Shelter Kid
By: Jon Stewart
(© 2021 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

jstewart@tickiestories.us

Chapter 20

Pops got a phone call from Jesse's parents, the Harvey's, and they wanted to know if they could stop by tomorrow with a proposal. Pops said sure after church they could have a coffee together.

Pops got the boys to church and Josh saw Jenny at mass. Billy had never seen Jenny and said she was very cute. Josh sat during most of the mass; an older lady thought it strange until he limped up to  communion holding his side. Josh couldn't really talk to Jenny more than to say hello and exchange family introductions with her foster family. The Calushie's had a total of 4 children including Jenny. They were all introduced as their children, so no hint was given if any other besides Jenny were foster kids.

Pops wanted to get back for his meeting with the Harvey's. They stopped on the way home for some of the bakery jelly donuts and a few pastries. Got the water in the coffee hot and the doorbell rang. Billy got the door while Pops finished tiding up the kitchen. Jesse had come along, as well.

"Come in Mr. & Mrs. Harvey, can I take your coats."

"And you must be Billy."

"Yes ma’am," Billy answered as he gathered the coats. Josh labored a bit but pulled himself up, held his side and said ‘hi’ as well. He lit up when he saw his friend Jesse there as well. "Hi, Jesse."

Pops came out of the kitchen and asked the Harvey's to join him. The boys tagged along. They complimented the coffee and donuts. Pops said they were from the bake shop, so much better than those donut places on the highway.

Pops, asked "Boys, why don't you take your coffee and donuts inside, while I talk to Jesse's parents." They knew when they were being shooed out of ear shot and complied without any argument. "Now folks, what's on your mind."

Mr. Harvey spoke up. "When I was in high school, I had a great friend and after we went to college together. In college we made another friend, Andy Sloan; after college we opened our own business. We call it PHS engineering. I have to say it's been pretty successful. Doug Perriman and Andy Sloan have been lifelong friends. We now have over 50 employees. I like to think it is a business of "people helping people by building a better world." That's actually our motto. Anyway, Jesse is getting older and I kind of want the some of the same as I had for him. He always talks about Josh and Billy and how lucky he is in comparison. So, I would like to establish a college fund for both boys. It'll not be enough for Harvard or Yale or schools like that but I hope it will be enough for any of the state Universities. No one knows what the future will be, but at least this way there's a chance for Jesse to have Josh and maybe Billy as lifelong friends like I've had. Anyway, that's my hope and It would be an honor if you would allow me to do this for them. There will be no strings or conditions on the college funds other than they be used for college."

Pops was blown away by the generosity of this man. "Wow, I don't know what to say. That is extremely generous of you, Mr. Harvey."

"Hey if Karen and I can call you Pops, I would appreciate it if you called me Jack."

"OK, Jack it is then. I really can't speak for Billy, at least not legally. I'm sure his mother would agree. I mean who wouldn't. They are still in the shelter system in NY. She's really a good person working weekends to make enough to get food during the week at McDonalds and during the week she is taking a job training computer course."

"Hmm, I see. I wasn't fully aware of Billy's circumstances."

Karen said, "Jack, could you get her a job? I heard a story about you, Pops, going out in to the New Year’s blizzard. Is it true, did you go out in that foul weather and save Billy's mom?"

"Well, the boys and I did take a ride in the snow and were so grateful we found Annie, and she had no serious complication from being in the weather."

Karen spoke up again, "Jack Harvey, you find a way to get that woman a decent, well-paying job. What if that was me struggling to find a way to provide for Jesse. Pops saved her life; now you do your part."

Pops, again was blown away.

"Karen, calm down. Now I think I can do something. Just don't get all emotional on me. We always have need of computer analysts. I can set up a test for her and as long as she shows good aptitude, we can hire her. We start those jobs at around $50,000.00 with advancement up to $80,000.00. I think we even have an opening now."

Karen leaned over and gave her husband a kiss. "I knew there was a reason I loved you. Me, I'm the hothead, Pops, that's where Jesse gets it from. Jack is always so cool and calm and getting me out of trouble after I open my trap."

"Well, you are a wonderful generous couple. Can we tell the boys of your proposals?”

Jack nodded. "Jack, tell Billy about the job possibility for his mom last. If not, he'll not hear a word you say. Can I call them in?"

"Please."

"Josh, Billy, Jesse, come here please."

"Pops, I was just about to kill Jesse on Xbox." Josh exclaimed.

