The Family Under the Bridge

The Family Under the Bridge Natalie Savage Carlson

First imagine that it's present day, present time Decatur.

Now imagine, a young mother of three children and a dog. She is a widow. She has been forced to take a job, but the wage is not sufficient to provide shelter for the family. Afraid that the authorities will take her children from her and split them up, she takes them out of school and moves them to live under the safety of a bridge over the river.

She must leave the children alone everyday while she works. It is up to the oldest daughter to maintain order. I'm guessing she is not yet ten. She cares for her younger brother, possibly eight. And her little sister, I'll say a young five-year-old. They have strict instructions to stay hidden under the bridge.

Now imagine a homeless man. He is the kind of man who chooses this life. It is his choice not to be bound by a job. His possessions amount to what he can carry in his grocery cart. I imagine him to look like a thin Santa Claus. You've seen them before. Long white/grey hair and beards. And he is on his way back to his winter dwelling. The bridge.

Of course he finds three young children have usurped his particular section of bridge. And he wants nothing to do with them. You see, children have a way of wrapping you around their little finger and the bum wants nothing to do with responsibility. Of course it's too late once he feeds them from his cart.

But help is on the way! Would you want your children befriending a homeless man while you're away at work? I didn't think so. The whole scenario is a bit scary really.

Welcome to a 1959 Newbery Honor winner. It is not the streets of Decatur, but the streets of Paris. It is not today, but the 50's. Still! What a strange story. Kind of "it takes a village" including the town bum. And the gypsies. And the dockworkers. And the nuns. Actually there are several helpful bums including a Santa Claus at a department store.

And what would these children like Santa Claus to bring them? A home. And not just any home. Preferably a little gypsy house on wheels. Of course, the brother would like nothing more than to live with the gypsies, stay out of school and travel with them to Provençe.

A sweet little, quick little read. A nice break from the current popular kids' fiction where you can automatically see the movie playing out in your head.