Jerry
By:
Will B
(© 2009 by the author)
Ably Assisted by Ed
The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's
consent. Comments are appreciated at...
In the office Trace and Jerry were discussing the hotel’s operation and the Conference
“Jerry, it appears that the hotel is going to be a success, but I think we’re going to have to hire more staff.”
“Trace, you’re probably right,” his lover and partner said, “But where would we put them?”
Just then the computer, like some dramatic deus ex machina, began to blink.
“Jerry, come read this. It’s an e mail from Sheik Mohammed.”
Chapter 13
“Wonder what the Sheik is doing tonight?” Jerry said as he walked to the computer to read the Sheik’s e-mail.
‘My friends, I hope you are well (may Allah be praised),’ Trace and Jerry read together. ‘I hope it will not be inconvenient if my son Abdul and a few friends visit you tomorrow at 10:00 in the morning. I know this is short notice, but it is a matter of some urgency. The results may be a blessing to a number of people, yourselves included. May Allah smile on your endeavors. Mohammed Farouk.’
“Wow! I wonder what he means?” said Trace.
“Guess we’ll just have to wait, and while we’re waiting, how about…?” Jerry asked with a leer.
“You horn-dog, you. You just want to get me naked and have your wicked way with me,” Trace replied with an answering leer.
“However did you guess, lover boy? Now come here and kiss me!”
* * * * *
The next morning Trace and Jerry were up early. They warned Sam that they would be having company about 10:00, and Trace asked Sam to fix some light mid-morning snacks for the visitors.
“Sure, boss. How about tea, coffee, iced tea, and some pastries?” Sam suggested.
“Sounds great. Thanks, Sam,” Trace said.
During the morning hours, the conference attendees ate breakfast in the ornate dining room. Some of the attendees were still chatting, drinking coffee, and just relaxing.
At ten o’clock, Trace and Jerry went to the door facing the drive and saw a small bus pulling in from the main road.
“How many are coming?” Jerry asked.
“Dunno, but we’ll soon find out, love!” Trace replied.
The bus pulled to a stop and out stepped Abdul and another man. The two were both tall, good looking and could have passed for brothers.
“Greetings, my friends. May Allah bless you,” Abdul began as he turned to his companion and said, “This is my cousin, Yussuf Hazmar. He’s the Sheriff of San Francisco, and he has Americanized his name to Joseph Hazard.”
Joseph, this is Trace Mackenzie and Jerry Taylor, the proprietors of Hotel Souchard,” Abdul continued.
“Gentlemen, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” the Sheriff said as he shook their hands.
“Same here, Sheriff,” Trace replied.
“No need for formality, just call me Joe—and there are some other people I would like you to meet.”
Joe went to the door of the bus, and said, “Okay, gentlemen, you can get off the bus.”
To Trace’s surprise, ten young guys climbed out of the bus. They appeared to range in age from sixteen to eighteen.
“Is there some place we could go and talk?” Joe asked.
“Oh, sure; come into the dining room. Some of our guests are still there, finishing a late breakfast, but I can ask them to take their coffee to the patio,” Trace said.
“Trace, my friend, these young men are all what you sometimes call ‘family.’ I think your guests would not mind hearing what we have to say, and I don’t think these young men would object.”
The group went into the dining room. The only conference people still there were Chuck, Gerry, Will, Ed, Miguel, Lee, Terry, Deep, and T. Henry.
‘Please sit down, and I’ll have Sam bring some refreshments,” Trace invited the group.
When everyone was seated, Joe began. “Mr. McKenzie and Mr. Taylor, these young men have been living on the streets, supporting themselves in any way they could.”
Joe went on. “They were kicked out of their homes or have run away because they were being abused. Some have been abused quite seriously, I might add. I don’t think sending them to Juvenile Hall is a good solution. While I was telling Abdul, who’s visiting the States, about it, he came up with an idea. But before we explain his idea, I’d like to introduce these young men, or rather, have them introduce themselves.”
