James Ross - A Young Adult Trilogy (Prairie Winds Golf Course)

by James Ross

“We’ll try to get more material to assist you.”

  “If you don’t mind I’m real busy right now.” Tanner got up. “Does that satisfy your purpose?”

  “For now.” Willard got up.

  “Let me remind you that you exist because of the attorneys in this state. It’s solely in an effort to make us look good in front of the public.” Tanner flashed a fake grin. “If things get too shitty I’ll just stop paying my bar fees and then you won’t have the power to discipline me. Do you understand?”

  Willard did not acknowledge that he heard the comment. He headed out the door and into the presence of Abbie. After securing the formal request he turned and said, “Let your boss know that he overpaid for those vanity plugs on the top of his head.”

  CHAPTER 24

  It was one of those seasonal days where the temperatures seemed very Mediterranean. The humidity hadn’t begun to take over the Midwest. The puffy white clouds in the clear blue sky looked like beach umbrellas dotting an ocean shoreline.

  Aieshia and Carla didn’t have anything special planned for Pabby and Shae. Whatever they would decide to do would have to be outside. It was senseless to waste a beautiful day by being indoors. The quartet had packed a lunch and was in the clubhouse searching for activities to do.

  “You could go fishing but J Dub likes to be out there when kids get close to water,” Julie said.

  “We shouldn’t get too close to da wata cuz da kids can’t swim,” Aieshia said. “Dat made me a li’l nervous dat day when we wuz out dere wit’ Po’ Chop takin’ dem picshurs.” She scratched an itch on the bottom of her nose with the back of her hand. “I told myself from den on dat we needs to keep da kids away from dat wata.”

  “I’d tell you to go out to the driving range or the putting green but I know J Dub wouldn’t want the kids out there either. Especially since they don’t know what they’re doing with the clubs,” Julie added.

  “No, no. We ain’t heres fo’ dat.”

  “I wuz thinkin’ ’bout goin’out an’ playin’ my guitar a li’l,” BowTye said from his corner. He was placing all of the shoeshine materials into a wooden box. “Da rest of dese shoes can wait ’til later.”

  “That’s a great idea,” Julie said.

  “Da city owns dat little park down dere off da first fairway. Dey have a slide, a see-saw and a couple uh dose animals on springs.”

  “Do dey have a swing set?”

  “Yes dey do. Two swings.” BowTye reached for his guitar. It was never too far away. He did guest performances once in a while but nothing like in his heyday working the river towns up and down the Mississippi as Peel It Backe, the king of rockabilly blues.

  Five minutes later the kids were swinging on the swings while Aieshia and Carla spread a blanket on the ground underneath an oak tree. BowTye took turns pushing each. The pair kicked their legs, laughed and soared as high as the chains would let them. The teenagers were as giddy as first graders and had smiles that seemed as wide as the mouth of the Mississippi.

  From there they moved to the animals on springs. Pabby was quick to climb on the one that looked like a horse. Shae picked the one that looked like a rabbit. They leaned left and right and swayed front and back. That was until Pabby got a little too aggressive and flew head over heels over the head of the horse. The jolt surprised him. He ended up flat on his back in the dust.

  Shae quickly dismounted and came to his rescue. Her female instincts took over. She comforted him and wiped the dirt off of his face. Then they both laughed out loud and Pabby scrambled to his feet and headed for the slide.

  The two took turns climbing up the ladder and sliding down the steel ramp. Smiles and laughter was abundant when J Dub drove up in the John Deere ATV. “How much fun are you having?” The pair didn’t stop to answer. From the bottom of the slide they scampered over to the see saw. “How much sugar did you give them for breakfast,” the pro said as he turned to Aieshia and placed a cooler on the blanket next to the picnic basket. “Julie thought you might need something to drink.”

  “Thank ya. The kids were in such a hurry ta git down here dat we forgot da drinks.”

  Carla turned and started brushing through a patch of clover while BowTye got his guitar out of the case and started strumming a few chords. “Who wants to be the first to find a four-leaf clover?”

  Pabby jumped off the see saw and Shae immediately came to a crash landing. She grimaced and reached for her hip. “Pabby!” Aieshia yelled. “Help her.”

  He abruptly stopped and helped his friend to her feet. Now it was his turn to return the favor as Shae fought back tears. Pabby put his arm around her and helped her to the blanket. “I’m sorry, Shae.” His apology didn’t make her bruise go away.

  With the exuberance of a newborn puppy Pabby was nose first in a patch of clover. Carefully he counted the leaves on each stalk. “Do either one of you know what the petals mean?” Carla asked.

  The pain in Shae’s body seemed to disappear. With her thumb basically attached to her two middle fingers in the palm of her hand she reached up and twirled the hair near her ear around her index finger. Methodically she said, “The first petal stands for hope. The second petal stands for faith. The third petal stands for love. If you can find one with a fourth leaf you’re fortunate because it will give you luck.”

