HONY Part 5
“One afternoon the Mormons came knocking on our door, and Gene just let them right in. He couldn’t get enough of them. And they loved him too, because Gene really is the perfect audience. He’ll agree with absolutely everything you say. They started coming back week after week. And they were so loving to him. They’d take him out to eat. They’d buy him coffee. And they weren’t asking for money or anything, so my mom just let it happen. Gene eventually decided to join a Methodist church, but we still credit the Mormons for introducing him to God. The entire journey has been so healthy for him. It’s redirected him in such a great way, and Gene has finally found his place.
Last year he graduated from high school. He works at the community foodbank. Things are coming together for him. In Gene’s faith— everything is part of a plan. The Big Guy has got his back, no matter what. And it’s given him so much confidence. Sometimes he still has his moments-- when he goes to a dark place. When he starts feeling scared that he’ll never get married, or have a family. But he always comes back to God—who loves him unconditionally, and forgives him no matter what. For some reason Gene is huge on forgiveness. All his prayers are for forgiveness. I’ve never understood it, but he asks again and again: ‘Please God, forgive me.’ He can be so hard on himself sometimes, for not understanding, and not being perfect. He’ll fixate on the smallest mistake. And when his mind grabs onto something, he’ll carry it around forever.
Last Christmas we were unwrapping presents, and when everyone was finished, Gene announced that there was one last gift. He disappeared into the other room. I’d known something was coming. Because Gene can’t keep a secret, and he’d been building it up for days. ‘You’re going to love your Christmas present so much’ he told me. When he came back he was carrying a giant box, and he was giddy with excitement. He stood over me while I opened it. I remember the room being very silent, because at first I was confused. Was it some sort of prank? But then suddenly it hit me—and I started to cry. It had taken forty years, but he’d finally gotten me that new dollhouse.”