"Well, that makes up for the time I was gonna kill you but had to leave." Jesse said.

Billy just tagged along smiling at the two buds.

Pops said, "Thank God that game is just fantasy, otherwise we'd be having a capital murder charge every week. Mr. Harvey has something he wants to tell you."

Josh sat down so his ribs wouldn't hurt. The other two boys stood and grabbed another donut each.

"Well," Jack said, "When I was in high school, I had a great friend, and we even went to college together. We met another friend while in college and the three of us went into business together. Anyway, I got to thinking what a blessing it was to have my friends with me all these years. Now I'm a little selfish when it comes to Jesse, after all he is my son. I know he and Josh are great friends and I heard Josh and Billy were great friends. So, I've set up a college fund for both of you boys. It's for the state Universities, and the fund will only be for college, but it should be enough for you to get through."

"Wow, really, Dad?” Jesse said and went over to hug him. Josh and Billy didn’t know what to say. Josh sat with his mouth open and shook and Billy was same except he was standing.

Pops said "Say something, boys."

Josh stammered " I'm shocked. I don't know what to say, thank you so much Mr. Harvey. I'll try to make you proud that you are doing this. Wow." Josh struggled to his feet and hugged Mr. Harvey, as well as Jesse’s mom. Billy's reaction was the same sheer disbelief, to maybe it's true, and then, wow.

"Oh, Billy, there is one other thing, I heard your mom was taking computer courses. We have an opening for a computer analyst and I was wondering if your mom would like to apply. As long as she passes the aptitude test the job will be hers, if she wants it. It would be good if she took the test as soon as possible."

"Billy started to cry. He stammer "iff sshe wwants it....we’ve been praying  for this for 3 years, Mom has been staying up sometimes all night studying..... Ohhhh WWWow , I never thought it would happen."

Billy ran over to Mr. Harvey and said "Thank you, thank you, thank you. I know she'll pass the test, I know she will." Then he hugged Jack around his neck and kissed him then he went to Mrs. Harvey, tears streaming down his face and hugged her and kissed her and he ran to Jesse. Jesse held up his hand and said "hugs ok; no kisses." He hugged Pops and Josh and said "I don't believe it, I don't believe it. If I'm dreaming, don't wake me up. Thank you so much." He was still crying and his emotion was caught by Karen who also was shedding tears of joy. Pops and Jack Harvey were getting misty too as was Josh, even Jesse was feeling the release of Billy's homelessness pain. All the years of hoping and praying were flooding out of him.

"Can I call her now?"

Pops said "Jack, I think it's best if you give me the contact information, and I'll get her there. I think Billy, as well as all of us are a little emotional right now."

Jack said, "I've never seen such emotion over getting a job, my God, what has the world done to these folks."

Jack mentioned he wanted to ask Josh about a project, he and Jesse had thought about.

Billy came in with his phone and was telling his mom the news. She was taking Billy's info with a grain of salt and asked to talk to Mr. Harvey.

Mr. Harvey got on the phone.

Annie "Is it true are you offering me a job without even seeing me?"

"Yes, I am, I've heard from the best sources that you are a good person and as long as you pass the aptitude test, you'll have the job. The salary is $50,000.00 a year with health benefits and vacation and holidays and paid sick time, five days a week Monday through Friday, although there might be the need of some overtime every once in a while."

"Oohh mmmy , ohh my. Ohh God, yes, yes, yes, yes. Thank You so much, Mr. Harvey Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"OK, Mrs. Nunez, I'm going to give the contact information to Pops here. After you calm down you can call him and start the process. You'll have to see my Human Services Manager. He'll give you the test. Pops will have the information for you to contact him. Please do it as soon as possible this week, so we don't hire someone else in the interim. Are you ok, Mrs. Nunez?"

"Oh yes sir, I am just fine, wonderful actually. Thank you again, Mr. Harvey. I'll get myself calmed down and call Pops a little latter. I'll do my best for you sir. Thank you again"

Karen said, "I love you, Jack."

Jesse said, "That was awesome, Dad."

Everyone had a smile from ear to ear. Jack said, "That did seem to go pretty good; didn't it?"

Billy was dancing around in circles with Josh, doing stupid stuff.

Jack then gave Pops the contact info for his Human Services Manager. "I'll send him an email to alert him to Annie’s call. How will Annie get out to Oakville?"

Pops said "I'll get her from the bus station and drive her. It'll be no bother really, after all you've done for these boys and Billy's mom."