One by one the young men introduced themselves.
“I’m Alex, I’m seventeen.”
“Hello. I’m Ben and I’m sixteen.”
“I’m Curt. I’m eighteen, and this is my brother David. He’s sixteen, and he’s been badly scarred.”
David looked at the group with sad eyes. “Misters … you’re not going to send us back to our step-dad’s place are you? I think I’d rather…”
“That’s OK, David. I don’t think anybody is going to do that,” Curt said as he put his arm around his brother’s shoulders.
After a short interlude, the next young man spoke. “I’m Eddy, and I just turned seventeen.”
A Latino-looking boy said, “I’m Felipe and I’m eighteen.”
I’m Greg. I’m seventeen, almost eighteen.”
“I’m Harry, seventeen.”
“My name is Ike and I’m sixteen.”
My name is Joe also, and I’m seventeen.”
“Guys, welcome to the Souchard Hotel. Joe and Abdul, what can we do to help? We really don’t have room to accommodate ten people…,” Trace began.
“What we were thinking … what we were hoping,” the Sheriff said, “is that you might be able to employ these boys as kitchen or wait staff, or in some other capacity.”
“We could certainly use the help, but where would they stay?”
“Ahh, that is a good question. We were thinking that for the time being the bus would bring the guys to the Hotel at 7:00 a.m. and return them to the detention center at 6:00.”
Now it was Abdul’s turn to speak, “Trace and Jerry, my esteemed father, the Sheik, is interested in helping these young men with your assistance. First of all, he is willing to endow a fund to hire certified teachers to work here at the hotel with these young men, so that they can eventually earn their high school certificates.”
Trace and Jerry sat back, flabbergasted, and murmurs of approval were heard from the conference attendees.
When he had thought about it, Trace said, “Well! Well Well! This is certainly a fine offer, and I think we could work something out, but…”
“But what, my friend?” said Abdul, with a twinkle in his eye.
“I hate the thought of sending them back to the detention center each night. I
shook Eddy’s hand and hugged him and told him to enjoy life, to study hard, and to ... well, just to be well.”
Deep went to Felipe, and said, “Ahh, these gringos are all right, aren’t they.” just wish we had some place…”
“Ah hah! I thought that might be a problem,” said Abdul. “But wait! There’s more,” he said, sounding like those television infomercials. “My father has seen the layout of the hotel, and he thinks a suitable residence could be built on the hotel grounds so that it would be away from the activities of the guests. In addition to providing the boys a place to live, sleep, and study, it could even have accommodations for resident house-fathers, teachers, counselors. What do you think of that?”
“Can we do this, Jerry?” Trace asked.
“I think...”
<Everyone in the room held their breath, waiting for Jerry’s answer.>
“…I think we can, and I think we should!” Jerry said.
Trace took Jerry’s hand and squeezed it. “I knew you’d say that, my sweet.”
The ten young men breathed a collected sigh of relief and began to smile.
Those persons, who were attending the conference, stood and clapped.
T. Henry approached Trace and said, “I know that there are some details that’ll have to be ironed out, but before we go out on the patio, I’d like to take some pictures.”
It seemed as if T. Henry took a ‘gazillion’ pictures, but finally he had finished. Trace said to Chuck, “Would you be kind enough to let the people know that the life guards won’t be on duty for another hour. I need to call a staff meeting.”
Chuck smiled and said, “Trace, what you and Jerry are doing is wonderful. I just want to say good-bye to these wonderful young men.”
Chuck went over to the ten guys who were sitting as if mesmerized. He started to shake Alex’s hand, but somehow the handshake turned into a hug, as Chuck said, “Good luck, guy.”
The others followed suit. Gerry gave Ben a hug and a high-five.
Miguel hugged Curt and David and said, “I wish you both all the best. Don’t worry, you two. I know things are going to turn out all right.”
Felipe gave Deep a cheeky grin and said, “Si, señor.”
