by Jill Penrod
Chapter 8
“So, boss, tell us what to do,” Alex said as he, Mark, and Jenny stood around the painting supplies. It was barely past nine, and already their shirts were wet from sweating. Shawn shook his head and smiled.
“We’ve got two ladders, right?” he asked Jenny.
“Yes.”
“Okay. The back bedroom has been painted, so Jenny can take one ladder and do the trim. Mark, you and Alex tackle the living room and kitchen. I’ll finish the high parts in the second bedroom.”
“Sorry,” Alex said, “but Seth made me promise to keep you on the ground today. If Mark can do the high parts, you can help me in the big rooms. Okay?”
Shawn rolled his eyes and tossed Jenny a couple trim brushes. Even when he wasn’t here Seth was too paternal.
“What’s with you and ladders?” Mark asked as Jenny and Alex began moving supplies.
“Remember my volleyball save that…didn’t?”
“Oh. You hurt it that bad?”
“No. But Seth seems to think so.”
“He’s always been like that. Well, I’ve only known him four years, but he has a strong gift of mercy. He’d make a great nurse. He’ll make a great missionary.”
“He’d make a great grandmother,” Shawn said, shaking his head. Mark laughed and went into the back room, and Shawn joined Alex in the kitchen.
“I understand your mom will be at church tomorrow,” Alex said, standing on the counter painting above a cabinet.
“That’s the plan.”
“My dad isn’t a Christian. It can really be rough. Your dad isn’t around, right?”
“Right. For six years now.”
“Mine left four years ago. The people at Porter weren’t sure what to do with Mom. They felt she should reconcile with my dad, but he walked out. He sent a lawyer around a couple times, but we don’t even know how to find him. Hard to reconcile with a ghost.”
“My mom might like talking with your mom. She isn’t divorced, but she had a hard marriage while Dad was alive.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know he’d passed away.”
Shawn nodded and picked up a trim brush, going around the side of the cabinets. Normally he liked painting, liked the time to think and use his hands and see something dull come to life, but today it was just too hot. Even the fans they’d brought in didn’t help. He wished the central air system was running, but it would probably be unfair to be comfortable while the other groups were outside.
It didn’t take long to realize this was not a good idea. In the heat the paint fumes were overpowering, and with a deep breath to clear his head he moved into the bedrooms to check on the others. Mark looked white.
“Sit,” Shawn ordered, steadying his friend as he helped him off the ladder. “Mark, you don’t have to stay up there.”
“I didn’t even think,” Mark said, sitting with his knees up and resting his head on his legs.
“Don’t move,” Shawn said, going back to the kitchen.
“Alex, take in some water for Mark, and help him outside, okay? We’re done for the day. I’m going to get Jenny.”
Jenny had gotten off her ladder, but she looked a little pale as well as she met him in the hallway.
“I can’t remember a day this hot before,” she said.
“The paint fumes in these small rooms aren’t helping,” he said, taking her arm and making sure she got outside. He sat her under a tree next to Mark and Alex.
“Let’s go clean up,” he said to Alex. “Then we’ll see if the others are still out here.”
A truck pulled up just as Shawn got the last brush cleaned out, and Marty came in with a grin.
“Good job, Carpenter. We had to shut down all the sites today.”
“Mark and Jenny aren’t feeling well,” he said.
“Nobody’s feeling well. Violet almost passed out, too. I came to tell you to stop, but you seem to be one step ahead of me.”
Marty looked like a construction worker. He was older, maybe fifty, his white hair a stark contrast to his dark, leathery skin, and he was always covered in dust. He kept one hand tucked into his tool belt when he wasn’t using it, and now he untucked it and helped carry paint cans to the truck.
“Are you guys okay?” Shawn asked Mark and Jenny when he passed the tree.
“We’re fine,” Mark said sheepishly. “I feel ridiculous. I’m sorry we didn’t help you clean up.”
“It’s okay. Just go home and take a cool shower. And stay out of the heat.”
“I was thinking of having everyone over to my pool,” Jenny said, “but the longer I sit here the more I think I’ll just take a nap.”
“Do,” Marty said. “Best way to fight a little heat sickness is to nap in a cool room. And drink lots and lots of water.”
