Little Eddie Victim of Juvenile Injustice

Eddie was born in a poor family. His mother was blind, and his father worked doing odd jobs in the community. His father Bo would take Eddie with him when he would steal. It all started with sealing food to feed the family. They would steal food out of farmers’ fields. Bo would always say “It’s okay they have plenty and will never miss it.” Eddie was twelve years old when Bo died. He felt it was his responsibility to provide for the family. When things would be tight Eddie would steal food out the farmers’ fields and sale it on side of the road. He lived in a farming community. There was always food available to be stolen. He would wait until the peanut farmer turned over the peanuts. The farmer would leave the peanuts in the field to dry before taking them to the market to sale.

Eddie went back at the beginning of darkness, sneak into the fields, and load his wagon with peanuts. He would always get the ones close by the road and near his house. The house was surrounded with fields. He would take his wagon and pull it through the woods to his house. He would pull each one of the peanuts off the vine and put them in a big pot. He would get them ready for the next day. He would sit by the road and sale boiled peanuts. He made money to buy food for his family. There were things he could not get out of a farmer’s field.

 the food stolen out of the farmers field was canned and prepared to eat later. The canned food was placed in the store house. Eddie would also plant a garden and take care of it every year. The entire family would help take care of the garden. He would plant peas, beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, greens, squash, and other vegetables that he could not steal from the farmers’ fields. He loved having farm animals. Chicken for fresh eggs, milk cow for milk, goats, pigs, ducks, turkeys, and other animals to provide for the family. The family never had any pets like dogs and cats. Bo always said, “If you can’t eat it the animal don’t feed it.” All the farm animals were pets to the children.

When the farming season was completed. The family ate the vegetables out of the store house. Eddie’s family was poor. Every year for Christmas he would always get one orange, one apple, a small bag of candy, and one stalk of sugar cane for Christmas. He was happy. The only time he ever had candy was at Christmas. Christmas Dinner was always a big meal. Everyone had more than enough to eat. Each of the children had there one special piece of chicken. Eddie would eat a leg, and his little sister Carol would eat the chicken feet. Eddie would raise chickens and every year he killed one for Christmas dinner. The vegetables for Christmas Dinner were from the store house. During the summer Eddie would always cut the grass for the seniors in the neighborhood. One-year Eddie was surprised when Henry, one of the seniors in the neighborhood, gave him a BB gun for Christmas. He was so happy. He learned how to hunt with that BB gun. Eddie would kill squirrels, rabbits, birds, and other animals to provide food. He was determined as a boy to provide for his family.

It was during the Summer Henry took Eddie fishing. All of Henry’s children were grown and had moved away. Henry would always spend time with Eddie and tried to be a father figure to him. Henry never knew about Eddie stealing the food. During the daytime Eddie would work in the fields picking vegetables for the farmers. Everyone in the neighbor assumed that the farmers had given Eddie the food. The farmers’ paid him money and he would always give it to his mother. One thing Eddie never learned was if he would have only asked for the food. The farmer would gladly give it to him. Eddie would always do whatever he could to help the neighborhood. He would never ask for anything.

Eddie worked in the Tobacco Fields during the Summer. He had a brilliant idea to start a snack shop. He would ride his bicycle twenty miles to the grocery store. He bought all kinds of snacks and sodas. He buys snacks by the carton and soda by the case. He would get up every morning before going to work. He put ice in the cooler with drinks and his snacks in a bag. All his items were put into his little red wagon. He would tie the wagon on a rope behind his bicycle and go to work. When at work he would sale all the items to the other Tobacco works. He did not make a large amount of money in his enterprise, but it was extra money for the family. He was always producing ideas to support the family.

During the Spring Eddie had another enterprise, Raccoon Trapping. Henry helped him build traps out of wood and screen wire. He had about two traps. Just before dark he goes into the woods behind the house and places the traps. Sometimes he would catch possums. Sometimes he would catch Raccoons.

Eddie would clean all the Raccoon and Possum he caught during the night and sale them in the community during the day. The Raccoon feet were left on them to identify them as Raccoon’s instead of Cats, and Dogs. He sold the animals and saved his money to buy a rifle. With a rifle he would kill more game than just birds and squirrels. Times were hard during those days. Eddie always made sure his family had enough food to eat.

