Jack pulled up to the little gray building carefully, his eyes
watching
through the rain for a single figure. He spotted her huddled in the
doorway,
safe from the rain but cowering from the world. He sat for a moment and
let
the memories flood over him like the slow steady rain beating on the
cold
ground. She was just a shadow of the girl he once knew. The memories
took him
back through the years and he once again watched her play dolls with
his
daughter Renee. She had been so high-spirited then. Her eyes sparkled
with
playful mischief. The sprinkling of freckles across her nose reminded
him of
a kitten. He could still hear those girls giggle and laugh. All the way
through high school they were never apart. He still wondered where it
had all
gone wrong. Renee left for collage and found a wild crowd along with
her
freedom. Her childhood friend had stayed behind and married. Renee was
soon
lost in a haze and one night simply walked away from the world without
looking back. The police came to the door 2 years later to say they had
found
her. Dead on the streets. She had crawled under a bench in a snowstorm
and
frozen. Somewhere in his grief he had forgotten the haunted eyes that
looked
at him over the cold grave.
It was years before he found Jessie again. Just as the police had found
Renee, he had found Jessie. Now she huddled in the corner waiting for
him to
unlock the doors.
Jack had started Bridges after he had started to reenter the world
again.
It was more than a shelter for the homeless. It was a place to help
them back
on their feet. It was warm clothes, skills taught so that they could
find
jobs, warm food and most of all, friends who cared. Jack had pulled
every
favor he had until the dream became a reality. They ran on nothing more
than
donations. Donations of time, resources and sometimes nothing more that
than
the donation of one person helping another. Everyone was welcome at
Bridges.
And all that was required in return was the willingness to accept a
hand up.
The will to keep going day after day.
When Jack had first seen Jessie after all those years he didn't
even
recognize her. He spotted her looking in the window and eased outside
to
invite her in. The once bright and sparkling blue eyes were now cold
and
lifeless. The freckles covered in dirt and grim from sleeping on the
street.
He knew Jessie recognized him, but she just stood there without saying
a
word. Almost as if she was waiting for her punishment. Punishment for
something she had never done. He gently eased her inside and with slow
patience started to gain her trust. She came everyday now. Although she
hardly ever spoke, she worked tirelessly until the doors were closed at
night. Jack could never manage to give her anything without her working
twice
as hard. Slowly but surely she started to rejoin the world. Almost like
sticking her big toe in a pool of water to see if it was cold.
He remembered that she had once worked in an office and with
careful
acting persuaded her to help him with the files. Then she learned the
books
and finally the computer. Just like always, all she had to do was touch
it
and she knew it. Before long she knew more on the computer than he did.
And
Jack knew then, it was time for the next step. Easing her out into the
working world once again. Nudging her along to rebuild the strength and
determination she had lost. And with a little help from an old friend,
he
knew just how to do it.
Cal Bennett was a local outsider that Jack had come across as a
teenager.
Tall and lanky with long hair and a major problem with authority, he
had
somehow taken to the older man. Just a year older than Renee and
Jessie, he
filled a void when they had grown up and flew away. After Renee died,
Cal had
refused to let Jack push him away and through the years they had built
a
friendship on mutual trust and respect. No matter where Cal's journeys
took
him, he always found time to check up on his old friend. Just two years
ago
Cal came home. And the town welcomed him now as much as they did in his
youth. But Cal set his feet firmly in the ground and refused to budge.
He had
brought back with him two sons, and he was determined to raise them
here.
Whether the town liked it or not. He bought an old motorcycle shop on
the
edge of town and before long his custom Harleys were talked about all
over
the state. He bought the old ones to refurbish and he customized the
newer
ones like no one had ever seen before. Each one was a work of art and
no two
were alike. In two short years his business had grown to 10 helpers and
a
waiting list of customers. Cal had finally given up and hired someone
to help
with the books and keep track of the orders but no one would stay long.
And
now he needed not only someone to help with his work but also with his
boys.
The twins were just like their father with a shock of red hair and
mischief
in every step. Cal was finally at the point that with a little
persuasion
from an old friend, he might just give a helper one more try. And Jack
knew
just the person he needed.
Of course trying to talk Jessie into that frame of mind wouldn't be
quiet as
easy. She refused to even consider it. Then tears came to her eyes and
she
looked at Jack and asked, "Why? Why are you sending me away? What did I
do
wrong? I'll make it up I promise!!! Just don't send me away please
Jack!!!"
It took Jack the rest of the day to calm her and convince her he had no
intention of sending her away. He finally found the right words when he
asked
her for her help. With tears in her eyes she promised to think about
it, then
slipped out the door and was gone. That had been two agonizing days
ago. Now
here she stood, waiting just like she had in the days before, huddled
in the
corner of the door. Jack let out a sigh of relief and eased out of the
old
car. This was not going to be easy. Nothing with Jessie had ever been
easy.
But it was always worth it. And like it or not both Jessie and Cal were
about
to meet their match. In each other. Both carried a gaping wound and
with
time, they just might teach each other to heal.
"Jessie, you worry me sometimes, but then again you wouldn't be you if
you
didn't. Now come on inside and eat so we can get set up for the day."
Jack
said with a stern voice and a smile on his face. Without a word Jessie
followed him inside and started her usual routine. Before long Jack
would
smell hot coffee and soon to follow homemade biscuits. One thing Jessie
didn't forget and that was how to cook. By that time more people
started
wandering in. Before long there was hot food on the tables and kind
hands to
help out. No matter what, they always had three meals here. And so far
out of
all the people who came through that door only a small handful had
turned
their backs and went their way. The rest would soon break up into
groups and
pick up where they had left off the day before. Learning to live again.
Before long Jessie was behind the old wooden desk, papers in hand and
head
bent intently over her work. If nothing else, the cob webs where
leaving and
the intelligence she had shown as a young girl came slowly back to
life. Now
if his plan would only go through. While Jessie's head was down, Jack
eased
off to find the telephone and call his old friend Cal. For the first
time in
two days he had a spring in his step and a smile a mile wide. "This,"
he
thought to himself as he rubbed his hands together, "Will be my finest
hour.
Haha."