Andrea’s Room, Part II
By Joseph Crisalli

But, Andrea didn't stop to chat with her Uncle Chauncey. She didn't even want to be in the same room with their tiny old TV. She wished they could have a big new TV like Mario's. Angrily, she stomped up to her room and shut the door. Throwing herself on the bed, she looked around her bedroom.

"Ooooooo! I hate this room!" Andrea squealed. "Stupid, ugly curtains! Nothing cool in here! Nothing to do!" She began to cry. "I wish we were rich! I wish we had a better life!"

Andrea sat up and wiped her eyes. She took a deep breath and looked around the room.

“There’s nothing to do in here!” She squealed.

She got up and walked to her dresser, pausing for a moment to turn on the clock radio. The station came in with some static and Andrea grunted. “Oh! This old thing!” With one angry motion, she first reached down and unplugged the radio and then knocked it onto the floor. As the radio hit the floor, the front part cracked and the bottom panel sprung open.

Suddenly, Andrea realized what she had done and she started to cry again. “Oh great! Instead of a radio that doesn’t work well, I have no radio at all.”

With that, Andrea stormed out of her room and down the stairs. She was very upset. As she walked gloomily past the living room, her Uncle Chauncey called out to her.

“What wrong, Andie?” Chauncey asked as she walked by.

“Nothing!” Andrea snapped.

Uncle Chauncey looked hurt.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Andrea sighed, walking into the living room and sitting down with her uncle. “What are you watching.”

Chauncey motioned to the television screen with his cane, “It’s a news show.” Chauncey coughed, “Look at those kids. You see, they don’t have enough food to eat.”

Andrea looked at the television. The program showed hungry kids waiting in line for soup with their moms and dads.

Chauncey continued, “For one reason or another, their families don’t have enough money to buy food.”

All Andrea could say was, “Oh.” She didn’t know what it was like to be that hungry. Sometimes, if they ate dinner late, she felt hungry, but she suspected that it wasn’t the same thing the kids on the news show were feeling.

“So,” Uncle Chauncey said, turning off the TV with the remote control, “You want to tell me what’s wrong?”

“I just wish we had nicer stuff here,” Andrea said after thinking for a moment.

“Like what?” Chauncey asked gently.

“Like a new TV and a DVD player and a new stereo system and a new car.” Andrea said.

“And, and, and…” Chauncey laughed.

Andrea frowned. She didn’t like being laughed at.

“Don’t you think those kids on the news show feel the same way?” Chauncey asked.

Andrea frowned, “Well, yeah, but they’re poor.”

“And, we’re not,” Chauncey answered very seriously.

“Oh,” Andrea answered again.

“Let me tell you something, Andrea,” Chauncey began. “When your grandmother and I were kids, we were what you would call poor. We didn’t have a car or a big house. We didn’t have new clothes or shoes. We didn’t have extra money to go to the picture show. We didn’t have a radio or a record player.”

“Record player?” Andrea asked.

“Just think really big CD’s made out of wax,” Chauncey chuckled, “Now let me finish. But, we weren’t unhappy. You know why?”

“No,” Andrea shook her head.

“Because we had the sunshine in the daytime, and the stars at night. We had food on the table. And, while, it wasn’t fancy food, it was warm and filling. We had grass to roll around on. We had butterflies to chase. When it rained, we had puddles to jump in and when it snowed we had a fire in the fireplace to keep us warm. We were always warm when we needed to be, cool when we needed to be, dry and safe. We were proud of the things we had. You know why?”

“No,” Andrea said again.

“Because we worked for them. We helped mama and papa. We helped them with the animals and with the plants. We helped to cook and clean and we took care of what we had! We were thankful for the food in our bellies and the roof over our heads because we knew that not everyone had those things. And because we were thankful for them we took care of them and treated them with respect.”

“But didn’t you ever wish you had a radio? Didn’t you ever wish for new shoes or for money to go to the—whatever you said—picture whatever?”

“Well, yes, of course. But, we had faith that if we kept working and being patient, one day we’d have more. And that was okay because if we never got those things, we already had everything we needed.” Uncle Chauncey responded. “It’s always all right to want more. It’s always all right to have more. But, it isn’t unless you’re thankful for what you already have.”

“I think I understand.” Andrea said after a few seconds.

“But, even more importantly—we always had each other. I had my mama and my papa and my sister. What more could I want?”

“I understand now,” Andrea smiled. “Like I have Virginia and dad and you!”

“Yes,” Chauncey nodded.

“And we have food and a house.” Andrea thought, “And a car and even a TV—an old one, but we have it.”

Chauncey laughed.

“And, that’s more than a lot of people have.” Andrea continued. “And, someday maybe we’ll get more. But, at least we have the things we already do.”

“You’re getting it!” Chauncey smiled.

“And even if we lost all of those things, I’d still be grateful as long as my family and friends were safe.”

“You’ve got it now.” Chauncey nodded again.

Andrea frowned again. “I broke my radio.”

“I see that,” Her father answered as he entered the room, holding the broken radio. He didn’t look angry. He looked disappointed.

“I’m sorry dad,” Andrea said.

“She is, Jim.” Uncle Chauncey added.

“I know. I believe her.” Andrea’s father sighed. “So, do you think I’ll be buying you a new one?”

“No,” Andrea shook her head.

“No is correct. Try living without a radio for awhile. See how you like it. Then maybe this old one won’t look as bad as it did.” Andrea’s father continued.

“Yes sir.” Andrea pouted and looked at Uncle Chauncey who shrugged his shoulders.

“You know I love you, right?” Andrea’s father asked, coming to sit by his daughter and Uncle Chauncey.

“Yes, sir.” Andrea smiled. “And, really what more could I ask for?” With that she hugged her father who looked at first, surprised, and then relieved.

Over Andrea’s head, Andrea’s father caught Uncle Chauncey’s eye and winked at the old man—it was his way of saying “thank you.” Chauncey just smiled.

At that moment, Andrea’s step-mom, Virginia, came in the room and smiled.

“Are we too busy hugging to have some dinner?” Virginia asked.

“Never,” Chauncey laughed.

Everyone scrambled for the kitchen and on her way in, Andrea paused and asked, “Virginia, can I say grace tonight?”

“Sure, Andrea,” Virginia smiled.

“Good, I have a lot I want to thank God for.” Andrea replied. She then took Virginia’s hand and off they went to enjoy their wonderful meal.