Written by: S. Wilhelmina Feenster
Chapter One - Al's Early Years
Al Holden was born to Gabrielle Medina and Max Holden in 1987. His parents loved each other very much, but at time they couldn't stand the ground that the other walked on. Al sensed their pain and acted on it.
When Al entered pre-school, his mother was already facing jail time. Al felt saddened from his mother's absence. He spent more time with his nanny than his own parents. He later developed a nanny complex.
----TheSandbox----
Little Jennifer Rappaport: Hey, Al. My mommy told me that your mommy is in the slammer.
Al: Shut up, Jen-nah-fer!
Little Jennifer Rappaport: Don't yell at me! You have cooties.
Al: Oh yeah? Then why are you in the sandbox with me?
Little Jennifer Rappaport: : Because, [chants] 'Circle, circle, dot, dot, now I got my cootie shot.'
Al: Well, you know what?
Little Jennifer Rappaport: What?
Al: You have cooties.
Little Jennifer Rappaport: No, I don't.
Al: Yes you do.
A little blonde girl ran up and tagged Al. It was Jessica Buchanan and running behind her was Seth Anderson.
Jessi: Come on, Al. You have to catch me.
Jen: Al, don't leave me in this box alone.
Al: You know what, Jenny?
Jen: Don't call me that.
Al: You're a poopy head.
Jen: [tearing up] Al, you hurt my feelings.
A little boy hung from the monkey bars yelling. It was little Cristian Vega, who had overheard what Al had said to Jen.
Cristian: Al, why did you call her that?
Jen: [smiles] See, Al? That was mean. Cristian likes me.
Cristian: No, I don't.
Jen: But you defended me.
Cristian: [laughs] I hate you. You're an ugly terd face.
Jen ran away and cried. Al continued to play in the sandbox. He began to feel bad for hurting Jen's feelings.
Cristian: Hey, Al. You want to come to mi casa later and play Super Mario Brothers?
Al: I can't. I have to go somewhere with my dad.
Cristian: Where?
Al: To see my mom.
Cristian: Is she really in jail?
Al: Yeah. I wish she wasn't. I miss her.
Cristian; You want to go on the swings?
Al: No. I like the sand.
Cristian: Too bad you can't come over later. My brother just got He-man and Skeletor action figures for his birthday the other day.
Al: I bet he don't have the G.I. Joe battle tank.
Cristian: No, but he has almost all of the Ninja Turtles
Al: Cool. I begged my dad for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles backpack, but he told me to go upstairs with Kelly. She's my nanny.
Cristian: My mammi doesn't like us to play with dangerous toys. So my brother takes his birthday money and buys cool stuff.
Al: Doesn 't she know He-man's the good guy?
Cristian: She don't mind He-man so much, but she hates G.I. Joe and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. She once tried to give Antonio a Care Bear, but he gave it to our neighbor's dog as a chew toy. [laughs] That was funny. When's your mommy getting out of jail?
Al: I don't know. My dad don't talk about her that much when we're at home. He just sends me to my room a lot.
Cristian: Oh.
Al: I love my mom, but I hate going to that place.
Cristian: That's kind of like me and the dentist. My mom said I have to. I usually kick and scream, but then mammi gets out the paddle. That thing hurts. Have you ever been spanked?
Al: No.
Cristian: You're lucky. Maybe your dad can marry my mom.
Al: No.
Cristian: Why not? We'd be brothers.
Al: Because I don't want another mommy. I just want mine.
Cristian: But she's in jail.
Al: Not forever.
Cristian: Isn't that your dad over there?
Al: Yeah. Bye, Cristian. [goes to Max]
Max: Hey, hotshot. How was pre-school today?
Al: Okay, I guess. I made a card for mommy today.
Max: Good. Maybe you can give it to her.
Al: Wait a minute. I have to go pick her some flowers.
Max: Go ahead, son.
Al walked over to the fence and knelt down in a patch of wild flowers.
Al: [face lights up] Ohhh! Mommy will love these.
He picked many beautiful flowers and arranged them like a bouquet.
Max: Come on, Al.
Al: [getting up] Okay, daddy. [runs to Max; gasps] Look, daddy! It's a four-leaf clover! [picks it]
Max: You know what that means, right?
Al: Uh-huh.
Max: You keep it and you'll have good luck.
Max drove Al to the Statesville prison. They parked in the visitors section and they both got out of the car. Al looked up at the huge tall building that was keeping the only mother he ever knew and loved prisoner. He looked down at his bouquet of flowers and tried not to be sad in front of his dad. Max put his hand on the back of Al's neck and they entered the prison. The guard took them to the visiting room and let Al go in while Max waited outside. Once Gabrielle was in the room, Al was allowed to visit her. He gave her the wild flowers and she smiled.
Gabrielle: [with a sparkle of joy in her eyes] I'm so happy to see you, sweetheart.
Al: Hi, mommy. I made you a card, too. Happy Mothers' Day.
Gabrielle: [trying not to cry] Thank you, Al.
Al: When are you coming home, mommy?
Gabrielle: [tear ducts watering up] Well, mommy has to live here for little while, but I promise you that I'll come back home to you.
Al: But I want you home now. Tell them to let you go.
Gabrielle: I can't.
Al: But I miss you. Can I live with you?
Gabrielle: I thought you hated it here.
Al: I do, but I love you and want to be with you.
Gabrielle: Your father loves you, too.
Al: I don't want to live with him anymore.
Gabrielle: [concerned] Why?
Al: All he does is send me to my room. He don't play with me anymore.
Gabrielle: Al, your father loves you very much. You know that right?
Al: Yes. I want us to be a family.
Gabrielle: We are.
Al: I mean all of us living together.
Gabrielle: [tears] I know, sweetheart.
Al: Don't cry, mommy. I didn't mean to make you sad.
Gabrielle: I'm not crying, sweetheart. I'm just so happy to have you here.
Al: I wish I could see you everyday. Daddy don't even read me a goodnight story like you did.
Gabrielle: Mommy will come home to you. I promise you that. Now let me see that precious angelic smile. [Al smiled for her] That's my handsome boy. I love you so much.
Al: I love you, mommy.
Guard: Time.
Al: I don't want you to leave me.
g: I'll come home to you real soon, Al. I love you. [blows Al a kiss]
Al: No, mommy! Bring her back!!! I forgot to give her something. Please!
Guard: Come on, kid. [takes Al out of there]
Max: [sees Al's teary eyes] Come here, son. [picks him up and hugs him] I'm here now. It's okay.
Al: [crying] I forgot to give mommy the four-leaf clover. I wanted her to have good luck so that she'd come home.
Max: I know. I want her to come home, too.
Al: Daddy, do you still love mommy?
Max: I never stopped.
Max carried Al out of the Statesville prison and took him home.
To Be Continued...