Sanctuary from Harm - 15. Sanc Chapter 15

I watched as Jacob gathered his clothes and shoes, that had been issued to him last night, before leading him one level up, and through to the former staff quarters. “There are six rooms, so you can choose which one you want, the lounge room has a big-screen television, so you can watch that all afternoon if you wish, staff will bring you your meals and snacks, and you will be permitted to walk around the gardens on this level from now till 3 pm and from 6 pm till lights out,” I informed Jacob before leaving, just as Scott entered the area.

The next morning, I took Jacob to the Children’s court, to deal with his partial involvement with the warehouse fire, and I returned to the project alone, as he was sentenced to 3 months juvenile detention, even though he stated he was sorry for not reporting his knowledge of the incident, and he regretted ever getting involved in the street gang.

Toby looked pleased that I entered the atrium alone, and he perked up a lot during the rest of the day, knowing that he wouldn’t have to be face to face with Jacob for a while or possibly forever, but I was not happy with the situation, and I planned to deal with the matter as quickly as possible.

Firstly, I called Nathan to my office, as I needed to speak to him first. After a twenty-minute meeting with him, Nathan agreed that although Toby does not like being around Jacob, it puts us in conflict with our aims to help young people who are homeless, which meant that it was Toby who needed to change, not us to suit his situation.

When Toby entered my office and saw Nathan also present, he suddenly looked sad. “This is about Jacob, isn’t it?” he said to us. “Yes mate, I am afraid it is. One of our core purposes of operating this facility is to help young people who are homeless, and by isolating him from the rest of the group yesterday, put us at odds with our objectives,” Nathan replied.

“Nathan and I have discussed this in great detail, and there is only one thing that needs to be done, and it falls to you, to make the decision to stay and deal with this situation and any future situations that may arise, or that you leave the project, with the understanding that we will do our very best to ensure that you have a place to live and a full-time job to survive,” I said.

There was a long period of silence before we heard sniffing back tears, as Toby looked up at us. “I understand, and I thank you for what you have done for me over the past 8 ½ weeks. I will begin looking for work and a place to live,” Toby responded. “Make this clear to you, we do not want to see you back on the streets, so if you are having any trouble, do not hesitate to get in contact with us, once we start with each person that enters this facility, we aim to make sure that you have a happy and healthy life,” Nathan said to the lad, who nodded his head in understanding.

After Toby had left the office, there was a long period of silence, before I sighed. “I did not like that one bit, and I hope we don’t have to repeat it ever again,” I commented, “I agree with you on that Hunter, it is a tricky situation, but if we didn’t do this, then the board would probably shut us down, and then what would we do? Go back to our old lives, working terrible hours, with huge amounts of stress. I don’t want to even think about ever doing that again,” Nathan said to me.

“I am going over to the detention centre later this afternoon, to check on Jacob, and let him know that he is welcome to return to the project after he has completed his term of detention,” I informed Nathan, “tell him that he has our full support,” Nathan responded, before standing and leaving the office.

After lunch, I was preparing to set off to visit Jacob, when my phone rang, “Hunter speaking,” I said, “Mr Langston, My name is Lionel Fellows, Superintendent of the Youth Detention facility, I have you listed as guardian for detainee Jacob, who came to us this morning?” the caller stated, “Yes, that is correct, what is wrong, is Jacob ok?” I asked, starting to get worried.

“Unfortunately, not, another detainee, who we learnt is from the same youth gang that Jacob was involved in, had attacked Jacob a little over an hour ago, and we had to rush Jacob to hospital for emergency treatment. I have informed the hospital that you are his guardian and that you have permission to visit him,” Mr Fellows said and I thanked him for informing me of what had happened and ended the call.

I was about to call Nathan to the office when he walked in. “I was about to call you, I have to go to the hospital, Jacob was attacked in detention, so he was rushed to the hospital,” I said, and I heard crying start outside, “That is Toby, we had come to let you know that we have had a long talk and he was prepared to try remaining here and helping Jacob,” Nathan informed me, as Toby appeared through the door.

