wouldn’t hop trains then,” Tommy decided. “I would just walk and carry my stuff. Like the tramps that Uncle Mike picks up.”

Mama smiled. “And what would you eat?” she asked, as she piled spaghetti on Tommy’s plate.

“You could carry a sign that says: Will Work for Food,” suggested Mandy.

“Tommy’s always hungry, so he’d have to work a lot!” Ruth added with a giggle.

“I can work! And when I’m a man, I’ll be so strong that I’d get the work done really fast,” Tommy said, confidently.

“That reminds me,” said Papa. “I saw a man carrying a sign on the street corner today.”

“Did you give him something?” Mama asked.

“Well, not exactly,” Papa said. “Since he was willing to work, I offered to take him to Uncle Mike’s place to help us with the framing tomorrow night. I’ll pick him up after work.”

“We’ll plan on serving him some supper before you go over,” Mama said quickly. “I’m thankful the Lord has given us an opportunity to help someone in need.”

Tommy looked from Mama to Daddy in surprise. A real, live tramp was coming to their house? A tingle of excitement ran up his back as he thought of all the exciting stories he might hear. Tommy could hardly wait!

The next afternoon Mama kept the children busy getting ready for their guest. “Tommy, after you vacuum the carpet, the trash needs to be taken out. Ruth, you can help me snap green beans. Mandy, I’m trusting you to have the table set nicely. A few zinnias would look lovely, don’t you think?”

“I don’t know if a tramp would like flowers,” Mandy said with a frown.

“He’s a human being, just like anyone else,” Mama said quickly. “And remember, he’ll be more nervous than we are, so we want to make him feel at home.”

“I wonder where he lives?” Tommy added. “Maybe he hasn’t had supper for awhile. I think he’ll really be hungry!”

At last the car pulled up into the drive. “He’s here!” Tommy shouted, as he hurried to open the door. Papa stepped in, followed by a bushy-bearded man with a brown face. “This is Mr. Gallard,” Papa announced. “Jim, this is my son, Tommy, and my wife, Sharon.”

“Pleased to meet you,” said Mama as she shook the man’s hand.

Tommy stared at the tramp in amazement. He looked just like the fur trappers in his history book, except that he was wearing khaki pants instead of buckskin. “I think he’s a real explorer,” he whispered to Mandy as Papa showed the man where to wash up. “Maybe he even knows Daniel Boone.”

“Silly! Daniel Boone lived a long time ago. Besides, he smells like he’s been smoking or something,” Mandy said, wrinkling her nose.

“Shh!” Mama said. “If he’s addicted to something, it only means that he needs God’s love even more.” She put baby Ben in the highchair and started serving up the soup.

Mr. Gallard sat down next to Papa and everyone bowed their heads during the blessing. Tommy was the first to open his eyes. He noticed that Mr. Gallard still wore his gray hat. Probably he doesn’t know about taking it off inside, he thought, as he began to eat his soup. But the next moment Tommy was all ears to what Papa was saying.

“Jim was telling me about some of the adventures he’s had. He was down south when that big hurricane went through last year.”

“Did you see anything blow over?” Tommy asked.

“Yep, lots of trees,” the bushy-bearded man said. He kept eating his soup and didn’t look up.

“Our tree blew over, too,” said Ruth.

“And I helped Papa cut it up for firewood. I’m big enough to split logs now,” said Tommy.

“That’s good,” said Mr. Gallard.

“So what are your plans, now?” Mama asked.

“I dunno. Came back north ’cause I got sick of Houston. It’s a cement jungle down there. Too many people.”

Cement jungle. That sounded pretty bad to Tommy. “You could explore a real jungle,” he suggested. “They don’t have people in them. Only monkeys and parrots.”

“A real jungle, eh?” Mr. Gillard laughed, but it sound more like a cough. “Them has too many snakes and wild cats for me. No, boy, I’m not aiming for exploring no more.”

“Then why are you a tramp?” Tommy asked, surprised. He felt Mandy’s kick under the table, but it was too late. When the bushy-bearded man looked up, he had the saddest eyes Tommy had ever seen.

“Trampin’ about ain’t no party,” he said at last. “You be a big help to your dad, son. When I was a boy, I didn’t have no dad to work with. My step-dad didn’t want me around and so I got into trouble.”

Everyone was quiet a moment, then Mama said, “The Lord loves you, Mr. Gallard.”

“I know that,” he said, taking a bite of bread. “And you folks are good to have me. Don’t think I don’t know better. I know about Jesus and being a Christian, and I know that smokin’ and drinkin’ is wrong. I’m on the bad track, but it’s pretty hard to quit after twenty-five years.”

Mr. Gallard began to cough. Tommy saw his hand shake as he reached for his glass of water.

“The Lord wants to deliver you, Jim,” Papa said quietly. “When you were telling me about your buddy dying, you know He’s calling after you.”

“Your friend died?” Mama asked. “What happened?”

“He had leukemia,” Papa said.

Mr. Gallard nodded. “He was my roadie, and we went through everything together. I’m gonna miss him.”

Roadie. Tommy liked the sound of that word. It reminded him of adventures.

“What’s a roadie?” asked Mandy.

“He’s the one you know you can trust. You might have a hundred friends, but only one roadie. If you suffer, he suffers with you. I knew he’d split his last cigarette with me.”

Tommy frowned. Who would want to split a dirty cigarette?

Mr. Gallard looked at his plate, then pushed back his chair. “I guess I’d better be going,” he said.

“Won’t you have any dessert?” Mama asked. “We’ve made fresh apple pie.”

“Can’t refuse that,” Mr. Gallard said. But he only ate two bites before he stood up and went to the door. “Thanks kindly for the meal, Ma’am. You have a lovely family. God bless you.”

“Why did he go outside?” Ruth asked. “Are you going to Uncle Mike’s now?”

“Fairly soon,” Papa said. “But I think Mr. Gallard was going out to smoke. He depends on those things, I think.”

“Poor man,” said Mama. “He’s not too strong, either. If he knows better, why does he choose such a life, Thomas?”

“The devil’s got him trapped, Honey.” Tommy looked at his big, kind papa and saw the shine in his eyes. “There’s nothing too hard for Jesus, but he’s got to want to pay the price. Right now he’s making excuses.”

Mama nodded her head. Then she gave Papa’s hand a squeeze. “I thank God for a man like you. Isn’t it far better to live for the Lord after hearing about such a life?”

Papa stood up and gave Mama a kiss. “I’m mighty blessed,” he agreed. “Tommy, I’m expecting you to be the man while I’m away this evening. Remember, fight off all the snakes and jungle cats and keep everyone safe!” Then he winked. “And better not try to jump any trains!”

Tommy grinned. “Don’t worry, Papa. I’ll take care of everyone. I’ve decided not to be a tramp, after all.”