Julio – The Growing Years

 by: Miguel Sanchez

© 2006-2008 by the author

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

“There will be a food delivery tomorrow,” I said. “I’m not sure what all will arrive in the order but I will be here so I can see.”

“Alright Herr Sanchez, we will see you tomorrow,” she said then got her things and left for the day.

I looked around the kitchen for a few minutes. This place was really coming together. All we need now is the staff and the children.

Chapter 19 

Angel, Pablo and I checked the building then left for the day. I found out that she had contacted the applicant and scheduled and appointment with him for the next morning. On the way home it finally hit me as to just how tired I really was. I looked over to Angel and asked, “Do you think you can handle cooking tonight?”

She looked over to me and yawned. “If cooking requires making more than some scrambled eggs, then no I don’t think I can handle cooking.”

I opened the gate then pulled the Blazer into the garage. Angel and I went inside together and smelled food being prepared. I knew neither of us had started anything before we left so I was wondering who was cooking. When we got into the kitchen, we had our answer. “Ronnie, what are you doing here?” Angel asked before I could.

He smiled at us as he took the roast out of the oven. “Well, I’d spoken to Pablo a couple of times and he said you both were working hard here getting the orphanage ready so I decided to come down and give you all some help.”

“What about school?” I asked.

“I talked with my professor and he told me I was ahead of the others,” Ronnie replied as he lifted the meat from the roasting pan. “This section is about meal selection, menus and proper food ordering for a banquet. It’s like I did for Steven and Angel’s wedding and setting up the food delivery for here. I have my books here so I’ll study. I can make it up when I get back Dad. I know I can pass the tests with no problem.”

“Alright son,” I said washing my hands at the sink. “Do I enough time to take a shower before dinner?”

Ronnie nodded in the affirmative then I saw Angel sit down and start talking with her brother. I went into my room and got some clean undies, shorts and a shirt and took a shower. I set the water temperature nice and warm then quickly stripped and got in and let the hot water relax my aching muscles. I quickly washed my body then turned around so the water could beat on my back. I don’t know how long I was standing there but the next thing I heard was Ronnie knocking on the door. “Hurry up Dad, we’re waiting on you.”

“Alright son,” I said turning off the water.

I grabbed a towel and quickly dried off then pulled on my clothes then went out to the dining room. Ronnie had made a prime rib of beef, roasted potatoes, mushrooms, and glazed baby carrots. Ronnie carved the beef and it looked wonderful. We fixed our plates and enjoyed a delicious dinner. The beef was done to perfection and I had to have seconds. When we were all full, Ronnie put the leftovers away while Angel and I did the dishes.

Ronnie put on a pot of coffee then we relaxed in the living room. We were sitting drinking our coffee when Ronnie asked, “How much is left to do Dad?”

Sipping my coffee I had to think. “Not that much really. Your sister is going to interview someone tomorrow for the Director’s position and there are a couple of food deliveries that will have to be put away.”

Ronnie got up and brought the pot in refilling our cups. “Great Dad, be glad to help tomorrow. I kinda want to see the quality of things they’re sending you.”

“What do you mean son?” I asked sipping my coffee.

“I learned in school, sometimes places will send off cuts of meat they can’t sell to hotels and restaurants,” Ronnie said sitting back down. “Large institutions may prefer it because it is cheaper and they can prepare it so it tastes well. Personally I don’t like it. It takes longer to prepare it and a few cents a pound more isn’t that cost effective.”

“Thanks for the little lesson son,” I said finishing my coffee. “I’m glad you here now.”

I was getting tired so I gave Ronnie and Angel a kiss good night then headed for my room. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was asleep. The next thing I remembered my bladder was waking me. I quickly looked at the clock on my way to the bathroom and saw it as almost 8. I emptied my bladder then got dressed. I smelled coffee and wondered how Ronnie always was up before me. “Morning kids,” I said as I went to the coffee pot.

Ronnie already had the food on the plates so I grabbed one on my way to the table. Angel brought the other plates over, “I have my interview set for 9:30 Dad.”

I nodded the fact I’d heard her then quickly ate my breakfast. By 8:45 we were finished eating and out the door. The traffic heading towards the business district was heavy as today was a normal work day. I noticed a number of kids out on the streets as we made our way to the orphanage. I pulled into the property and unlocked the gates and opened both sides so the trucks could back in and unload. Ronnie slid over and I pointed out where to park so the Blazer would be out of the way.

