Chapter 1

Lisa Andrews answered the phone after three rings. She sounded as if she were in the final mile of a marathon. “Hello.”

“Hi Honey, it’s me,” Jason said.

“Jason? Where are you? Chad is getting restless and I’m starving.”

“Sorry Lisa. A woman with two kids just walked in and they don’t have anywhere to go. I wanted to make sure they had some food and a place to sleep tonight.”

Jason knew that Lisa was often irritated by his ‘after hours’ work at the homeless shelter, but it was also what she loved most about him—his compassionate nature and his inability to turn away a person in need.

“Well how long are you going to be? Chad knows it’s his birthday and he will not stop telling me. He is running around like a wild man and I can’t calm him down.”

Behind his wife’s exasperated voice Jason heard Chad ranting, “FO’ YEAS ODE, FO’ YEAS ODE.” He bit back a smile. He could almost see his pudgy faced, blonde haired boy holding up four fingers, proudly stating his new age.

Lisa covered the receiver of the phone and spoke to Chad, “For God sakes kid, I know you are four years old.” Jason could picture her smiling on the other end of the phone line as well. Chad had a way of making you laugh anytime he got excited. His blue eyes would narrow and a mischievous smile would spread across his dimpled cheeks. A look that was both devilish and innocent at the same time.

“Lisa,” Jason said, “why don’t you take your car and I’ll just meet you there? I shouldn’t be more than fifteen minutes from leaving.”

“Are you sure honey? Because we can wait if you want.” In the background the “FO’ YEAS ODE” grew louder.

“No, that’s silly. I’ll see you there in a few minutes. Let me say hi to the birthday boy.”

Jason heard the chanting stop. The phone muffled a bit, and then, “Hi daddy, I’m fo’ yeas ode.”

“I know Chadderbox,” Jason’s said using the boy’s aptly given nickname, “and I’m gonna see you real soon. And wait until you see what I got for you.” He looked down at the small personalized license plate with the name “CHAD” printed on it. It was only a part of his birthday present. The rest of his present was a new bicycle with training wheels that Jason had spent all night piecing together. Chad would find that when they got home from dinner at his favorite restaurant, Chuck E. Cheese’s.

“You know where we’re going, don’t you kiddo?”

“Chuckie’s,” Chad shouted with glee.

“That’s right,” Jason confirmed, “we’re going to Chuckie’s for your birthday.”

“Fo’ Yeas Ode,” the boy reminded his father. “And mommy says she has a special present for me.”

“Does she now?” Jason laughed, “I love you Chadderbox. I will see you real soon. Put mommy back on the phone.”

“I wuv you too daddy.”

Chad handed the phone back to Lisa, who was laughing. “You see, I think next year we shouldn’t tell him it’s his birthday.” The “FO’ YEAS ODE” chant resumed.

Jason scoffed at his wife’s plan. “Oh honey, let the kid be proud.”

“Okay, but I’m gonna make you sleep with him tonight. Let you listen to this all night long.”

“Cruel and unusual, Lisa. Cruel and unusual.”

“I love you Jason. See you soon.”

“I can’t wait,” Jason smiled into the phone, “I love you too.”

Jason hung up the phone and couldn’t help but laugh at the conversation he had had with his son. Chadderbox was a handful, but he was everything to Jason; both he and Lisa. They were his life.

As he stood up a thought nagged him. Mommy says she has a special present for me, Chad had said. Lisa hadn’t said anything to Jason. What could that be, he wondered. He dismissed the thought as he walked back out to the shelter lobby, to the woman and her two children.

Janice Steadman sat in the lobby, her two sons, Rory and Michael, by her side. The plates of food Jason had given them had been licked clean. The cups of milk were bone dry.

“Did you get enough to eat? Would you like more?” Jason asked with care.

Janice said nothing but slowly shook her head, indicating that she was full. The boys looked at Jason with soulful eyes, nodding that they too had had enough to eat.

“Well why don’t you follow me and I will show you where you can sleep tonight. There is a shower to clean yourself up, and we have some counselors here that can help you tomorrow morning.”

Jason took them to the main sleeping area. Multiple rows of cots lined the gymnasium-sized room. Only half were occupied. The overhead lights flickered slightly, as a few of the tubes were beginning to burn out. The faint smell of sweat was dominated by disinfectant, leaving an unpleasantly sterile odor. Those who worked there had gotten used to it, and those who stayed there didn’t care. It was a roof over their heads.

Jason led them to the far end where three empty cots sat together. Motioning for Janice to take them, he said, “If there is anything we can do for you Ms. Steadman, please let me know.”

Janice sat down on one cot and the boys followed suit. Jason watched them for a second. In all of his time volunteering at the shelter, this always made him feel worse than anything else. He had no idea what Ms. Steadman had done to wind up here, but these two boys had done nothing wrong. They were merely victims of circumstance, caught in a web that they had not woven. He wished he could do more for them, but he had learned that while caring for these people and helping them was fine, you don’t ever let them in to your personal life. They might have wonderful intentions, but desperation makes people do crazy things.

“Sleep well Ms. Steadman. I hope I will see you tomorrow,” Jason said.

In his experience, about eighty percent of the people who came in were just looking for a place to crash for the night and were gone by sunrise. Only a few really wanted help and stayed to speak to the state-paid counselors who were on staff. Jason turned to walk away when he heard a thin, raspy, and quiet voice, “Sir?”

He turned back to find Ms. Steadman staring at him while slowly rising to her feet. She started walking in his direction. Tears glistened in her hollow eyes. Her bony hand trembled as she reached out towards Jason. He thought it would crumble like sandstone when he took it. And then she spoke.

“Thank you so much for your kindness.” She whispered, “It means everything to my boys and me.” She clasped her free hand on top of his. “I will never forget this. May God bless you forever.”

May God bless you forever.

The words echoed endlessly. And each echo was followed by the thunderous sound of metal twisting, sirens wailing, and Chad incessantly ranting “FO’ YEAS ODE.”

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