A Child's Haven - 11. Chapter 11

At lunch, I gave Tony the receipt for the buses. “Who has a list of the bus drivers the school retired? I’ll need bus drivers, on-call more or less, so I think retired drivers might fit the bill.”

“You can call the bus company or the Board of Education. I’d start with the bus company. I’ll get you the address and phone number.”

“Thanks, Tony. You always pull through.”

“We’ll see how he does on the tickets.”

“I plan on doing something at least once a month. Since they are all going to see Lion King, the next trip will be to the zoo and then maybe a ball game. Just something to take them away from being closed up in Sanctuary.”

“That’s a good idea, and with the buses, it could even be a ride in the country with a picnic or to a park. This is one of your better ideas.”

“Thanks, Tony. Abe, how are the plans for the third floor coming along?”

“They’re done. Are you planning on presenting them to the Board?”

“No, I thought since you are now on the Board, you can present the plans. If you need help, I’ll step in.”

Tony started to laugh, “So you also fell in the trap. I think anyone who helps Brad eventually gets on the Board.”

“Hey guys, you’ve become my best friends, and who better to have your back than your best friends.”

Laughing, we entered the restaurant; a waiter seated us and took our drink order, as one, we said hot tea. Who goes to a Chinese restaurant and doesn’t order hot tea.

When he brought us our tea, he handed us a menu. Tony knew what he wanted and ordered right away. Abe looked at the menu and order General Tso’s chicken. “You know that’s hot, right?”

I ordered hot and sour soup for all of us. I order egg rolls, steamed dumplings, steak on a stick, and ribs. “Sir, those are all appetizers.”

“Yes, I know, for me they’re the best. I like the appetizers and tell the owner he should make them a special meal.”

The waiter looked at me and laughed, walking away, shaking his head. “Do you always do that in a Chinese restaurant?”

“Yea, I like the appetizers. You’ll see, it’ll be a meal in itself.”

The waiter brought us our soup, and when he went back into the kitchen, I noticed one of the cooks looking out at us. He was probably trying to figure out who the nut was that ordered all of the appetizers.

“Any idea when the offices will be ready?”

“The offices should be ready in four weeks, but the elevator will be a total of six weeks. Have you given any idea to the elevator for the main building?”

“No more than what I told you. I’d like to have it before the weather turns bad, but at least if they can get the foundation in then, maybe we’ll make it.”

“I got Mrs. Jenkins to outline the cook shack. Do you want to see it before the Board meeting? I also included a closed corridor from the cook shack to the dining hall.”

“No, I’ll wait until the Board meeting. I forgot about a corridor from the cook shack. I should have thought about that. This reminds me, Tony, I want to buy that vacant lot next to Sanctuary. Can you check that for me?”

“What are you going to do there?”

“Well, I have two thoughts, one is a playground for the kids, and the other is a vegetable garden. Mrs. Jenkins has asked for an herb garden, and that should be close to the cook shack.”

“Maybe you can have both. The lot on the other side of you is available. The city wants to tear down that building, and I think we can make a deal if you’ll assume the responsibility of tearing it down.”

“Yea, we could do that. That would be perfect. Then I can have both. Will you take that as a project?”

“For you sure.”

“You might as well give in because you know at the end you’ll give in. Abe, be careful, he’ll send a teary eye kid to you, and there is no way you’re going to say no.”

“Yes, I get that feeling also.”

“Oh, come on, guys, you love helping those kids out. Just admit it and get on with business.”

Walking back to Sanctuary, they were laughing at me. Making comments, he has taught those kids to make sad faces and to cry on command. They were teasing me, but it was alright. They’re my best friends and are committed to Sanctuary as much as I am.