T. Henry went to Greg and gave him a hug. Greg smiled and said, “I liked that camera. Someday I’ll have enough money to buy one of my own.”
Lee high-fived Harry, and said “Good luck, Dude.” And he gave him a hug.
Not wanting to be last, Ed and Terry took both Ike and Joe into a group hug. “Stay cool, guys.”
As the conference attendees went to the patio, they were talking about the events of the morning.
“You know,” said Miguel, “Many of us have written stories about young guys from awful backgrounds, but seeing these young men ... I feel as if…” He started to choke up.
Ed had been silent throughout the whole morning, but now he said, “I think it might be a good idea if we each took a young man and became sort of a pen-pal. We could write them regularly to check how they’re doing and to let them know that we care about them. You know sort of be ‘honorary uncles,’ or something.”
The others agreed that that would be a good idea, and they sat down to discuss who would write to whom.
Meanwhile, Trace sent word to Sam, Pete, Andy, and Wall-Eye to round up the others and bring them to the dining room for an emergency staff meeting.
When the staff was all gathered, Trace introduced the ten guys. He explained that these young men would be working at the hotel and that eventually a separate dormitory or residence would be built where they would be living and be tutored in various academic subjects so that they could get their high school equivalency diplomas.
After a few moments of stunned silence, Sam spoke up. “I think Adrian and I could each use two or three kitchen helpers who would help us prepare food and learn how to be cooks.”
Curt and his brother David raised their hands. “Mister Sam, could we work with you? I think we’d both like that.”
“Sure,” Sam said.
Eddy raised his hand and said, “Could I work with you, too?”
Adrian noticed that Felipe and Ike were looking as if they would like to work in a kitchen, so he said, “Would you two like to work with me?
“All right!” they both said.
Pete said, “I could use some help with laundry. It’s not the most exciting work in the world, but … well … is anyone interested?”
Ben and Alex volunteered to help Pete and the seven dwarves with room service.
Ted Long, the lifeguard spoke next. “Hank and I could use a couple of young men to help keep the beach clean. I wonder if anybody wants to spend their days on the beach?”
Greg and Harry put their hands up. “Okay, guys, I’m sure you’ll do a good job, but just be aware that some of the patrons might, uh, be involved in some very intimate behavior with each other. Do not, and I repeat DO NOT bother them. Understand.”
Greg and Harry nodded that they understood only too well what Ted was saying.
Finally Andy said, “Wall-Eye and I could use two young men to work on keeping the grounds neat, lawns trimmed, and so on. Looking at Joe, he said, “Young man, would you be interested?”
Joe eagerly nodded yes.
Arrangements were made for the young men to come back the next day to begin their duties. When the young men boarded the bus, they were feeling much more optimistic than they had when they had arrived.
* * * * *
Later that night, Trace and Jerry were in the office talking.
“Jerry! Jerry! What have I let us in for? Is this gonna work? How can it?”
“Trace! Relax!” Jerry said. “Yes, there are bound to be some problems. Since when did any complicated activity NOT have problems? But think of this. You are doing a good thing. You are helping those young guys do something worthwhile, and also helping them to be able to continue their education.”
“You're right, love; and I'll have you to help me.”
“You betcha you've got me. Now, how would you like Jerry's magic fingers to give you a back rub?”
“Oooh! Great idea! Just rub away, my love.”
Would you believe that after that back rub, Trace had no trouble at all going to sleep--eventually!”
To be continued...
Author's note: I have put some words into the conference attendees' mouths. I have treated them as colleagues, and I hope no one reading this chapter will take exception to anything said or done.
E’s comments: For starters, I’ve started a scorecard to keep track of all of the people in this story. We haven’t even met the staff for the ten young men yet. Our illustrious author is going to run out of names at this rate.
How many people get the opportunity to write their own script for what they say in someone else’s work.
I think the Sheik must be a very caring person. I’m sure he’ll be making a visit to the Souchard Hotel before long.
Posted: 09/11/09