Our Pebble in the Pond

Our Pebble In The Pond

by

Merrill J. Davies

Martin Sisters Publishing Company

Our Pebble In The Pond

Martin Sisters Publishing Company

Published by

Martin Sisters Publishing Company

Kentucky, USA

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved

Copyright © 2016 by Merrill J. Davies

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without by monetary gain, is investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or publisher.

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Dedication

I am dedicating this novel to my husband, Bill Davies, who has spent countless hours helping those who, for one reason or another, cannot help themselves. I have never met anyone else who is as dedicated as he is to helping people get back on the road to self-sufficiency. It is not an easy job because many people he helps are their own worst enemies, but he rejoices in the successes he sees and accepts those who fail and want to try again.

What we would like to do is change the world-make it a little simpler for people to feed, clothe, and shelter themselves as God intended for them to do. And, by fighting for better conditions, by crying out unceasingly for the rights of the workers, of the poor, of the destitute…we can, to a certain extent, change the world; we can work for the oasis, the little cell of joy and peace in a harried world. We can throw our pebble in the pond and be confident that its ever widening circle will reach around the world. We repeat, there is nothing that we can do but love, and, dear God, please enlarge our hearts to love each other, to love our neighbor, to love our enemy as well as our friend.

- Dorothy Day

Introduction

My hope is that readers of Our Pebble in the Pond will understand that being unable to rent or own a place to live is not an indication of the kind of person one happens to be. I have talked to many homeless people over the last ten years, and in doing so I have learned that they are as diverse as any other segment of society. There are many reasons people become homeless. When we see homeless people on the street, we often look at them with a critical eye and sometimes with fear. Although it is understandable, it is usually unrealistic. I realize that there are areas where drugs and violence are a part of the homeless existence. There are also groups of houses or apartments where crime runs rampant, but homeless people aren’t necessarily criminals or drug users. Those who seek a place to live and regain their independence in homeless shelters are generally people who just need some help to get back on their feet, regardless of whether they are in a relatively small town in Northwest Georgia, such as the people in this book are, or in a large city.

Although the characters in this novel are fictitious, they are composites of persons who have been homeless for a period of time.

Chapter One

They were certainly not the typical mother-father-kids family. Nevertheless, they were her family. The soft spoken, black skinned Uncle Art and the blond-haired Joshua were a stark contrast, both to each other and to Joy as she watched them enter the room next to her office. A few other workers entered along behind them.

When she had arrived a few years ago, she had nothing. Just as most of the others here, she had come after losing all her material possessions, a place to live, and most of her self esteem. She remembered the first time she had ridden in the taxi down the little secluded road to the neat little building that had a sign on the front lawn that said House of Blessing. From the first days of being a guest to the time she had spent as the executive director, it certainly had been a blessing to her! But that could all change.

This was the third time this week she had called a meeting of all the staff members. If the city commission rezoned the area, the shelter could be closed within a few months. If that happened, the 30-40 residents would be back on the streets, and heaven knows what would happen to them. She appreciated the fact that Joshua, the men’s night manager, and Arthur and all four of his food service helpers had dutifully come again. Joy knew that the key to getting cooperation from the residents was to have the staff committed to encouraging exemplary conduct both in the shelter and on the street.

She began the meeting by saying, Do you all really understand what is at stake here?

I think so, said Joshua. The commission will be voting on a rezoning plan which might impact the shelter. And like you’ve said at our last two meetings, we need to be on our best behavior and all our guests need to do likewise. His mischievous grin made it obvious that he thought she was being a little too concerned.

Joy glared at him. I need you to understand the situation we’re facing. Some people in this neighborhood don’t want us here.

Joshua’s grin both annoyed and appealed to her when he looked her in the eye. They don’t want us here, huh? Well, that just makes me love this place even more! Two of the cafeteria helpers giggled.

Joy did not hide her frustration. That kind of attitude is not in our best interest.

