Earlier this 7 days, individuals recognized that a single of their most loved places for arts, crafts, and materials to assist their hobbies was all of a unexpected empty.
Hobbyland, a staple in Clintonville for the previous 72 a long time, seems to have closed for superior. In 2020, the regional arts and hobbies retailer moved from their Graceland area immediately after almost 70 decades there, to proper down the street at 3319 N. Higher St. And now, a few of years later on, the High St. house appears to be gone, way too.
Although the operator did not reply for remark, Hobbyland’s cellular phone sends callers immediately to voicemail, their store has been cleared, and bordering businesses have confirmed that Hobbyland is closing their storefront. An personnel who operates on the same avenue stated that the operator, Andrew, told them Hobblyland was transitioning to an on the internet retail outlet instead of a brick & mortar a single. Their web site is nevertheless up & functioning.
Hobbyland was a staple for people passionate about toy airplanes and cars and trucks for modeling, racing, and collecting, and they’ll surely be missed.
I Found a Boy in My Backyard—His Shocking Secret Will Leave You Speechless
I Found a Boy in My Backyard—His Shocking Secret Will Leave You Speechless
I felt so sorry for him—a seven-year-old boy. I gave him a glass of water and a seat as I led him inside.
I saw the tiredness in his eyes and the dirt on his face as he drank. “Tommy, where do you live? Do you know your address?” I asked gently. He shook his head. “I was with my uncle, but he said he couldn’t take care of me anymore. He left me on the street.”
It was worse than I had imagined. Even though I had so many questions, my main concern was keeping Tommy safe. I didn’t call the police right away because I didn’t want to scare him. I told him, “We’ll figure this out. Let’s get you some food and cleaned up first.”
After a good meal and a bath, Tommy seemed more relaxed. He even managed a small smile. I called a friend who works in social services, and they promised to come over to help.
While I waited, I gently asked Tommy more questions. He shared some details about his life before being left on the streets, mentioning his mother, Lisa, and a sad story of abuse and being abandoned.
Soon, my friend arrived and spoke kindly with Tommy. After what felt like hours, she came back, her face full of determination. “Tommy needs to go somewhere safe tonight,” she said. “I’ll set him up in temporary foster care and start searching for his family.” She added, “But we need to handle this carefully.”
I nodded, feeling both relieved and sad. Tommy had already found a place in my heart, but I knew he had to leave. Over the next few days, I stayed in touch with my friend and got updates. They found Lisa, his mother, who had been searching for him for a long time. She had overcome her own struggles and was ready to bring him home.
The reunion was emotional. I cried as I watched Tommy and his mother hug each other tightly. Lisa thanked me, and we exchanged contact information to stay in touch. In the following months, Lisa kept me updated. She was rebuilding her life, and Tommy was thriving.
One sunny afternoon, Lisa called and invited me to Tommy’s birthday party. When I arrived, Tommy greeted me with a huge smile. Lisa hugged me again, expressing her gratitude. The day was filled with laughter and celebration. As I watched Tommy playing with his friends, I felt a deep sense of peace and happiness. What began as a chance encounter had turned into a life-changing experience for Tommy, Lisa, and me.
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