I unlocked the front doors and turned on the lights. Ronnie walked down the hall and looked into one of the rooms. Angel was behind him and watched as her brother smiled then said, “Sis you found a great place here. Let’s hope the kids are happy and can finally be kids again.”

I was sitting in my office having a cold drink when a young man knocked on the door. I looked up as he said, “Excuse me sir, I’m supposed to me someone named Angel Sanchez. I have an appointment to see her. My name is Guillermo Fernandez and I have heard many good things about the organization.”

I stood up and extended my hand to him. “You must be the person she wants to talk to about the Director’s position here. I’m her father, Miguel Sanchez. It’s nice to meet you.”

I looked at this young man and wondered if he’d lived on the streets like my boys had. About that time, Angel and Ronnie walked in. “Angel, this is Guillermo. He has an appointment to see you.”

Angel turned and Guillermo followed as she went to another office. “There’s a truck backing in Dad,” Ronnie said as he stuck his head out the door.

We went outside and the driver handed me the papers. Inside the truck were cases of canned goods. I directed him where to back and he along with 4 other men got out of the cab. Ronnie opened the back door leading inside and I had to quickly find the pantry. Ronnie opened a yet unmarked door and asked, “What about here Dad?”

Inside there were metal shelves bolted in place and plenty of storage space. “This will work son,” I said walking back outside.

The men started bringing the supplies in while Ronnie directed the men where to put the items. The men were on their fifth trip when I heard a German voice say, “We can take it from here Herr Sanchez. I apologize for being late.”

There stood Hanna and her kitchen staff ready to put the kitchen in working order. The men were still bringing boxes into the room and just leaving them in the way. I heard her say, “This is unacceptable. Please put these over here.”

The men stopped dead in their tracks and began stacking things to her liking. I saw she had everything under control so Ronnie and I just let her be.

We headed back to my office when I saw Angel heading towards me. “What’s up sweetie?”

“Everything looks good Dad,” she started telling me as we walked down the hall. “There is just one thing I don’t understand. Up until he went to the university, he doesn’t list an address.”

“That’s easy sis,” Ronnie said. “I’ll bet you anything he was a street kid. Judging from what I see here, this is one smart guy.”

Guillermo was standing by the front door looking like he was going to run away. I motioned him to my office. “Son, did you used to live on the streets?”

He hung his head and just nodded in the affirmative. Ronnie put his hand on the young man’s shoulder then said, “Hold your head up man. I used to live on these very same streets. So did my two brothers, but Dad adopted us. Our Dad is the man you see there.”

Guillermo looked at us and said, “It’s true then what I’ve heard.”

“I don’t know what you’ve heard,” I started saying, “but yes, I did take 3 boys off the streets and adopt them. This home here is for those same kids who want to get off the streets. I want a person who has been there who can relate to the kids. I feel that it will make them feel more at ease. Would you like the position?”

Angel put out her hand. “I’ve read your resume and looked at what you brought and I see someone we would very much like to have running this place.”

“Yes I would very much like to come to work for you. I don’t know how to thank you for giving me this chance.”

“Welcome to the Sanchez Foundation family Guillermo,” I said as he stood there smiling.

Suddenly Guillermo’s smile evaporated and a look of pure panic came across his face. “I don’t know how to say this but come the end of the week, I won’t have any place to stay.”

It hit me that this must be his first job since graduating and he was still living on campus. We had room for 200 children but I didn’t think we would ever be full. At least, that was my hope. “Guillermo, I have a proposition for you. We don’t have any children here yet but I think I can solve your housing problem. Follow me please.”

I took Guillermo down the hall into the where the rooms were and showed him what used to be the resident manager’s quarters. “This will be your room. I’ll have the same furniture that the kids will have in here temporarily. You’ll be able to decorate it as you like. You can contact Pablo about getting more suitable furniture in here. There will be staff on duty 24 hours a day once we get enough children to warrant it but would you be willing to be a surrogate house parent?”

Guillermo thought about it for a minute then said, “It doesn’t matter that I did things when I was on the streets?”

