Authors: Jeanne Skartsiaris
“I have a fresh pot here.”
“You should have given me a fresh cup the first time,” Mrs. Poston griped.
“Yes, ma’am,” Aja said, pouring. “Are you staying for bingo tonight?”
“I doubt it.” Mrs. Poston nodded toward Tish, who sat near the kitchen studying a workbook. “Tish has a test tomorrow, and she needs to get home early.”
Tish looked up when she heard her name.
“You’re going to pass that test, right?” Mrs. Poston yelled to Tish across the room.
“I don’t know; it’s too hard.”
“Then keep studying.” Then to Aja she said, “She’s smarter than she thinks. She can be a bit of a pill, but I’m giving her some slack. Confidence is what she needs.” Mrs. Poston poured cream into her coffee. “What’s this? I need fresh cream, China girl, you know that.”
“I’ll get some,” Aja said. As she went into the kitchen, she thought about having confidence. How far could any of these girls go if only they believed in themselves?
“Is everybody served?” Janie asked, stacking the dinner plates. “We need to clear everything out for bingo.”
“Mrs. Poston needs some cream. Then I’ll get the rest of the dishes.
“Are you staying, or are you and Walker going out?”
“We’re both staying for a round, but then I need to hit the books.” She needed Walker to drive her home since she still didn’t have a car.
“Geez, don’t you ever get tired of studying?”
“Yes and no. I don’t know what else I’d do. I’m not sure what I want to get a degree in.”
“Yeah, me either.” Janie scraped more plates for Gabe to soak. “But I’m needed here now. Maybe one day I’ll find my way.”
Aja thought of Tish, sitting in the dining hall studying anatomy terminology for her medical assistant degree. Tish had complained to her earlier that Mrs. Poston took a dollar out of her pay every time she said a bad word. She said, “I’m losing money working for that old bag.” But Aja knew Tish was moving forward, and Aja had to give her credit for sticking with the job and school.
Tish still scratched at her arms when she was stressed, but even that habit seemed to have calmed. She always wore the long-sleeve T-shirt under her scrubs, no matter how hot it was.
Walker stepped into the kitchen, wearing a red-striped vest reminiscent of a carnival hawker. “Come on, Aja, Janie, I’m calling the numbers tonight. I need one of you to be the bingo spinner.”
“What about Dr. Landers?” Janie asked.
“He’s helping Tish with her homework and gave me the coveted vest for the evening.” Walker turned, held out both elbows and said, “Ladies, may I escort you to the playing hall?” They each took an arm and went in, Aja careful not to spill Mrs. Poston’s cream.
“Let the games begin!” Walker gave a shout out to the residents as they settled in the dining hall.
“Well, it’s about time, China girl,” Mrs. Poston complained. “I hope that cream hasn’t curdled, it took you so long.”
After a few rousing games, where Walker called the numbers and Aja spun the balls, some of the residents started to fall asleep in their chairs. Tish, who’d decided to stay because she needed the money, helped Janie work the room, making sure everybody had the numbers correct and keeping the sleepyheads alert. Aja felt a quiet tranquility. This was where she was supposed to be now at this time in her life. Not forever, but for now. She could make a difference. For her and for them.
As she watched the residents with Tish, Janie and Walker, an idea began to form.
Chapter 51
By the end of the summer semester Aja had received acceptance letters from all four of the colleges she’d applied to. She tried to sign up for the Peace Corps but was crushed when she found out you needed a college degree. She was hoping it would set the course for her life and help her decide what to study.
She and her mom sat on the sofa one afternoon before Aja headed off to work. “I guess I should stay in Texas then,” Aja sighed.
“You can go wherever you want. We’ll find a way.” Her mom smiled. “We always do.”
“I’ve been thinking,” Aja said. “What if I stayed here for the fall semester and went to community college? I want to start a program that brings the residents from Golden Leaves to the detention center to tutor the kids there.”
Her mom nodded. “Aja, that’s a wonderful idea.”
