Dilema.........

Collin and I have found ourselves in quite a dilemma....Collin got a phone call this evening from our neighbor Nii....Nii came to United States from West Africa a couple of years ago...and made his way to Cheyenne about 6 months ago...he and his 7 year old son live in a small house behind our other neighbors house.....we have befriended Nii and his son Jefferson pretty much as we have all of our neighbors....Nii is a single father with his son....we have found that Jefferson really enjoys coming over and visiting Collin when Collin is working in the garage or in the yard...Jefferson can be quite a handful and you have to be pretty stern with him or he will run right over you.......but he is a very nice young man for the most part....anyways so Collin received a call about 6:30 pm ... we were at a company picnic at the time so he did not answer the phone but did return the call to Nii about 7:45 on our way home...Nii asked if Jefferson could come over to our house and watch tv with us....that Jefferson was home alone and that he would be home at about 8:15.....of course Collin said yes...so he went and got Jefferson...as we visited with Jefferson we realized that he is home everyday by himself all day long...while his dad is at work....we also put together that he hadn't eaten since breakfast....during the school year when he is done with school he goes to the boys club until his dad gets off work...but in the summer he told us that the boys club is closed........so he just hangs out.....the most alarming part of the whole evening is that he sat on the couch eating some toast we fixed him....his dad made it home and stopped by the house....Jefferson never got off the couch....Collin meet Nii at the door and said that we would send him home as soon as he finished his toast....once Jefferson finished his toast he said he wanted to stay and watch another show with us......Nii is a good man and I am sure doing what he thinks is o-k....but a 7 year old home alone all day by himself is just not o-k.....with our own child coming we really can't take on this responsibility...and I know that as nice as Nii is he is the type that would not have any problem taking advantage of the situation....but the bottom line is we can't sit by and just because its not convenient for us or worry about being taking advantage of...there is a little boy here that matters...........and this situation needs to be corrected...so after much discussion with Collin we are going to make some phone calls tomorrow and see what programs are available for kids like Jefferson...whether its the Ymca or other community programs that might be available...even if its just for 3 or 4 hours a day....its better than nothing.....I am sure Nii has not looked into these programs due to the cost.....so I think if we can find a program....between the City Fire Department, #1 Properties, our own money, and perhaps a scholarship from these programs, and of course Nii will need to put in some monetary effort toward the expense...we should be able to find a solution...if presented correctly to Nii he will see it as a positive thing.......and I am sure somewhat relieved with the help and knowing that Jefferson is being looked after......even though its not our problem......its not fair to a 7 year old boy ........its not his fault.........and the right thing to do is to figure out how to help this young man period............so that's what we will do............will keep you all posted...keep Jefferson in your prayers