I put my hand on his shoulder. “Son, a lot of kids on the streets do things they don’t really want to in order to survive but that doesn’t make them bad people. You have worked hard to get past that. You can relate to these kids and show them that with work, they can become anything they want to. My three had things happen to them they aren’t proud of but I still love them. My oldest is in his 3^rd year of college and then will be going on too medical school. Ronnie here is in culinary school and Steven, my youngest is in college to become a vet.”

“Thank you for giving me this chance,” the young man said.

Just then, we heard a ruckus out side. A truck driver had backed up to start unloading when I heard Hanna yell, “Let go of those boys now.”

We all took off running to see what was going on. Ronnie was the first out the door and when I arrived I saw two boys pulling on the third that the driver was holding on to. “Let him go this instant.”

“I’ll beat him senseless for hiding in my truck,” the driver yelled.

“Put him down now or you’ll be spending some time in the town jail,” Ronnie yelled.

I walked over and took the boy from the driver. “Now what the hell are you doing here?”

“I have a load of frozen meat for the Sanchez Foundation,” the driver spat at me. “Who the hell are you to talk to me like you just did?”

Guillermo stepped forward and said, “You’re talking to Miguel Sanchez.”

The man shut up and started unloading the trailer. I told the ladies to show him where they wanted things put then we took the boys inside. Ronnie stayed with the ladies and looked at what was being delivered while Guillermo, Angel and I talked to the boys.

As we led the boys down the hall, they were looking around wondering what kind of place this was. I heard Guillermo ask the older looking of the boys what they were doing hiding under a trailer. When we got into my office the boy said, “We were just trying to get out of town. The men like Chico but he’s too little. We won’t let them get near him.”

Guillermo asked the boy, “What would you do if you had a place to live where no one would bother you any more?”

“I’ve heard that before,” the boy said. “A guy wanted to take us in but then started trying to mess with Chico so we left.”

“I can guarantee no one will do that to you here,” Guillermo said.

“How,” Chico asked finally speaking. “You gonna keep the creeps away?”

“That’s easy boys,” I said sitting down on the sofa. “You’ll live right here.”

“Here,” Chico asked. “What kind of place is this?”

I hadn’t really thought of a name then Angel said, “The Sanchez Foundation Children’s Home.”

“An orphanage?” the older boy asked. “I ain’t livin in no orphanage.”

“What do you know about them?” Angel asked.

“From what we heard they ain’t nice,” the older boy replied.

“What’s your name young man?” I asked hoping I would be able to call him something more than young man.

“That’s Joey,” Chico said. “That one over there is Alex. He’s kinda quiet until he knows you, then he talks forever.”

I laughed to myself when Chico said that because Alex reminded me of Steven. “Hi boys, I’m Miguel Sanchez. I own this and you will be safe here. You’ll be able to be boys and have a decent life if you want it.”

After I said that Alex came over and asked, “No fooling? We’ve been fibbed to so many times before.”

Guillermo looked at the boys and said, “I came from these very streets. Everyone except Miguel did. This place is a home for kids like you so you can all be safe and grow up happy. I just got out of college and this is my first job. I still didn’t have a home until Miguel said I can live here too. No one is going to hurt any child here.”

Ronnie came into my office and said, “The truck unloaded and the meat is put away. It looks like the home is officially open for business.”

Chico walked over to Ronnie and asked, “Did you really live on the streets here too?”

Ronnie leaned down and picked up the little boy and said, “Yes I did and so did my two other brothers. Dad adopted us and we live in the US with him now.”

“Do you think someone will want to adopt us?” Chico asked.

As cute as he was I was certain someone would fall in love with him. What happened next really surprised me. Alex came over and sat on my lap then in a soft angelic voice said, “I wanna stay here. I can’t take the streets any more.”

With that, he put his head and my shoulder and just stayed there until he fell asleep. “God Mister, that’s the first time he’s ever done that,” Joey said. “I guess if he wants to stay, I do too. How about you Chico, do you wanna stay?”

Chico nodded his head and that was that. Ronnie and Angel went and got a room ready for our 3 new residents. When Chico saw there were only two single beds in the room he asked, “Where can I sleep?”

I put Alex on the freshly made bed. “You can stay here with him and Joey can have a room by himself or you can sleep with Joey.

“But we always stay together,” Chico said almost crying.

I looked at Guillermo and saw the wheels turning in his head. “Chico, would you like to share my room? This way you have someone with you when you sleep?”

“Could I really?” he asked with a grin that went from ear to ear.