"Just fulfilling a selfish little fantasy of mine, maybe they might come to work at our company."

Josh spoke up "What did you want to ask me, Mr. Harvey?"

"Oh, Yes, Josh, thanks for reminding me. Jesse and I dreamed up a very inexpensive housing project for the homeless and we wanted your input. Jesse, go get the drawings you did, out in the car." Jesse was gone and back in a flash. "See, Jesse wanted to come up with cheap but sturdy housing that could be quickly assembled. So, we came up with the idea of using used out-of-service trailers. They would be painted with a new waterproof roof, insulated with spray insulation, and then windows and doors cut in. Two trailers would be joined together and would be 20 ft x 40 for 800 Square Feet. I was concerned with the amount of living space and utilities."

Jesse said "The idea was one-half would be kitchen and living space and utilities, the other half is for 2 bedrooms and a bath."

Josh said "You did this, Jesse?"

Jack said "Yes, Jesse did the drawings and I just gave a couple of ideas along the way?"

"Wow, Jess, yes, this is fantastic. How is it heated?"

Jesse said there would be 1 large heat and air conditioning exchanger on the living area side and 1 smaller unit in each of the 2 bedrooms. The complex would run off of roof top solar panels. There would be a central core for walk upstairs and elevator as well as plumbing, water supply, and waste. Each unit would have its own hot water heater and a small apartment sized washer and dryer. The kitchen would have an electric range, refrigerator, and dishwasher. What do you think?"

"Wow, Jesse, you thought of everything."

"Oh, one other thing. We would put them in place of foreclosed off-the-tax-rolls building sites. Come in, knock down the existing building, use the existing water and electrical hook-ups."

"Hey, shelter people would die to get into one of these palaces."

"You think so?"

"They would fight for it really. You could have a men's group or a woman's group where they had 2 to a bedroom and shared community room. You could also have a family group where it was committed to one family or possibly 2 to share. I would set it up that the homeless provided sweat equity and helped with the building and construction. For sure, there would be a waiting list and anyone one who didn't do their community hours into the project lost their space, and the next person on the list took their place. People should be drug-tested weekly to make sure they are working to become responsible. Adults would be given job training or be actively seeking work with an employment counselor. After people are working and supporting themselves, they either pay a reasonable rent or move out so another homeless tenant could move in. It could go a long way to solving part of the homeless problem where people are capable but not given the chance to get themselves back to being responsible because they are too concerned with surviving. The others that are not capable due to mental illness or physical illness could be placed in a long-term situation."

"Wow, you thought of all that off the cuff, Josh?" Mr. Harvey commented.

"Well sir, I would like to go into social work after college and get as many people out of the shelters as possible. Jesse's idea here would help tons. How much would it cost? "

"Well, we are just estimating, but 5 units with the core should run around $500,000.00 all in furnished."

"Let's just say you are housing 15 to 20 people. Take the low figure of 15, the cost for a person in the shelter is about $30,000.00 a year. So, with an average of 17 people, they break even in the first year and all downhill after that. This is huge, Mr. Harvey, huge. Pops, do you think we can talk to Luke on this? Luke is Pops son, Mr. Harvey, and runs the shelter me and Billy are from."

"It certainly won't hurt to get his input; I'll see what he says. Are these your only drawings?"

"Yes, but I'll get a couple more sets made to the office and bring them home."

"How about scanning into a PDF and then they can be transferred much easier?" Billy added.

Jack smiled, and chuckled a bit.

"What did I do funny?" Billy said.

"Oh, nothing funny, Billy. You are just so quiet and observant and then you hit the nail on the head, just like my friend, Andy Sloan. I hope my plan for you boys staying together works. I would love for Jesse to always have you guys to lean on. But I said there were no strings and I meant that. What do you think, Karen, have we stayed long enough?"

"Yes, Jack" Karen answered with more love in her voice and eyes than Jack had ever seen.

After the Harvey's left, Josh said "That was amazing. I didn't know Jesse’s folks were rich enough to do things like this."

"I suspect that they are comfortable, not necessarily rich rich. I'm sure Mr. Harvey has worked very hard for his company but my guess, is not positioned to give free college educations to many people. He's doing what he's doing because he has had friends for life and he wants the same for Jesse. He guessed quite accurately that when college rolled around for you guys you would be hard pressed to come up with the financial end. You know there are a lot of good honest people in the world; it's just a shame that the few rotten ones spoil the barrel."

To be continued...

Posted: 01/07/2022