(continued on p. 4) Oer new lie: Eater Meal Tiket $1.59 p. 4 PART 1: “I neer tot I’be omele” p. 3 RED DOORTHE BOWERY MISSION’STRuE sTORIEs fROM ThE MIssION: LIvEs chANgEd EvERy dAy sINcE 1879 V olume 11, Number 1 1-80 0-BOWER Y -1 February 2008 www .bowery .org 17-ear-o ltakeoer reponibilitor raiinitwo iterLainall te time p. 2 NOW I’M IN CHARGE.” One morning, 17-year-old Anthony hugged his mom and left for school. Laterthat day, he got a phone call. “Come to the hospital right now, yourmother is dying,” the voice at the other endof the line told him. Anthony w as stunned. At the hospital the doctor told him and his two young sisters that their mom hadbeen such an extensive crackuser she hadworn out herbody . The kids had no idea their mom even took drugs. When Anthony was a child, his daddisappeared and Anthony took over the role of man of the house. His mom alw ays told them, “Don’t drink; don’t do drugs.” She had been dating a guy the kids didn’t like for quite a while. Anthony suspects the boyfriend got his mom on drugs. At the hospital, the staff told the kids they were too young to go in to see theirmom. Anthony left his 11- and 14-year- old sisters in the waiting room and snuckinto her room. He looked at his mom andsaid, “Mom, is everything going to be okay?” She opened her e yes, looked at him, then took her last breath. Instantly, the reality of what had just happened hit him. “Mom’s dead. No w I am in charge. ” Anthony knew if he told the authorities or went to Social Services, they would take his sisters awa y . He was determined not to let “MOM’S DEAD. TiEater, ena peial it to elp onmen like Antonexperiene te rerretion power ogoin teir lie. “Mom, ieertinointo be oka?” se openeeree, lookeat im, ten ie. Anthony’s life has been so spiritually transformed and uplifted that he wants to spend his life helping other people.