  “Shae, how did you know…”

  “The most leaves ever found on a stalk were twenty-one.” She abruptly cut off Carla. “It is estimated that there is one four-leaf clover for every ten thousand three-leaf clovers. Some collectors have saved over one hundred and sixty thousand four-leaf clovers.”

  “Shae…”

  “I found one!” Pabby cried. “I’ll get it for Shae.” He carefully tore it away from the others. Before he could deliver the present he jumped to his feet and let out a blood curling scream. “Aaagh! Get it away! Get it away!” Pabby ran around the swing set flailing his arms and screaming. He headed for the slide doing the same.

  “What is it sweet chile?”

  “Get it away! Get it away!”

  “Pabby! It’s only a bee. It won’t hurt you.”

  “Yes it will. It’s got a stinger!” he swung his arms over his head and ran around the blanket.

  “Pabby! Pabby. Pabby. Calm down,” J Dub said. He grabbed the lad and wrapped him up. Pabby struggled to get away. The kid was strong for his age. With his heart racing he hyperventilated petrified that the bee was going to get him.

  “Don’t let it sting me! Kill it!”

  “Pabby. It’s not going to hurt you. It flew away. We don’t even see honeybees anymore.”

  Shae smacked Pabby on the shoulder. It was harder than a love tap. He flinched. She grabbed the four leaf clover out of his hand. “If you don’t want the luck I’ll take it.” She gave him a disgusted look. “Quit being such a wuss. It’s only a bee.”

  A melodic tune came from the park bench. It was soon followed by a deep, rich voice that was very uncharacteristic from such a small body.

  Side by side, a boy and a girl

  Too young to have a care in the world

  They dance and spin, even twirl

  Just out of the oyster like a pearl

  Two innocent kids came along one day

  To the golf course grounds for summertime play

  They saw the world in a different way

  No one was more loved than Pabby and Shae

  Joy and laughter fills the air

  As the summer breeze blows through their hair

  Nothing in this world can make them care

  About anything but the love they share

  Two innocent kids came along one day

  To the golf course grounds for summertime play

  They saw the world in a different way

  No one was more loved than Pabby and Shae

  “BowTye,” J Dub said. “Did you just make that up?”

  The talented musician nodded.

  “Dat is beautiful.” Aieshia went over and gave him a hug.
Then she turned to the kids. “It’s not ev’ry day dat ya git a song sung ’bout ya. Ya two ’member dis moment.”

  CHAPTER 25

  The next day…

  “J Dub said you had quite the party in the park yesterday,” Julie said.

  Aieshia, dressed in the familiar blue jeans and a sweatshirt that had RAZORBACKS broadcast across the front, flashed a smile with a face full of ivory teeth. The contrast against her dark skin lit up the moment. “Dat BowTye can play some tunes.”

  “He’s good, isn’t he?” Julie placed bottled water in front of her guest. “Get to know him. He’s had quite a past and an interesting life. Right now he plays the riverboat casinos and anywhere else that want him for a night here and there.”

  “He’s such an unassumin’ man.”

  “It’s hard to believe that he’s known around the world.” They looked over and watched as the diminutive figure with the burgundy beret atop his head played Shae in a game of Uno. Carla was reading a magazine. Pabby had his eyes three inches away from the numbers in the racing form. A tornado could have blown the structure down and it wouldn’t have broken his concentration.

  “It’s funny how people meet.”

  “Which brings me to ask you how you got involved with Pabby and Shae.”

  “My schoolin’ was in education wit’ an emphasis on under privileged kids. I always thought dat I’d go ta da inna city an’ teach. You know, work wit’ dose kids dat ne’er seemed ta have anyting an’ didn’t have no family structure.”

  “In a way you’re doing that.”

  “Roundabout. A frien’ o’ a frien’ thought dat I might be able ta change someone’s life if I could work one on one instead o’ feel da frustrations o’ a classroom.” Aieshia took a drink of water. “We did a little research an’ found dis opportunity at a children’s home. I ne’er thought dat I’d end up here.”

  “How did Pabby arrive on the scene?”

  “He was already here when I arrived an’ I’ve been here seven years now.”

  “How did he end up at the children’s home?”

  “Dey tell me dat dey found him wrapped in a blanket on da front steps. Dey thought dat he was only two or three days old.”

  “So that is all he’s ever known.”

  “He’s always lived wit’ da other orphans.”

  “Do they have any idea who his mother and father are?”

  “Nope, but dey tink dat he might have come from da military base; maybe in da housing dere.”

  “He looks like he is part Hispanic,” Julie paused and looked over at the teen, “and your guess is as good as mine.”

  “Dey tink maybe dat an’ part Indian or somewhere in da Middle East.”

  “That is terrible that someone would abandon a child like that.”

  “At least dey cared enough ta drop him off at da children’s home. Dat sho be betta dan some dumpster.”

  “Don’t even say that!”

  “It happens mo’ dan ya tink.”

  “Let’s hope that mankind is more civil than that.”