They had come to the site in Jenny’s car, and Alex drove it back to the church. Jenny and Mark went into the building to cool down before going home, and Shawn and Alex joined them. The other groups had already gone.
“This feels good,” Mark said, shivering a bit in the air conditioning. Shawn forced them both to drink another couple glasses of water.
“I thought I was going to throw up,” Jenny said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so hot.”
“I came with Steve,” Mark said, “and his car’s gone. Can I beg a ride home from one of you?”
“Where do you live?” Shawn asked.
“Central Heights.”
“I’ll drop you,” Shawn said. “Jenny, can you drive home?”
“I’m fine. I guess I’ll see you all in the morning. I look forward to meeting your mom, Shawn.”
He smiled and walked with them to the cars. Mark still looked pale when he got him home, but he was sweating nicely, always a good sign. His first summer of construction, Shawn had gotten heat sick twice, so he knew how miserable Mark felt.
“Thanks for the ride,” Mark said as he got out. “And for thinking more clearly than I was. You know, Seth may not be the only one with a strong dose of grandmother.”
Shawn smiled and pulled away, yawning. He thought he’d go home, shower, and take a long nap himself. They hadn’t accomplished much today, but Shawn still felt good about it, pleased that he’d been able to take care of his crew. Maybe he was a better leader than he thought.
Seth smiled as Shawn sat down next to him, but in a moment he scowled.
“You’re alone.”
“I know,” Shawn said shortly. He was disappointed and in a horrible mood.
“What happened?”
“She’s been working too hard, she said. She needed to sleep in.”
“I’m sorry,” Seth said sincerely.
“Me, too,” Shawn said, not looking at Seth. He’d almost sat alone, not feeling like conversing this morning. He couldn’t believe his mother had made such an excuse. His dad had done it all the time, he remembered, always too tired or too sick…too drunk, he thought. Admit it. But Mom was true to her word. She worked too hard and couldn’t commit to much, but on rare occasions when she did, she kept her word.
The organ music didn’t calm him. He was upset with God for getting his hopes up and then dashing them. Some part of him felt his mom would do this every week now, say she’d come and then not do it. Wasn’t that how it had started with his dad?
Seth was strangely quiet, apparently sensing Shawn’s need to be left alone, and Shawn didn’t engage him in conversation. His parents whispered at the far end of the row, and his sisters giggled amongst themselves, and it all made Shawn feel worse. He had a new Christian family now, but he wanted his old family included. He looked at the families around him, stopping when he got to Tom and Alex and their mother, knowing at least one family in this building understood. Watching them calmed him.
By the end of the sermon he felt bad about his earlier attitude. During the prayer of confession, when the pastor gave the congregation a chance to confess sins silently, he told God he did
n’t mean to lose faith so quickly and easily. He was upset by how fast he’d blamed God for disappointing him. He’d let his temper run with him, a temper he worked hard to keep locked away.
By the closing hymn he was just sad. He wanted Mom and Tony here so badly he could taste it. Mostly, he wanted them healed. His family had been destroyed six years ago, and although they went through the motions, healing had never truly occurred. Mom still hated Dad, six years dead, and Shawn still resented being the cause of such hatred, and Tony still never talked about any of it. Only God could heal their individual souls and the spirit of his family. Until a few months ago he didn’t even know healing was possible, didn’t even realize they still hurt, but now that he did he wanted to share it with them.
“Want to come for lunch?” Seth asked when the service was over.
“No, not today. I think I’ll spend the day with Tony.”
“You’re okay?” Seth asked.
“I will be. Just disappointed.”
“Sometimes, when God first grabs a person’s heart, that person responds by running. Hard. Just remember God always wins these stamina things.”
“Thanks,” Shawn said. Tom, Alex, Julie, and Jenny converged on him, and Seth chuckled and slipped out.
“No mom,” Jenny said sadly.
“Not today.”
“It’s okay,” Julie said, putting a hand on his arm. “Maybe next week.”
“I hope so,” Shawn said.
“Would it help if my mom called her and invited her?” Alex asked. “Maybe she could invite her to dinner or something so she’ll already know someone when she walks in the doors.”