“It’s all my fault if I wasn’t so selfish and bitter about the relationship ending this…” Toby said between sobs. “Ok, let’s deal with that when we have some more news on how he is, I better head off to the hospital, and I will call you Nathan when I have a better picture of what is happening,” I responded, and Nathan led Toby out of the office, and they sat down in the staff office, while I headed out of the complex.

Twenty anxious minutes later, I arrived at the hospital and spent another ten minutes trying to find a parking space, and I ended up having to park two blocks away, and walking to the hospital. At the reception area, I presented my ID and explained that I am the guardian for youth detainee Jacob.

I was shocked to learn that Jacob was currently in surgery, to fix a broken leg in two places and a fractured skull and that I can wait in the family lounge on the second floor. What seemed like the whole afternoon, was really just under two hours, when a doctor entered the lounge and asked for a Mr Langston, and it took a moment to realise that he was calling my name, before jumping out of the chair.

“I was led out into the passageway, where we stopped. “Jacob was bashed fairly severely, and we had to put him into a coma, as he has severe swelling on his brain. The breaks to his leg will heal in time, as they were clear breaks caused by an extreme force, namely a big and direct kick. You can visit him for a maximum of 15 minutes, but he is sleeping, so you won’t get any response from him,” the doctor informed me as he led the way to the elevators and up to one floor, to the nurse's station there.

A few moments later, I was standing at the doorway to Jacob’s room, he was wired up to heaps of machines, including a breathing machine, and his whole left leg was bandaged.

I held onto his hand and told Jacob that I was here for him and as soon as he gets better, he would be coming home to the project with me. After five minutes with Jacob, I left the room, thanked the nurses as I passed, and I headed back to my car. Instead of heading back to the project, I decided to take some action in regards to Jacob’s welfare, so I headed to the Children’s court, to get an alteration to the sentence.

After passing through the security gates, I headed to the café to get a cup of tea, before I start making enquiries, and as I waited for my order the Magistrate who sentenced Jacob appeared at the café. “One strong black coffee please Alissa, it has been one difficult day,” I heard her say to the lady at the café counter.

“Yes, your honour that is indeed true, Jacob the 16 year- old lad that you sentenced to three months detention, is now in hospital fighting for his life, because you sent him to the same place that his former gang members were sentenced to,” I said in an angry tone, and I saw two security guards approach, which the magistrate held up her hand to indicate that she was ok.

“The guardian of Jacob, am I correct?” the Magistrate asked me, and I took a breath, to calm down before replying. “Yes, your honour, and my apologies for the hostile comment,” I replied, “That is perfectly understandable, once I have my coffee, can you please follow me to my chambers,” the Magistrate said to me, “Yes Ma’am, and thank you for your precious time,” I replied.

A few minutes later, after passing through three secure doors, we arrived in her office, and I was told to take a seat, “Now Mr Langston was it?” the Magistrate asked, “Yes ma’am, Hunter Langston,” I responded. “What is your connection with Jacob, and how exactly did you get to become his guardian? As I have a feeling that there is a lot more to this story,” the Magistrate said to me.

“There is ma’am, I am the director of a privately owned and financed facility that helps homeless young people,” I replied, “The Discovery Project, yes I know of it, but it is very difficult to get any more information about the project,” the Magistrate said which caught me by surprise. “You have heard of us, Ma’am? Can I ask how you learnt about the project?” I asked, and the Magistrate smiled.

“I am a close friend of your Chairman, Mr Grantley, who he let it slip about the project, one evening during dinner, and when I tried to get more information, he refused to do so. I have attempted to get information from other sources, but have come to a brick wall, I do know that you have a retired police detective amongst your staff, from what I was told by the Deputy Commissioner, who informed me that the detective simply resigned, instead of revealing any information.

If I had known that Jacob was a client of the Project, there may have been a different outcome, and I am sorry to say, I was not aware that other gang members were also detained at the Youth Detention Centre when I sentenced him to three months detention, and yes I have been informed that Jacob is now in hospital.