Joshua’s face immediately became serious. I’m sorry, Joy, he said. It just makes me angry that these people think they’re so much different than we are just because we are out of work and have no home. How can they be so sure that it couldn’t happen to them? He stood straight and tall in his six-foot two frame and strolled to the back of the room. She admired his courage and realized that he had come a long way this past year. He was the first person she had hired after she had been made the executive director of the shelter one year ago. He had come broken and ashamed to be there, much as she had. She had sensed his ability to be a leader soon after he came. This morning his confident manner as well as his freshly groomed hair demonstrated the change that had come over him during the last few months.

I know, Joshua. But I’m trying to get you to help change that perception. And you can’t do it by that kind of attitude. She looked out the window at the back of the building, where she could almost see the shopping center through the trees. Her expression was a question she did not voice.

Joshua looked in the same direction as Joy and then to the other side of their building where a neat two-storied brick house stood. All the homes in the neighborhood were well-kept, though not extravagant. He sighed and pushed his crop of blond wavy hair back away from his face.

Several years ago, before my wife was diagnosed with cancer, I guess I kind of thought that it could never happen to me either. There was silence for a moment, and then Joshua continued. You know, I had a comfortable home, the kids were getting along in college. Even when my wife got sick, I worked every day. I thought I was doing pretty well—not much savings, but day to day, we had what we needed. Our daughter helped her younger brother to finish college.

I’m sure your medical bills were big, said Joy sympathetically.

Yeah, that’s the reason I finally sold the house. But I really didn’t need it with her gone and the kids out on their own. A small apartment worked fine for me. It was when I lost my job that things really started going bad. It broke her heart to hear him talk. He seemed so sad.

How did your children react to the job loss? Were they able to help any?

Oh yes, said Joshua. I lived with my son for a while, but he really didn’t have room for me. I just couldn’t continue to do that. That’s when I found House of Blessing.

Joy nodded. When I came here, I had been staying with a friend for a few weeks. I was so ashamed that I couldn’t figure out a way to make enough money to rent a place of my own. When another friend told me about House of Blessing, I was skeptical, but the moment I walked in, I knew it was where I should be.

Suddenly Joy realized that her meeting had become a personal conversation between her and Joshua. She looked down at her notes, letting a strand of her straight blond hair fall across her forehead. She decided maybe they needed to share what this place meant to them, so she encouraged them to do so. As she continued the meeting, there was a new feeling among the staff. Arthur said, Well, most of the people who live here in Forest Grove would not have wanted me living here even if I owned a home. He laughed and the others laughed with him. They had heard his stories of childhood in South Georgia where his family had been segregated from most of the whites until the sixties and things hadn’t changed much even then. At least she could count on Arthur to have a pleasant attitude and discourage bad behavior. She was not so sure about some of the others.

Miss Joy, what can I do to help? Jessica, looking small and frail, stepped out from behind the couch where she had been standing. After long years of believing that she was the dumb one in every classroom and every other situation, Jessica had agreed to work toward getting her GED. Mild dyslexia had made it difficult for her to read, and after getting so far behind, she had finally dropped out of high school during the tenth grade. Jobs at fast food restaurants and cleaning houses had not satisfied her need to achieve, and one of her employers had recognized that she had abilities that her schoolwork had not shown. Even though she had been out of work and needed shelter, she had shown signs of strength and growth recently, especially since working in the cafeteria with Arthur.

Joy looked at her. Jessica, all you need to do is encourage the other residents to be model citizens of the community, just as you are.

Jessica ran a hand through her deep brown hair, pushing her bangs back out of her eyes that twinkled with pleasure at the compliment. She hesitated a bit before saying, You know that new guy, I…

You mean Rodney? What about him? Joy asked.

Well, I hope he doesn’t cause trouble, Jessica said.

Joshua turned to Jessica. What makes you think he’ll cause trouble?