“Maybe,” Shawn said. “Can I think about that? She works crazy hours right now.”
“Sure.”
Tom gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, and the group drifted away. It was nice to have them care, but it didn’t really take away his other feelings. As he walked out Mr. Clearwater stopped him.
“I didn’t get to thank you yesterday for making sure everyone got home okay. I couldn’t believe the heat. The whole week is supposed to be like this, and I have a high school group from the north coming to help at Hope.”
“Since Jenny got sick yesterday she’ll really know what to watch out for.”
“True. Twice now I’ve heard reports about you watching out for the Hope groups. I wonder if you’d be willing to help Marty, Jenny, and Julie this week. An extra set of eyes watching this high school group would put my mind at ease. I’ll pay you your regular salary, of course.”
“I’d be glad to help, sir.”
“Good. Mr. Carpenter, I never imagined what a blessing you’d turn out to be,” he said, walking away as he moved to catch someone else. Shawn was flattered, but he still felt he hadn’t been entirely honest with the man. He’d kept his promise, though, treating Jenny like Paul had told Timothy men were to treat the young women, as beloved sisters. He was proud of himself for remembering the Bible passage; he’d been working hard to get parts of it into his head. Seth had encouraged him to memorize the order of the books first, and now that he’d mastered that he was moving ahead. He supposed this was part of growth. It pleased him to think he was growing, maybe in many ways.
Julie’s back had healed, so she was able to rejoin the work projects at Hope during the hot week. On Monday, the group of teens painted, and they had to quit early. On Tuesday, the weather cooled a bit, and they sided a house. Shawn enjoyed the kids, not feeling at all uncomfortable working with them. They didn’t question his authority, assuming since he was here he knew everything they needed. He found he liked the respect.
“I think you might need to go back a couple rows,” He said, walking to a side where a guy and two girls were pounding nails into the house. He reached down and showed them where two pieces of siding hadn’t connected.
“Oh, not again,” one girl said. She was tiny, not more than fourteen years old, but she didn’t hesitate to do anything he asked of her.
“Don’t worry about it,” Shawn said. “You have to fix it, of course, but everyone misses a few when she first starts.”
They moaned a bit, and he walked to the next side, where Jenny held a piece of siding while an older teen boy secured it. The kid hit the nail with confidence; this wasn’t his first time building.
“Looking good,” Shawn said. “Jenny, I think it’s about time to send them home for dinner. I understand Chapel Church is making dinner tonight.”
“Yum,” Jenny said. “The ladies in that church make quite a meal.”
“Are you coming?” the boy asked. Shawn thought his name was Rick.
“Not tonight. We’ll be eating with you tomorrow, though, since my church is hosting.”
“Good,” Rick said, grinning broadly and moving around the house.
“I think he likes you,” Shawn said with a smile.
“Happens all the time,” Jenny said. “Even more with Julie. A bunch of us are going swimming at my pool tonight. Will you join us?”
“I have to be with Tony. Mom’s working late tonight.”
“Bring him. Julie’s brothers are coming, and one of them is his age.”
“Well, I suppose I could. He spends too much time alone in the summer.”
“This group is doing very well. It’s hot, but they don’t complain at all.”
“I know I’m impressed,” Shawn said.
Mr. Clearwater pulled up in his truck to lead the group to Chapel, and Jenny ran to greet him. Shawn followed.
“Daddy, I’m riding with Shawn to pick up his brother. We’re going to take him swimming.”
Mr. Clearwater looked at Shawn uncertainly, and then he smiled.
“Okay. Looks like you got a lot done today.”
“We did. Good group. Make sure the ladies at Chapel really make over them tonight. They’re troopers.”
Mr. Clearwater smiled and began to look for the youth leader, and Shawn led them to his car. Julie had gone a few minutes earlier, taking one of the girls back to the hotel who’d been feeling a little sick.
“Thanks for the ride,” Jenny said, blushing. “I didn’t even ask you, though. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. When you all take me for granted it makes me feel like I’m part of the group.”
He smiled, and she chuckled. “Shawn Carpenter, what did we do without you?”
They talked about tomorrow’s work as he drove across town to his house. Tony was outside shooting baskets a couple doors down, and he ran to meet them, stopping when he saw Jenny, disappointment in his eyes.
