A Child's Haven - 37. Chapter 37

Beth came over to me, “All of the kids have had their shower. They want to know if it’s ok if they can get dressed.”

Looking at my watch, and if lunch was in 30 minutes, they could get dressed if they hurried. I knew my mom was watching me to see what I would do. “Beth, tell them they can get dressed, but they must sit at the table until it’s time to eat. Explain that if they spill food on their clothes, we won’t have time to wash them before leaving. They’ll have time after they eat to get dressed. They can wear their new shoes now.”

I watched as Beth told them what I had said. “Mom, have all the kids been given their clothes?”

“Yes, even the latest to join the group.”

“Good”

“Brad, relax, everything is going to be ok.”

“I’ll be back; I need to check on Amir and Mrs. Jenkins.” I intended to do that and to arrange for the security of the property while we were gone. I called the security company and asked if they could send security people to cover Sanctuary while we were gone. Now to see Mrs. Jenkins, “Mrs. Jenkins, I have arranged to have security people here while we’re gone. They should be here before we leave. I just wanted you to know so that you won’t be alarmed. I’m sure Bubba will tell you all about it when we come back.”

“I want to thank you for accepting Bubba as you have. He’s so excited. You’ll let me know if he misbehaves.”

“Bubba never misbehaves. I have a surprise for Bubba when we get back. I’ll let him tell you.”

Leaving Mrs. Jenkins, I headed to see Amir. As usual, Jeff was sitting beside him on the bed. “Amir, I think you should get dressed for the show. It’s going to take you longer than the rest, so let’s do it now. If you need help, Jeff can help you, and I can ask Andy to help as well.”

“How are we going to transport Amir?”

“I was thinking about trying the wheelchair on the back of the bus and pulling him along.” Amir looked shocked, but Jeff knew I was kidding and started to laugh at Amir’s expression.

“We’ll carry you, Amir, onto the bus and put the wheelchair in the undercarriage. When we get to the theater, we will put you into your wheelchair and push you to the elevator. Jeff, I want you on my bus and you also, Amir. We have the balcony section, so when we get there, organize the kids so the small ones get the front row and then work for the group as to height. I’ll announce before we board the bus. I think you and Andy should get dressed now, be the first in line so you can be finished eating, which should give you both time to help Amir board the bus. So how does that sound, Amir, Jeff?”

They nodded their head, and then Jeff left to get their clothes. I sent Pat to find Andy, and then I told him what I told Jeff and Amir.

Time was ticking, and so were my nerves. I went and took another shower, shaved, and got dressed, except for my suit coat, which I put on the bus. When I walked into the dining hall, the tension was felt.

“OK, let me have your attention. I have asked Amir, Jeff, and Andy to get dressed for the show. Please let them get their trays first. While you’re eating, they’ll lift Amir into the bus. When you’re done eating, wash your face and hands, you can use the shower room or the toilets at the end of the cocoons. Get dressed and head for the buses. Start filling up one bus, then move on to the next. I’m asking the older kids to help the younger kids so we can quickly get moving. When we get to the theater, I’ll pull up to the entrance. You’ll stay on the bus until Amir is off and in his wheelchair. You’ll follow Jeff, Andy, and Amir into the theater. We’ll be sitting in the balcony. I’ve told Jeff and Andy I wanted the short kids in front and the back’s taller kids. Follow Jeff and Andy’s instructions, and that way, everyone will be able to see. Any questions? Good. I’m sure you’ll have questions as we go along. Do not be afraid to ask any adult in the bus your question.”

As I finished, Jeff, Andy, and Amir came into the dining hall. All dressed for the theater. They looked very sharp. The kids all looked at them and smiled. They knew they would look just as good. “There is one other item I was going to discuss on the buses, but since everyone is here, I’ll do it now. There’ll be people watching us as we leave the bus. If they ask you who you are or what’s Sanctuary, tell them to ask one of the adults. What I’m going to tell them that Sanctuary is a school for gifted individuals. In my opinion, you all are gifted individuals, so I won’t be telling a fib. How do the shoes fit?”

The noisy response was something else. If you want to know what 200 kids yelling ‘good,’ turn your radio all the way up. The sound bounced off the walls, which made the echoing effect even more pronounced.

Soon I saw Mario and Adam bringing in lunch. They were dressed but had full aprons on. Our security people showed up, I invited them to lunch, the police who were going to go with us as additional security showed up, and of course my friends, Murray and O’Shea, came, and they knew they were invited to lunch. Mom stayed, and I think she had arranged with Mrs. Jenkins to help with the clean-up.

When they finished lunch, they went to dress; we had a moment to discuss how we would handle the bus unloading and subsequent parking. I noticed the police who were going with us, looking at the kids as they came down dressed in their new clothes. They looked sharp, and I was proud of them. When all of them were in the hall, I introduced the security people who would be riding the bus. I did not mention they were police; of course, they all knew Murray and O’Shea.