“Seeing Tish and Mrs. Poston together is a riot—two people I would have never thought could get along now seem to need each other in some weird way. Mr. Jensen is getting stronger and would love to help with physics. Dr. Landers could teach science.”
“And it would bridge the age gap. Older people tend to dislike teenagers, and teens can’t see past the wrinkles to see what’s inside.”
“I’ll have to talk to Edna Jones about it.”
“I’ll talk to Hilary Lewis and Maggie if you want me to.”
“Sure, let me plant the seed with Edna first.”
“You know you won’t have to worry about Clay Richards anymore,” Aja’s mom said.
“Another of your feelings?” Aja asked.
“No, I spoke with Maggie today. It looks like the charges are solid. He’ll be tried soon or may cop a plea.”
Aja closed her eyes. She knew this, had an intuitive flash about him a few days before. There was no image with the feeling, she just knew deep inside that he would be found guilty of all charges and other indiscretions from his past would be exposed.
The local news had run with the story for a few days, then let it play out. A news magazine show wanted to do an hour program on it after the trial, but Aja was ready to put it behind her, though her mom thought it would be a good way to expose the injustice of the system and encouraged Aja to pursue it.
“What about Walker?” Aja’s mom asked.
Aja shrugged. “I don’t know, he could stay another year here, but then he’ll have to figure out where to go to college, too.”
“Is Kendall still in the picture?”
“Luckily, she’ll never set foot in Texas again. Walker said Kendall’s parents slapped her hand for stealing, then took her shopping because she’d been so traumatized. At least they’re not pressuring for a relationship with Walker anymore.”
“Karma,” her mom said. “It will come back on her.”
“What about you, Mom? I see that look in your eyes again. Are the winds of change blowing?”
“I like my friends here. I like the band I’m with, but I feel my roots growing and, you know me, I’ve never let them grow long enough to bloom.” She leaned back on the couch. “Honestly, I was hoping you’d go to school in Austin. I think I could be comfortable in the Hill Country.” Aja’s mom had been traveling more often to the Austin area for art fairs and music gigs. “But I’m in no hurry. I want to make sure you’re taken care of.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“I’m a mom; it’s my job.”
Aja considered that. Her mom had never been a typical parent but Aja never doubted she loved and cared for her, no matter how scattered Aja’s childhood had been.
Aja checked the time. “I’ve got to go. If I get there a few minutes early, then I can talk to Edna about our new idea.”
“Instead of taking it to her first, talk to the residents and see what they think. You’ll probably have a better chance of success if you have a group supporting you.”
“Yeah, maybe we’ll have a peaceful sit-in at Golden Leaves. Everybody could line their scooters up in the lobby in front of Edna’s office.”
“Remember, Aja, every one of those elderly people was a teenager once. They still have a voice and lots of wisdom to go with it.”
Chapter 52
The residents liked Aja’s idea to work in the detention center. A few worried about being locked in with a bunch of criminals, but they softened when Dr. Landers told them that Aja and Tish had been victims of the system.
“We may not be able to save them all, but wouldn’t it be grand to help the ones who are willing to help themselves?” he told the group at dinner.
“I’m going to show them proper etiquette.” Mrs. Poston stood at her table, her wheelchair parked nearby, since she’d refused to use it during her meal. Tish instinctively headed toward her in case Mrs. Poston lost her balance. “I’m trying to teach Tish, but she’s stubborn.”
“Not as stubborn as you,” Tish shot back. “And she keeps calling me pig million.”
“
Pygmalion
,” Mrs. Poston said, exasperated. “We’ll rent
My Fair Lady
and I’ll pay you to watch it.” She sat, unsteady, with her Velcro knee cast but Tish was there to help. “For now, young lady, you need to watch your manners and your mouth.”
“Yeah, you making more money off of me than you paying me on that cuss jar.” Tish helped her sit.
Dr. Landers laughed. “Maybe we’ll have movie night with these kids. We can show them some classics, and they can show some of the new movies.”