Eddie now had a profitable enterprise working in the Tobacco Field, and Raccoon Trapping. As Seasons changed Eddie would always find another enterprise. He would sale produce and watermelons on the side of the road. Work in the farm’s fields. Winter Deer season was approaching. Eddie had a new rifle and never killed a deer before. He watched the deer through the bedroom window for years. He dreamed on day of being able to kill one and have it for Christmas Dinner. His little sister Carol was looking forward to seeing Santa Clause.

Eddie went into the woods and cut a cedar tree for a Christmas Tree. Coral was excited Santa was coming soon. Eddie helped Coral decorate the tree. Paper was cut and Mama made glue out of flour and water. The paper was glued together to make interlocking rings. The strand of rings was placed around the Christmas Tree like garland. Eddie helped her cut paper and make snowflakes for the ornaments. It was a simple tree with no lights. In the eyes of Carol, it was the perfect Christmas Tree. Eddie went hunting on the Christmas Eve and killed a deer for Christmas Dinner. Carol cried because he teased her and said it was Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Mama wiped the tears away from Carols face and told her it was not Rudolph and Santa would be there soon.

Santa had come and left presents under the Christmas Tree. Carol woke up that morning running through the house. She woke everyone up so she could open her present. This year was different. Every year there was brown bags under the tree for all the children. The bag contained an apple, orange, banana, candy, and peanuts. This year there was wrapped box under the Christmas Tree. Carol did not know it was for her. The box had her name on it. But Carol did not know how to read. Eddie was excited that day. He could not wait to see Carol open her present.

Carol opened her present. To her surprise it a Teddy Bear. A brown bear with a black nose. Carol was excited. She hugged the bear. Eddie was happy to see Carol excited. Eddie had saved his money he made from picking up pecans for the neighbor. This was the first time Carol had ever received a toy. She slept with the teddy every night. She took the teddy with her everywhere she went. It was her best Christmas ever. Eddie had proven that he could provide for the family.

The big day was coming. His grandparents were coming to visit. Eddie had not seen his grandparents in years. This was a special occasion for him. Eddie had to make sure they provided the best meal possible for the family. Eddie went into the farms field to shoot a rabbit. His grandparents love to eat rabbit. The farmer heard something outside and walked out the front door. Eddie heard two shots. Eddie panicked and thought the farmer was shooting at him. Eddie shot toward the farmer with his BB gun and ran home. Eddie was scared. He had been shot at. The next day Eddie heard the farmer had been shot and killed. Eddie started crying. He did not know what to do. He was a 13-year-old scared little boy. Eddie did not mean to kill the farmer. He only wanted to get out of that field alive. The farmer was shooting at him.

The police investigated the scene. The tracks from the bicycle and red wagon lead them straight to Eddie. The police knocked on the door and asked to speak to Eddie. Eddie ran and hid in the closet in his bedroom. His mother called for Eddie to come, and he did not say a word. He was scared. The police officer walked into Eddie’s bedroom and saw him hiding in the closet. The police told Eddie to come out of the closet they only wanted to talk to him. Eddie told the police that he had been stealing food from the farmers to feed his family. The police were not interested in a little boy stealing food. They were concerned about the murder of farmer Jim.

The police asked Eddie, “Son do you know farmer Jim?” Eddie replied, “Yes he lives across the field.” The police explained to Eddie that farmer Jim had been murdered. He did not understand what murder was. Eddie asked, “What do you mean murdered?” The police explained he had been killed. They asked Eddie did he know anything about it. Eddie told them he was in the field when he heard two shots coming from farmer Jim’s house. I do not know who shot Jim. Eddie said, “I had my BB Gun and shot across the field.” Eddie was arrested and taken to jail for further questioning.

Carol was standing in the corner of the room. She saw the police taking Eddie to jail. Carol started begging, “No don’t take my Eddie! Please do not take my Eddie! Eddie please do not leave me! Take me with you!” Eddie cried. He reached down and wiped the tears away from the face of Carol. He hugged her and said, “Everything is all right I will be back soon. You be a good girl for Mama.” Carol looked up at the police and said, “I will give you my Teddy, please don’t take my Eddie.” Eddie told Carol Teddy is yours and he needs you. The police walked out the door with Eddie. Carol took Teddy by the arm and ran into the bedroom crying. Carol lay on the bed with Teddy and cried herself to sleep.