“Does this mean you won’t be hanging out with me tonight?” he asked, not hiding his distress.
“I was hoping you could hang out with me,” Shawn said. “Jenny has a pool, and her friend Julie has some brothers about your age. Does a swim sound good?”
“Cool,” Tony said. “I’ll get my suit.”
He ran inside, and Shawn led Jenny inside, hoping Tony had straightened up a bit today. The room wasn’t perfect, but it was presentable, and Jenny sat in the recliner. Shawn suddenly noticed how old and ragged the furnishings were, but Jenny didn’t seem to see it.
“Great chair,” she said. “I like your brother. He really loves you.”
“He’s a good kid,” Shawn said. “I’ll change and be right down.”
He dressed quickly, surprised he could even find his suit. He put on his heaviest T-shirt and slipped on sandals, listening to Tony talk to Jenny as he walked down the hall. Whereas Shawn was a little backward, Tony could talk to anyone about anything with no fear.
“Ready?” Jenny said when Shawn reappeared.
“Sure.”
Tony and Jenny carried the conversation on the drive to Jenny’s house. Tony asked many questions about the high school group working at Hope, and he was impressed to hear the middle school group from Porter would be working one weekend in August.
“Mom says we can
go to church someday. Maybe I can be part of that group.”
“They would love to have you,” Jenny said. Tony beamed.
When they got there, Jenny disappeared to change, and Tony went immediately to the water to find a place with Julie’s brothers, who splashed in the shallow end. The pool was surprisingly huge, and about twenty college students were already in the water or at the edge. Alex called a hello from the water, and Seth left his place with Violet and came to greet Shawn.
“We’re over here,” he said, taking Shawn’s towel and dropping it on his own. “The water’s great. Jenny and Julie are getting dressed?”
“Jenny. Julie’s helping one of the teenagers. She got a little heat sick, I think.”
“Surprising only one got sick.”
“Are you enjoying the summer?” Violet asked. She was tall and slender, and she looked even more so in a bathing suit. She fit Seth.
“I am. More than I expected.”
“Is that your brother?” she asked, pointing at Tony.
“Yep.”
“He acts like he’s known Julie’s brothers forever.”
“That’s Tony.”
“Seth, too,” Violet said. She gave Seth a strange look, and he looked away.
Jenny soon appeared, walking to the diving board and making an impressive entrance into the water. She surfaced near Shawn and Seth and smiled.
“Come on in, guys.”
“I just got out,” Seth said. “I was getting a little cold.”
“I can’t imagine being cold,” Jenny said, dunking under to smooth her hair. Shawn kicked off his sandals and sat on the edge, dangling his legs. As he did Tony appeared, standing behind him and laughing.
“Come on, Shawn. Take off your shirt and get in.” He pulled Shawn’s shirt up to his neck and stopped, gasping when he saw the scars. Shawn closed his eyes and swallowed hard.
“Shawn, what happened?”
“Nothing,” he said firmly. “Let go of my shirt.”
Tony didn’t, hesitantly touching the rough skin on his back. Shawn pulled away, and the shirt fell into place. Only Violet and Seth had seen anything, but Jenny looked on curiously from the water, concern in her face.
“That happened the night Dad died, didn’t it?” Tony asked. Shawn whirled on him, suddenly angry.
“We can talk about this later.”
“I remember that night. You and dad were yelling, and then the house filled with smoke, and the screaming and the siren. You were gone so long I didn’t think you’d come back, just like he didn’t—“
“Tony, that’s enough,” Shawn yelled. He realized he stood and screamed at his brother just as Dad had yelled at him. Tony looked fearful, and Shawn saw himself in the boy. He glanced around; now twenty-five sets of eyes stared at them.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I have to go.”
He grabbed his keys off his towel and ran to the gate, vaulting it in one smooth motion. His knee ground angrily when he hit the ground, but the pain felt good, matching the pain in his gut. As he ran to his car, he heard the gate grate behind him.
“Shawn,” Seth called. “Shawn, wait.”
Instead of stopping, he sprinted to the car and started the engine, squealing his tires in his haste to get away from the stares, away from his fear that he would ever become his father.
