Salvation - 32. Chapter 31

“Dad, can Mathew and I have bunk beds?”

“Sure if that is what you want Harry. I think there’s a bunk bed that the cabinetmaker has just finished. You can be the first to try out his creation.”

Of course Alex’s eyes lit up again.

The boys haven’t forgotten about pets. It came up at dinner, if we get a dog can we keep it in our room? I’d share my dog. I don’t see why we can’t have a cat if we keep it in our room. And so it went, I knew sooner or later there would be a dog or dogs at the house. I looked at Alex, he was enjoying this.

The trip to Chicago went fine, I met the President at Chicago’s Midway Airport. We had coffee in the first class lounge, he gave me my package and told me they appreciated my help. “We have arranged for one of our units to be delivered to your home as a special thank you.”

“Thank you, that demonstration was very interesting and I’d think every home should have one. It’ll be valuable as a temporary emergency back up particularly if an individual has a medical emergency.”

His eyes sparkled as I, unwittingly, gave him a new market. The unit was design for emergency use by electrical cars.

He said once again how pleased they were with the outcome, and if they needed legal assistance, they would give me a call.

Walking through the terminal, I heard a loud commotion by the rest rooms, Looking in that direction there were three older boys harassing a younger boy. I walked toward them and heard, “Joey, give it to us or we’ll beat the shit out of you.” The young boy had courage, “No, go and work for it. Leave me alone.”

The older boy pulled back his arm to hit the younger boy, I was close enough and grabbed his arm, he didn’t realize that I was standing there. “Get you fucking hands off me or I’ll kick your ass.” He finished that sentence on the floor looking at me.

“Come on Joey, they aren’t going to bother you anymore, got that boys.” I’m not built like a football player, I’m short and skinny, my dad knew that I’d probably be picked on in school, so he made sure I could defend myself. I always chuckle when someone thinks they can take advantage of me because of my size and they find out differently.

“Joey, let’s go and get something to drink.”

We walked into the airport cafeteria, I took a tray, “Would you like a sandwich?” He shook his head yes, I then knew he was hungry. I’d make sure he had enough to eat, I smiled as I also knew that this would be the last time he’d need to go hungry.

After he had eaten, I took him to one of those mall shops where they sell souvenirs, t-shirts, etc. I bough him two t-shirts, Going to a quiet corner, I told him to take off his torn shirt and wear one of these. While he was putting on the new shirt, I put the old shirt in the bag. One of the three boys came and gabbed the bag and ran. I started to laugh as I showed Joey, I had the other new shirt. Then he laughed as well.

Joey’s eyes got big as we walked toward my plane. Jimmy was at the base of the stairs waiting for me. He pointed behind me, I turned and there were the three boys, running toward us. “Joey, see that man there, go there now.”

Joey looked at Jimmy and the three boys, ran to Jimmy. Jimmy hustled him aboard the plane, then came back to see if I needed and help. The first boy to reach me ran into my fist, ergo a bloody nose. That stopped the other two, giving Jimmy to join me.

“I told you boys to back off, this is the last time.”

“Listen old man, you don’t tell us anything.”

“Jimmy, don’t bother, you’ll get blood on your clothes.”

Within a few minutes three boys were on the ground, one holding his privates, the other with a bloody nose and the big shot with a wrenched shoulder. The police arrived and that was it for the three boys, I gave my statement, Jimmy gave his. They wanted to talk to Joey, Jimmy led them onto the plane, they took Joey’s story.

“Jimmy let’s get ready to leave.”

“Joey, I have to go to L. A. for business, while there I’ll buy you some new clothes. We’ll stay at a hotel with Jimmy and the pilots. Then when I’m finished, we’ll fly to my home where you’ll meet my other sons.”

I was glad Alex was at my home, he could fix Joey up with papers.

The flight to L. A. was routine. I checked everyone into a hotel close to the airport. The first thing was to get Joey settled and in new clothes. I found a shop that sold clothes for teen agers, then the fun started. “Sir, I don’t need new clothes, these just need to be washed.”

“No, I’d like to buy you new clothes, humor an old man.” That seemed to work, three pair of jeans, underwear, (found out later he didn’t have any on), shirts, mostly tees, socks, tennis shoes and sleeping sweats. Loaded we headed back to the hotel.

“Joey, I want you to go and take a shower, remember to brush your teeth. Take these clothes with you.”

I called Don, Ronnie and Jimmy asking them if they wanted to meet at the hotel dining room for a late lunch. They agreed, we set a time of 2.