“Now, that’s settled. Ronnie, have the ladies start getting something together for dinner. Do you boys have any other clothes?”

Chico and Joey both shook their heads no so clothes were now another priority. I had a credit card set up for the Foundation and now it looked like it was going to get a work out. I handed Guillermo the card saying, “Get the boys and yourself some decent clothes. Hang on and I’ll see if I can get you Alex’s sizes. While you’re out, get everyone here some lunch.

I quietly looked at the shorts and tee shirt then gave Guillermo the information. I handed him the keys to the Blazer and money for lunch then realized I would need a vehicle for the home.

After they left I went looking for Ronnie. It didn’t take me long and I saw him and Hanna opening cans and quickly thawing some chicken for dinner.

By the time Guillermo returned, Alex was up and watching television. The boys took lunch over to Alex while the rest relaxed and ate. After lunch, we got the boys’ clothes organized and marked. Guillermo bought some permanent markers so we could write their names on the inside of their clothes so we would all know who was who.

Once that was finished, Angel and I set out on getting a vehicle for the home. After searching several places, I had to settle on a 3 year old van. It ran good and would serve them until I could get home and get them a better van. I called Pablo and had him make some inquires. Once the new van arrived, I would take that one and get it repaired so maintenance would have a vehicle.

I had hung up the phone with Pablo when Alex came in. He quickly took his place on my lap, “Thank you sir. This is the best place I’ve been in a long time.”

I lifted his chin and smiled at him. “I hope you have a very happy life here. Next week, Guillermo will get you boys registered for school. That is the one thing everyone here must do.”

He smiled at me then snuggled his head against my chest. I think he was about to drift off to sleep when Chico found him. “Come on Alex, look what’s outside. There’s a playground.”

Pablo never ceases to amaze me. Alex scurried off my lap as both boys took off running for the back door. Angel and I watched as Guillermo played with the boys. “Seems he’s just a big kid himself, isn’t he Dad?”

I wrapped my arm around her and all I could do was smile. “Seems you’ve made the perfect choice for the job.”

Angel went out and started playing with the boys. Guillermo needed a breather so we sat and talked for a few minutes. “When I was in school, they gave us some sample forms that we might be able to use here. I can make copies of them and start files on each of the boys.”

“Good idea,” I said. “Once they’re filled out, you can take them over to Judge Romero and he can write court orders placing the boys in the home’s care.”

We all took turns romping with the boys and by 4 we were all ready for a rest. Hanna fixed several pitchers of lemonade and it quickly disappeared. Ronnie came in and said dinner would be ready in about an hour so I said, “Boys, before dinner you all need showers.”

I took Alex and Joey into their room and showed them how to work the shower then made sure there was a bar of soap and some shampoo in there for them. I turned around to leave when behind me stood two now naked boys. I hustled them into the shower then went to check on Chico. I knocked on the bathroom door and there was Guillermo and Chico getting cleaned.

Angel and I were chatting when Guillermo and the boys came in. Alex started to come over to me then saw Guillermo sit down. He smiled at me then cuddled with him. “I think you may have a permanent attachment there.”

The two of them looked like the picture of total contentment. “I hope I manage to get some work done, but I’ll survive.”

Hanna came down to my office and said dinner was ready. We went into the kitchen and sat at a small table. There was a big unused area that would work well to feed the children and I knew what would work in there.

After dinner, the three of us were exhausted. We talked for a few minutes and I told Guillermo to order about 5 picnic tables for the dining room. That would hold him for now and he could get more as the place started filling up.

I went to look for the boys and they were in Joey and Chico’s room sound asleep. “Looks like they will sleep for the rest of the night,” Guillermo said shaking our hands. “You’ve given me a dream come true Miguel. I’ll take good care of every child that comes here.”

Angel shook his hand warmly. “When I saw you with them this afternoon, I knew I’d made the right decision. I think you will need to hire more help in the kitchen. Tell Pablo and he will see to it. Any staff that will have direct contact with the children, you interview them and if you don’t like them, they don’t get hired.”

We got home about 8 and I was exhausted. I went directly to my room and took a long hot shower. I went into the living room and fixed myself a Bailey’s on the rocks then sat down and started to unwind. I hadn’t sipped much of my drink when I started nodding off so I called it a night.

To be continued...

Posted: 06/20/08