Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
The Lottery - 6. Chapter 6
Arriving home, the question of what to do with the girl. Paul solved that problem, he and Todd would move to a tent, and the girl could have their room. Problem solved, I was ready for bed.
Breakfast in the morning was cereal with fruit and orange juice. James arrived with blueprints for the dormitory. I looked them over while James explained them. I agreed and signed the contract. My audience had to see them as well, “We approve, Dad.” I smiled at James.
“That very afternoon before we left, men started to arrive and work on tearing down the old barn. The fire chief called and asked if he could burn it down as a practice for his firefighters. I looked at James. He said it would save me time and money. I agreed. James said they would start on the septic system then.
I made our trip to the park. We waited for several hours. The boys went out to check the streets. My police friend said he would check as well.
“I wasn’t sure he would, so I decided to drive to the park every other day.
The next day was another trip to the barber and a hair salon this time. Then shopping again, stopping off to order pizzas to be delivered. I used the time when I didn’t go to the park to catch up on my paperwork.
The boys kept me up to date on the construction. With James’s help, I order the industrial-sized equipment for the laundry and kitchen. I went and bought 24 peeps and feed. Now the boys volunteered to take care of the peeps. I contacted one of the farmers and arranged for him to plow some of my fields and plant corn. I was amazed at how everything is now being done with machines. This also allowed me to explained what was going on. I couldn’t hide the construction of the dorms.
“I made another trip to the park. There were two boys there. “The policeman said for us to wait and you would be back.”,
I smiled, “Yes, I’ll always come back as long as there are boys who need our help.” I didn’t need to sell my plan anymore. My boys did that. We took three boys home that night.
Things changed in our town. Now all I needed to do was to call the clothing store, with sizes and they delivered. The barbershop sent out two barbers on their days off to cut hair. The local hospital sent out two nurse practitioners to check the kids.
It seemed the community was in full support of what I was doing. As soon as the building is finished, I will turn my efforts toward education.
“I was down to making only three trips a week to the park in DC. Sometimes there would be no one, sometimes one or two. I must have been successful in taking these kids off the street. On one of the trips home, I stopped at a park in Alexandria. Todd was with me, “I’m going to walk around, Dad.”
I heard, “I’m telling you the truth. Come home with us. You get fed, a place to sleep, and a lot of brothers. We even have this swimming pool.”
“As Todd walked around the side of the truck, I saw he had two boys with him. One looked much older. “Dad, this is Jimmy and Dale. They are brothers.”
“Hi boys, Todd, get them a sandwich, milk, and a piece of fruit.”
The one which I suspect was Dale, the older boy, “He says that you have a lot of boys at your place. Is that true?
“Yes, we have a lot of boys. They came from DC. Todd was one of the first boys that came home with me. You’re welcome to come as well. The choice is yours.”
I heard the one called Jimmy, “Dale, I want to go with them. I’m afraid to be in this park. There are too many creeps.”
“I waited to see what they would do. It was Todd who convinces them. “Look, you can always leave if you don’t like it.”
“We’ll be right back.”
They came back with two large suitcases. Driving home, “I can drive, I have my license.”
“Do you have it with you?”
“No, but I can write to them and get a copy.”
“We’ll do that as soon as we can before the weekend is over.”
I think he was surprised when we pulled into the farm. The boys came out to help unload the truck. Since we don’t go every day, we must unpack the food truck.”
“In the morning, I prepared another big breakfast. I say I,, but that is a misnomer. The boys prepared breakfast. We had to eat outside on the picnic tables. There was no room in the house.
By the end of the day, the new boys were incorporated into our family.
- 35
- 16
- 1
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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