I have also seen a newspaper article about the unusual drop in numbers of street kids in the past few months. I think that it is time that you welcome a new member to your management, or whatever Mr Grantley is part of,” the Magistrate said to me. “It is a Board of Trustees Ma’am, who oversee our work and make occasion inspections when needed, and I send weekly reports to the board on what has been happening, and you will have to discuss the possibility of being involved with Mr Grantley” I responded.

“Interesting, and who owns the properties where this Discovery Project is located?” the Magistrate asked me, “Most of it is owned by myself. I originally bought the three parcels of land as an investment, and when my son went missing, and my ex-wife didn’t inform me until a week after he went missing, I decided what to use the land for. Thankfully my son contacted me, and we were able to quickly find him unharmed, and he resides with me now at the project.

An interesting twist of fate regarding the warehouse that was burnt by the street gang, of which Jacob is a former member of, is that it is now owned by the Board of Trustees and is currently being cleaned up to be included in the project,” I replied. “I see, so the Discovery Project is close to this warehouse that was burnt?” the Magistrate asked, “Yes Ma’am, right across the street actually, but only the Board of Trustees and the project staff know this, and now you of course,” I stated.

“Not even the clients know it’s location?” the Magistrate asked, “No Ma’am, we collect the new clients up at 9 pm and there are a number of street lights out in the area of the project, so it is difficult to see street signs in that area, which has beneficial to us” I explained.

“Ok, I am making an order to adjust my sentencing on Jacob, so that when he is released from hospital, he is to be of good behaviour, while under your care for a period of no less than six months,” the Magistrate announced to me. “Thank you, ma’am, that is very much appreciated, and thank you again for your time to speak to me” I responded.

“That is fine, and I doubt that this will be the last we will see of each other, goodbye for now,” the Magistrate said to me smiling, as I stood and bowed my head in respect, before leaving the Magistrate’s inner office. Back at the project, I called Mr Grantley, to let him know of my meeting with his friend the Magistrate, and what I had told her about the project, and that she had expressed an interest in being involved somehow.

After the call, I went looking for Toby and found him playing Soccer with the other clients, as I watched the game from the mezzanine hall, above the gym and between the two soccer pitches, and where Nathan, Charles and Scott were also watching the game.

“I’m glad you are all here together, I have some interesting news. Firstly, about Jacob, he is in an induced coma, as he has some swelling on the brain, and they need his body to recover from the trauma, but the doctor I spoke to says he should make a good recovery. He also has a badly fractured leg, which will also heal, so we just have to wait and see how he recovers.

On a good note, I went to the courthouse straight afterwards, and by chance bumped into the magistrate who sentenced Jacob this morning, and she invited me to her office and we had a good chat. She has a tiny bit of knowledge about the project, thanks to a slip up on the part of our board chairman, and I decided to let her know a bit more about the project, as she has expressed an interest in being involved in some way.

She has adjusted her sentencing on Jacob, so when he is released from hospital, he will be returned here on good behaviour for six months,” I announced, and I watched Toby carefully as I said this, and he smiled, which I was glad to see, and I glanced at Nathan, who nodded his head also smiling. “That is the reaction we were hoping you will give us, thank you, Toby.

We will have at least two weeks before Jacob arrives back, so until then it is back to work,” I said, before heading back downstairs. Later that afternoon, just before dinner, I was with Charles and Brent, in the tennis court area behind the dining room and kitchen, when a mobile rang, and it was Charles’s phone.

“Hello Aunty, this is an unexpected call, I hear you have had a run in with my boss this morning?” we heard Charles said, which has Brent and I confused. “You are where? Of course, there is no entry there no more, we have a special entry for the project, go around to the street behind it and park at the number 12 house, next door to the café, we will meet you there, bye,” Charles said before ending the call.

“She isn’t related to me, but she is my Godmother, that is why I call her aunty,” Charles explained, “Who are you talking about, and were you referring to me about this morning?” I asked, even more confused, and Charles laughed. “Yes, I was talking about you, and my god mother is the Magistrate that you spoke to earlier, she is outside the front of the warehouse, so I told her to go around to the house,” Charles explained, as we set off toward the stairs.

