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 30

In the planning for the opening of the ‘Homes for the Homeless’, the mayor thought it would be nice if one of the teenagers that put in so much hard work said something. Farther Rick called Josh, Jesse, and Derrick together.

Jesse said “Josh gives great speeches, Father. You should have heard him at our championship basketball rally.”

Derrick said “Yeah, it was him and the coat drive that started all this. He should do it.”

“Well Josh, I guess you are elected.” Father Rick exclaimed.

“If I’m gonna do this; I want you guys to help me prepare the speech. I’ll give it, and Father, there might be some people that don’t like what I say.”

“How’s that, Josh?”

“I’ll tell the truth about how the banks steal people’s houses and stuff like that.”

“Hmm, I see. Well, as long as you are factual and truthful, I say go get them, son.”

“Will do Father, hopefully we can wake some folks up about what causes homelessness. Jesse, Derrick, will you guys help?”

“Yup, we’re all in, and I bet we can get the girls and Billy to help to.” Jesse said.

Derrick said “It will be hard for me to get to Jersey, but I’ll do whatever you want from here and the kids in the youth group will help, too.”

“Alright, the first thing we have to do is come up with a list of topics. Then we’ll share the research on them and maybe get some of the homeless folk to share some of their experiences.“

Derrick said, “Me and some of the youth group can go over to the shelter and get stories from the folks there. Do you think we should record them?”

“Great idea Derrick, if they don’t mind being recorded, I say do it.” Josh said.

“Sounds like you guys are off to a good start, so I’ll tell the mayor you’ll do a little speech.”

“Sure, Father. Just don’t tell about what I’m going to say. Really you don’t know because I don’t even know. Derrick, you can send your stuff by email; you use Word®, don’t you?”

“I do. So, we’re set here. I’ll get on the topics later today.”

Pops took Josh and Jesse back to Jersey. “So, what are you guys gonna do the speech on.”

Josh replied “I think the banks, disability, jobs, and the army.”

“I think you are leaving out, one very important topic.”

“What’s that”, Jesse asked.

“Healthcare, boys, healthcare, in this country> We are a healthcare for profit system. So, if someone gets seriously sick, they often go bankrupt trying to pay off the doctors and hospitals. It is the biggest cause of bankruptcy, by far. ”

“Really? I didn’t know that, Pops.” Josh said.

“Look it up, son.”

Jesse said “I want to research that one. Can I get Val to help?”

“Sure, go for it, Jess.”

Pops asked, “Do you think you guys should come up with some kind of a name.”

“Yeah Pops, I think so.” Jesse said.

“How about “Crusaders Against Homelessness?” Josh’s genius brain replied.

“You nailed it again, Josh. What do you think Pops?”

“Real good, so Crusaders you’ll be.”

The teens only had a week to do the speech and all the research. They all put it as a priority even ahead of homework. Now that school started; teachers asked why they didn’t have their assignments done. The teens were hesitant to explain and were getting detention. Finally, Josh went to Mrs. Martin to explain. He told all about the homes for the homeless building that they helped to put up and the mayor of New York City was going to be there and he wanted the speech to make people aware of all the good people that were forced to be homeless. We kind of call ourselves Crusaders against Homelessness.

Mrs. Martin was flabbergasted to be sure. She was also very, very proud that students from her school had undertaken and completed such an immense project. She asked Josh who was involved.

“Well Billy and Jennie and Jesse and Val and Becky here and Derrick and the whole youth group at St. Francis.” Josh explained.

Mrs. Martin wrote a note to each of their teachers saying homework assignments for the group could be handed in up to 2 weeks late due to their involvement in an important civic project. “Do you think you’ll be able to catch up in the two weeks after your speech?”

“I think so, but if anyone has a problem, can they come and see you, Mrs. Martin? “

“Of course, Josh, they can come to see me at any time, and I just want to say how very proud I am of you and all the kids that helped on your “Homes for the Homeless“ project.”

“Oh, it wasn’t my project, Mrs. Martin, there were so many people that helped. Jesse and his mom and dad were great, Luke, the shelter director with Mr. Tully and Mrs. Banks, and, of course, Father Rick and the St Francis youth group, and all the tradesmen that helped so much. Hey, the management of the IKEA store, too. It was quite a project and all the homeless folks who put in their sweat equity. So many people just came together to make it happen. I guess if there was a leader, pulling it all together, it was Father Rick. I was so happy to be a part of it. I used to lay awake at night dreaming of doing something like this and having a place for me and my grandma.”

Mrs. Martin was always impressed by Josh. His forthright easy manner, his down to earth humility; when she spoke with Josh there was never anything hidden like so many of the kids; he just put it out there, just like it was. “Well Josh, I am going to be there to hear your speech and I’m going to put a notice up about it in the teachers’ lounge and the student bulletin board. And I’m going to break a teacher school rule, come here, young man.” Her arms were stretched out and as he approached, she gave him the biggest hug and kiss on his forehead.“ Josh wondered if this was how it felt to have his mom hug him. Mrs. Martin said “Now that was from your Mom and Grandma, they just whispered in my ear for me to do it.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Martin, you’re the greatest. I think I felt my mom hugging me through you.”

“Get on with you now. Get back to class and make sure those assignments are in on time.”

“Yes ma’am” Josh said with a big smile.

To be continued...

Posted: 02/25/2022