Oh, it’s nothing, just some talk at dinner last night. Never mind.

Well, if you’ve got something to say, say it, said Joshua. He’s been cooperative enough with me and the men so far.

It’s nothing. The twinkle in Jessica’s eyes a moment ago had evaporated. She turned quickly and left the room, saying nothing else. Joy frowned.

What was that all about? said Joshua.

I don’t know. Joy gazed at the doorway. It worries me a little though. Jessica seems to have a very good sense of what’s going on around here. She’s a good judge of people. I hope she’s wrong about Rodney.

As the cafeteria workers were leaving, Arthur turned to Joy and Joshua.

So, what’s the plan? Is there anything specific we can do?

Not really I guess. The best thing you can do is listen for any problems. It seems to me that if our residents are happy and working toward getting a job, getting a permanent place to live, and things like that, they’re less likely to be a problem in the community. She hesitated, looking specifically at Joshua. Of course, there’s always the occasional newcomer who is unpredictable—like Rodney.

Joshua nodded. I kind of messed up with Jessica. I’m sorry, but I think I scared her off. She just quit talking when I challenged her a bit. Guess I don’t know how to talk to women.

Joy smiled, motioning for the men to sit down across from her. It’s not your fault. Jessica is extremely sensitive. She has very little self-confidence, so when she thought you were questioning her judgment, she decided she might be wrong or shouldn’t tell what she knew. Arthur, you might get her to talk a little more about what she heard. I don’t know if it would mean anything, but at least she might be more willing to talk in the future. If anyone could get the facts out of Jessica, Arthur could. Although he had never said anything about his education, it was apparent he had learned how to use words and communicate effectively with all kinds of people.

Okay, said Joshua, sitting down on the sofa beside Arthur. So what you want me to do is give my guys a pep talk every night about being sure to be on their best behavior? Is that all?

Something like that, yes. They need to understand that the better they behave, the more likely the commission and the community will be to let the shelter stay here. On the other hand, however, we don’t want to make too big a deal of the whole thing, because that could backfire on us.

What do you mean? asked Joshua.

Well, we don’t want to appear to be campaigning or anything. We just want to be good neighbors.

Joshua laughed. What’s wrong with campaigning? My uncle ran for mayor once when I was a kid, and I thought that someday I’d like to be someone’s campaign manager.

Arthur snorted. You? You’re a homeless person. You’d be as much help as a poor old black guy like me. It took me years to get the VA to give me Agent Orange benefits. I only got those because the preacher helped me.

I might surprise you. I bet I could convince lots of people to vote for Joy here for commissioner. She knows more than they do. Half the people on that commission don’t know what they’re doing anyway.

Joy waved her hand at them. Oh, you two! I think our meeting is over now. You’ve begun to get into the ridiculous.

Arthur smiled at Joy as they stood. Okay, Commissioner, we’ll go and let you get some work done. They left, kidding one another as they went through the door. Joy’s mind went back to her college days when she was studying political science. She could hear her father’s voice: Don’t you girls ever let anyone tell you that you can’t be something because you’re a woman. You can be anything you want to—even president of the United States! Yes, she remembered a time in her life when their comments about her running for commissioner would have made great sense, but that was a long time ago, before her life got off track. But she was still flattered, especially since the suggestion came from Joshua.

Alone, Joy looked back out the window toward the shopping center. She could hear the sound of a siren. Please don’t let it have anything to do with a shelter resident, she prayed. She saw one of the volunteers go into the little house at the edge of the property and was thankful for the extra space for tutoring.

Just as Joy was ready to do some paperwork, the door from the cafeteria opened and Thelma walked in. Well, did I miss anything important this morning? Thelma was the manager of the women’s division. She had missed the meeting today because she had taken Cassie, one of the guests, to a job interview.

Not really, I guess, said Joy. "You know that I’m just trying to make sure everyone is aware of how crucial it is that no one causes trouble at this