When we opened the garage door, we saw a Toyota Corolla car parked in the driveway, and the Magistrate standing outside it leaning against the car. “Pretty average car for a member of the Judiciary,” I commented, as we stepped out of the garage to greet the magistrate.

“Your honour, this is quite a surprise, even more so now that Charles has explained the family connection with you,” I said as I stopped Infront of her and shook her hand. “I am off duty now, so you can call me Mrs Carlmichael, except for Charles of course,” the Magistrate said smiling, and she gave him a hug.

“We are about to have dinner with the clients, would you like to join us Aunty?” Charles said, “I have no plans, so yes that would be nice thank you, Mrs Carlmichael replied and I led the way into the garage and through to the small lounge, with Brent following behind Charles and our guest, to close the garage door.

“This has got me very intrigued, how are we supposed to get from this house to the warehouse at the front?” she asked us, “Just follow Hunter, Aunty and you will find out, and we have two warehouses operational actually,” Charles replied, as I led the way through the kitchen and into the pantry, where we had left the doors open, and I headed down the stairs.

Once we were all in the cellar, I unlocked and opened the door into the passageway, “This is our main entry to the project ma’am, the clients arrive at night time, so they cannot see where the house is located, and after they are processed, they are led down here and over to the main building,” I explained, as we walked down the passageway, stopping at the first junction.

“That passageway leads to the second warehouse, which consists mostly of sports facilities and the four senior staff and family accommodation, as nearly all the staff live onsite. The main building has on the first floor, 20 client bedrooms, which are twin share with private bathroom, there is also the accommodation for the remaining 8 permanent staff, and two junior staff, on the second floor. We also have four classrooms, a music room, library, gymnasium, plus a climbing rock wall and billiards room for recreation,” I explained.

“Well that is certainly a lot of things for such a small area,” Mrs Carlmichael responded. “It isn’t exactly small aunty, there is plenty of recreation and lounge space, including two television rooms, a big open lounge, and administration centre, and on the top floor we have workshops, vegetable gardens and chooks,” Charles said.

“Now that seems a little far-fetched,” Mrs Carlmichael said as we entered the lower level of the main building. “This is the Education centre, with two of the classrooms used for arts and general activities, we have one qualified teacher, who is our director, but we also have staff who have degrees, which helps to cover all the teaching classes.

I myself am a builder and landscape gardener, and I teach Horticulture, your God son, as you may know is a qualified Electrician and Civil engineer, so he teaches mathematics and science, my partner Kurt is a chef and paramedic, and he teaches Information and Technology, our deputy director - Nathan, who is a psychologist and an executive chef, teaches Humanity and Social Sciences, and Scott our other senior staff member who is a social worker & counsellor, teaches Arts and music, Brent explained.

“We have six other staff, Julian a recently retired Police detective, who is a general helper, his partner Greg who was a Station commander, but now a part time Fire officer, and he teaches the sports classes, as we have tennis courts, soccer pitches, and basketball courts.

The remaining four are house staff, Samantha is a registered Nurse, her partner Kirsty is a paramedic like Kurt, and the newest staff are Anna and Mary, who are auxiliary staff, mostly responsible for keeping the place clean,” I said. “We have four teaching classes and a sports class each day, six days a week, to keep everyone occupied, and on Sundays we do recreation activities, like archery, rock wall climbing, fencing and sports, so we are kept on our toes,” Charles added, as we headed up the stairs to the ground level of the main building.

“Well, I certainly didn’t expect this, it is magnificent,” Mrs Carmichael stated when she first saw the central atrium, and we continued on into the dining room, where there was light chatter, as the clients ate their dinner. Most of the clients didn’t even take notice of us entering, and heading for the kitchen servery, except for one.

“Hello your honour,” one voice said loud enough for everyone to hear, and the place went suddenly quiet. “People, this is Mrs Carlmichael, a children’s court magistrate, who has come to see what we do here at the Discovery Project, please continue your meals,” I called out to everyone, and they did as I asked, with some watching as we headed towards the servery.