Jeff and Andy came back in, nodded to me that Amir was on the bus. I went to the back door, “Jeff, be sure you and Andy are on the same bus as Amir. I’ll be driving that bus along with Steve. When bus one is filled, move to bus two and continue until all of the buses are full. Place something on your seat so no one will take it.”

“We put Amir on the front seat on the right side. I told him that a security person was going to sit next to him. I’ll tell him to save the two seats across from him.”

“OK, kids, I want you to line up and follow Jeff and Andy. Go single file, and we can load the buses in 15 minutes; no running or pushing.

The boys started to fall in line behind Jeff and Andy. Andy counted off the boys, and when he had counted enough to fill the first bus, he led them to the next bus. Jeff took the last group and helped them board the last bus. When everyone was boarded, I led the group around to the front of the building and then drove to the theater. The kids were very quiet, but you could feel the excitement. When we arrived at the theater, it was exactly as Tony said it would be. The entrance where a bus would stop was roped off. There were police cars parked across the street. I pulled up and stopped. I looked in the mirror, and a few kids had tears in their eyes. I opened the door; Steve got out, followed by Jeff and Andy. Once the wheelchair was opened, Steve went and lifted Amir out and placed him in the chair. Jeff and Andy moved toward the theater. The kids left the bus in a very orderly fashion and followed Amir. A police officer stepped into the bus and drove it away so the second bus could move up and unload. That continued until all of the kids were unloaded and headed toward the theater. I thanked the officers who stood there, making sure there’d be no problems. “Tony, do you have the spare tickets?”

He took an envelope out of his pocket and gave it to me. As I looked over the crowd, I saw an older woman holding the hands of two kids. I asked the policeman if he could ask her and the kids to come to the rope. When she did, I asked if the kids were her grandchildren. “Yes, their parents are out of town on business, so I’m watching them.”

I stooped down to talk to the kids. “Is this lady your grandmother?” The kids nodded their heads yes. “Do you think she might enjoy watching the play, Lion King?” The oldest looked at his grandmother, another nod, yes. “Grandmother, you are a lucky person. The grandchildren insisted that you’d like to watch the Lion King. So here are three tickets for the balcony with the rest of my children.”

The police officer lifted the rope, and the grandmother and the kids entered the theater. Tony was watching what I was doing, and when they entered, he showed them where the elevator to the balcony was located. I still had tickets left. A boy about 11 and a girl about 7 asked if they could have a ticket. I asked them where are your parents. The boy said his mother worked at the restaurant next to the theater. “Go and ask her for permission.” He left his sister and ran to the restaurant. A little while later, a waitress came out and looked at where the girl was standing. She came over to ask that what her son said was true.

I said it was, but she’d have to give her permission. She looked at her son, “be good,” and she went back to work. I gave the two kids their tickets and showed them where Tony was standing. I had three tickets left. I looked around the crowd. One boy had what appeared to be dressed in hand me down clothes, but they were clean, and he was also clean. I invited him over to the rope. I asked him what his name was and was he alone. He said he was to meet his father when he got off work. I asked what time and it turned out it was ½ hour after the show. I gave him a ticket and pointed to Tony. I was down to two tickets when a police officer came over, “These two kids are good kids. I know them. They’re my neighbors. They don’t have much, and I kind of look out for them.”

“Say no more, here take these tickets and that man will tell you where to go. Thank you, Officer. I haven’t any more tickets, so I better get in there.”

I started to get my ticket, and I couldn’t find it. “Tony, I think I gave away my ticket.”

“I knew you’d probably do that, so I kept one back for you. Let’s go and enjoy the show.”

When we entered the balcony, you could hear a pin drop. The kids were looking everywhere. When the orchestra started, they all jumped, startled. When the curtain went up, I knew I’d hear about this for a long time. I noticed some whispering. I wondered what they were talking about. Pat got up and came over to me, “Dad, see that man sitting in that box.”

“Yes, with the kid.”

“Samuel said that the kid was with him at that building where Amir was found.”

“Are you sure?” He nodded yes, and waved Samuel over. I was watching the man and boy. The boy must have said something. The man slapped him across the face.

“Samuel, are you sure you met that boy where you were being held?”

“Yes, sir, you can ask Amir he saw him also.”

I looked at Amir, and he was frightened. I motioned Murray over, “You boys go back to your seats; I don’t want you to miss the play.”

I told Murray what the boys told me. As we were looking, the man grabbed the boy and shook him by the shoulders. Murray told O’Shea and the other two officers. The Officers left. I kept my eye on the man and the boy. One of the Officers whispered something in the ear of the man. He stood up and went to grab for the boy, but he wasn’t there. The other Officer had the boy. I saw the man being handcuffed and led out of the box. The Officer with the boy came back to the balcony. When he saw Amir and Samuel, he rushed to Amir and started to cry. Jeff picked the boy up and sat him on Amir’s lap. Amir whispered something to the boy. He looked around, and then Jeff got up so he could sit next to Amir. The play continued, and all appear normal. The strange feeling I had was gone.