A Child's Haven - 83. Chapter 83

Talking to the captain, we decided we’d head toward the Caribbean. We had plenty of time to get back in time to watch the fireworks. I told the adults what we were going to do and that we wouldn’t have much time in port, but we could return after the fireworks. I didn’t tell the kids. They felt the ship moving but just thought it was natural. Fishing continued until one of the kids saw some land.

“Dad, what’s that land there?”

“Let’s go and ask Captain Rockford, Little John.”

When we entered the bridge, Little John’s eyes got big. I didn’t realize that none of the kids have ever been to the bridge. “Captain, this little man wants to know, what’s that land.”

The captain picked up Little John, “Do you mean that land?” From the bridge, you could see the island as we approached. Little John shook his head yes. “That’s a private island owned by one of the cruise lines. We’re going to stop there for eight hours, and then we will head back to where Jimmy Bob caught that fish. Once we have seen the fireworks, we’ll head back here, and then you can spend more time on that island or another island.”

He jumped down and ran to tell the others; they all ran to the ship’s front to see the island. Since the cruise line hadn’t planned on stopping there, there was no one on the island. Generally, if they plan on stopping, they’d have staff there.

The mates took the kids to the island on the lifeboats and waited until it was time to return. We had to look at all the shells they collected. I was glad we had the lockers because the cocoons were going to be full. Once back on the ship, we headed back to where Jimmy Bob caught the fish. The boys fished from the sides as we headed back. I noticed the wives of our special security detail teaching the girls how to knit. I just found my home economics teachers. Now, to convince the ladies to join Sanctuary.

After dinner, we all met on the deck to watch the fireworks. As we were sitting there chatting, we looked up, and there was a firework going off to our right. It wasn’t coming from the land but the sea. I went to the bridge, the captain was laughing, “Did I scare you?”

“Well, a little. I thought there was another ship close to us.”

“I bought some fireworks so we could have our own display.”

“That’s a great idea, I’m glad to know that I don’t need to worry about the kids, I’m always on alert. The only time I’m not on alert is when I’m in Sanctuary. Maybe there’ll be a day when I’ll feel that comfortable on the ship. I haven’t got to that feeling on the island yet. But I’ll get there, sometime.”

The rest of the cruise went very well. The fireworks were spectacular, and the ones the captain had been just as spectacular. The kids talked about them even after we got home. I didn’t realize it, but some of the kids never saw fireworks. It’s a shame what we take for granted.

The New Year promised new challenges and new opportunities. Our private security guard ladies did accept to come over for a few hours each day, except the weekend, to teach the girls various crafts such as knitting and crochet. I’m sure when I get the sewing machines, they’ll make clothes. Maybe I’ve got the seed of a famous clothes designer among the girls.

Adam, Jeff, and Andy went back to college. Beth passed her GED and now was deciding what career she would pursue. I know these are challenging times for students to make life-defining decisions. So I waited until Beth indicated where or what she was going to pursue. With her gone, I was going to need a back up in the induction office, although we have been slow these last few months. I think we haven’t had any new kids since Nick arrived.

It was about a week later that Beth said she wanted to go to a secretarial school. She talked to Tony’s secretary, and she liked the work of the induction office. I congratulated her on her choice and told her we’d look for the city’s best program. I later found a program at the community college that would confer an Associate’s Degree when she completed the course. I took her for an interview, she liked what she heard, and when I told her that Sanctuary would pay her fees, she was even more excited. I know she told Clair all about it that evening. Beth was a good worker and had a great personality. I know she’ll do very well at the college.

It was the middle of April when we were notified that one of the new centers in the next State was having a problem with their version of Sanctuary. They asked that I visit to evaluate the center to see how they may correct their problems. I asked Tony to come with me, and we made arrangements to visit at the end of the following week.

“Tony, do you have any idea why their organization might be having problems?”

“I think that it’s a matter of commitment. Look at our organization. All of us are committed to what’s best for the kids. We don’t worry about making a lot of money; we don’t worry about people asking us for our autographs. Kids are smart, particularly the kids from the street. They can tell if someone is sincere or saying words as if they were from a script. It’d be hard for someone to match your commitment, and don’t forget the money that Sanctuary requires to operate.”

“I can understand the money issue, particularly if they are State-funded. But the commitment to the project has to be there. You’re right; those kids can pick up on that fast. Even our kids had their doubts, remember the play, Lion King and the zoo. They were beginning to doubt us, the painting project, we had a lot of doubters, and now whenever we say something they believe it’ll happen, we have trust, and we have had to earn that.”