“I don’t want to see a bunch of naked bodies or hear foul language,” Mrs. Poston said.
“We’ll teach you to rap,” Tish said, pushing the wheelchair closer to her.
Surprisingly, Mrs. Poston laughed. “Ballroom dancing. That’s what you should learn.”
Aja was amazed at the interaction between them. Aja had never seen Mrs. Poston laugh. Tish took her assaults head-on, and Mrs. Poston seemed to enjoy sparring with her.
“You gonna teach me in this?” Tish asked, shaking the wheelchair.
“Oh, no. I’ll be out of that before you know it, and I’ll be dancing circles around your young legs.”
“You on!”
“No,
you’re
on. Proper grammar please.”
Aja’s mom was right. Edna Jones pooh-poohed the idea when Aja brought it to her directly, citing liability and danger issues. “These are people charged with crimes, Aja.”
When Aja told her the residents thought it was a good idea, Edna still waved her off. “I just don’t see how it could work.”
“We have the van; I’ll drive them once or twice a week there.”
“Aja, I’m glad you’ve turned out to be such a responsible help around here. The residents really love you, but sometimes things are better left alone. These people need to rest. Too much excitement will stress them.”
“As if this is our last stop before death?” Dr. Landers suddenly appeared in her doorway. “Edna, I believe Aja’s idea will benefit not only us, but the kids in the detention center.”
“Sometimes, we have to stick our necks out for change,” Aja said, sounding very much like her mother. “We can make a difference. Even Mrs. Poston wants to do this.”
“Bea Poston?” Edna asked dubiously.
“Yes, even the ‘old bat’ is okay to shake this place up,” Dr. Landers said, winking at Aja.
“I will have to check with the management and the legal team,” Edna said. “I just don’t know.”
“Here,” Aja pulled some documents from a folder. “My attorney, Maggie, did some background on the legal issues, and she said there are only a few things that need to be addressed. She said she’d be happy to help out—for free.” She handed the documents to Edna. “And Mrs. Burnett from the high school said she’d be glad to help. She’d talk to some teachers and students to offer additional tutoring and counseling. And she said the school district will provide teaching tools, books and stuff.”
“Sounds like you’ve done your homework.” Edna took the file but didn’t open it. “I still think it’s asking too much of our residents. They tire so easily.”
“We’ll take our chances, Edna,” Dr. Landers said.
“Let me make some phone calls,” Edna said, reluctantly.
Their first outing was a meet-and-greet at the detention center so everyone could introduce themselves. The way the teens lined up against one wall and the older residents on the other side of the room reminded Aja of a chess match, each sizing up the opponent. No one made the first move.
Finally, Aja called a few of the girls she remembered and introduced them. The way they looked at the old people, as if they were aliens, upset Aja. “Sissy,” Aja said to the young mother. “Tish should be here soon, but for now, can you help me introduce everybody?”
One young man with pants around his buttocks sat on one of the Formica tables. “So what’re we supposed to do with a bunch of old people? Play some hoops?” He and another young man laughed and high-fived each other.
“Oh, grow up, Lamont.”
Aja was relieved to hear Tish’s voice behind her.
“Hey, bitch,” Sissy called out.
The few staff members who were there said nothing about the language. They stood off by themselves near the door. Edna stood next to them, looking like she was going to stroke out.
“Young lady,” Mrs. Poston, still wheelchair-bound, said firmly to Sissy. “We’re here to teach you youngsters some manners. Perhaps we should start with you.”
“Who are you to tell me…” Sissy started and stood up in a defensive posture.
“Sis, this is my new boss. I got to be nice or she’ll fire my ass…assistance,” Tish said.
“Good catch,” Mrs. Poston mused. She sat stoic in her wheelchair, a big picnic basket on her lap.
Aja walked in between both groups. “Everybody, these people are from Golden Leaves. They’ve offered to visit with you and help with your schoolwork.”