j. t be a simple and hour long story of a young boy living in a new york ghetto and but it tackle some weighty issue . kevin hook be an amazing and natural actor while he feign indifference to everything in his life and but in his eye you see his true feeling when he mention the sick and abandon cat he have find . janet dubois be also great a his worried and exhaust mother and who be firmly mire in poverty and despite work many hour at a store day after day . she see her son slide hopelessly downhill into a life of crime and when he come home with a radio he steal . this stolen radio provide the catalyst for the heartache that follow . theresa merritt play mama meley and who arrive from down south to visit her daughter and grandson for christmas and and she so warm and down to earth that her voice can sooth any ill. merritt be a wonderful actress and and a very under appreciate one while she give this show a very real and love center . j. t. build a paradise for the cat and when his mother would not let him bring the animal home while he create an oasis of comfort for his pet in an abandon tenement and showing that he still have a huge capacity for love despite his harsh surroundings . this be also a story of a mother struggle to be independent and support herself and her son and and how such a life can blind her to the suffer her own child be endure . there be a small subplot with a kind local grocer and his wife while he provide the wonderful surprise at the end of the story and and his action show that ghetto life have not break his optimism . he still have hope and and through his gift he give hope to j. t. and his mother . she see at last just how hard she be on the boy and be ashamed . everyone who watch this will have tear in their eye at some point and but that okay because j. t. be and in the end and an upbeat film that will make you feel good . it isn not show on tv much while the last time be 1987 on cbs when they be still commit to show program that mean something to young people . if you can find it and do not pass it up while it marvelous at christmastime .