  Aieshia had a close-lipped grin. She knew that the fate of many newborns was worse than what the country club scene ever dreamed. “Missus Porter has had him from da beginnin’ an’ I s’pose she cares mo’ ’bout him dan anyone else, but sometimes I wonder.”

  “Who is Mrs. Porter?”

  “She runs da children’s home.” Aieshia gave Julie a funny look. “You dint know dat?” Julie shook her head from side to side. “I thought everyone ’round here knew who Missus Porter was.”

  “I’ve never heard anything about her.”

  “We’ll save dat fo’ another day. I have ta watch what I say cuz she’s my boss.”

  “How does that all work?”

  “Huh?”

  “Are you employed by the state or the children’s home?”

  “Dey gets some fundin’ from da state but really I am employed by da home. Dey give me room an’ board an’ I teach a lot of da kids, but Pabby is my special one.”

  “How many kids do they have staying there?”

  “Dere’s close ta thirty I tink.”

  “Mostly boys or girls?”

  “I tink dat we have ’bout twenty boys an’ ten girls.”

  “How do you keep them away from each other?” Julie asked. “I can only imagine their hormones start raging around their teenage years.”

  “Missus Porter doesn’t put up wit’ any nonsense. Dey are in separate wings an’ Gawd is it impossible to go anywhere over dere wit’out somebody wantin’ ta know what you are up ta.” Aieshia tilted her head forward and took Julie into her confidence. “Dere is no way dat dose kids can even tink ’bout gettin’ off dose grounds. Missus Porter runs dat like a prison.”

  “Maybe that’s a good thing,” Julie conceded. “They probably need some supervision and structure.”

  “Dey get plenty o’ dat.” Aieshia sipped on her water. “Ya can come see where dey stay for yourself. I was tinkin’ dat maybe I can run by here early tomorrow. I have ta run errands so I can come an’ pick ya up an’ go back an’ git da kids.”

  “I’d love that!” Julie said. “What’s it like over there? Are the rest of the kids challenged like Pabby and Shae?”

  “Da biggest challenge that most o’ dem have is not feelin’ wanted. But dere are a few like Pabby an’ Shae dat are special needs children,” Aieshia explained. “Dose kids don’t have anyone. When dey are young dey all have hopes of being adopted. But den as da years pass by an’ nobody wants dem dey get jaded. Dey come ta realize dat dey are goin’ ta have ta leave da home someday an’ fen’ fo’ demselves.”

  “That is so sad,” Julie said composing herself.

  “We work hard tryin’ ta put dem in good foster homes wit’ parents dat want dem. But da ones dat don’t git picked, well,” Aieshia rubbed her right eye, “dey are all alone when dat day hits an’ dey have ta leave wit’ nobody wantin’ dem.”

  “What do they do?”

  “Dey have a bag packed. Dat’s all dey really have.”

  “How do they make it?”

  “Some don’t. We all have a tear in our eye an’ wish dem luck an’ a lot o’ da time we don’t know if dey ever make it. We ne’er hear from dem again.”

  “I mean they don’t have a car or any money or anything. Do they just walk off the property into a dark night?”

  “I shouldn’t say dat we just turn dem out all alone. We try ta educate dem or teach dem a trade. Some get admitted into college an’ have financial aid. Many go into da military. A few learn a trade an’ have a job befo’ dey leave. We give dem some financial assistance so dey can get set up in society fo’ a short time.”

  “That’s decent.”

  “I guess. But we ne’er know fo’ sure how it all turns out. All we can do is try our best.”

  “How did Pabby and Shae get so smart on certain subjects?”

  “Well ya gots ta understand how it all works over dere at da home. Missus Porter demands dat dey learn dere lessons an’ dose kids all study real hard. Now wit’ Pabby an’ Shae—well dey bot’ got some genes crossed or somethin’ like dat.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Dey both gots da ability ta memorize tings an’ recite it back.”

  “What’s that called?”

  “A savant. But da two o’ dem aren’t dat. Dey are specifically classified as special needs children, borderline autistic wit’ savant tendencies.”

  “That is something to see when they go off on a tangent like that.”

  “Dere’s a time an’ a place fo’ it I s’pose.”

  “It’s impressive to see their knowledge.”

  “Remarkable really but I don’t even know if dey know dey are doin’ it when dey are.” Aieshia smiled. “It shows ya how hard dey have studied.”

  “There has to be something in their brain that causes that.”

  Aieshia smiled again. “Dere is. Whether it is photographic or a special recall mechanism I guess we’
ll ne’er know. But dey bot’ have it.”

  “And the subjects are different for each.”

  Aieshia looked over at Pabby. “Dere’s sometin’ goin’ on wit’ him right now. I can tell cuz he gits dat way when he gits somethin’ dat he can comprehend. It’s like a computer goin’ at Mach 5 speed or sometin’ like dat.”

  CHAPTER 26

  Julie hopped into the Footprints of Hope van with Aieshia the next morning. The ride to the children’s home was right at five miles. They drove down the bluff and dropped onto the flat river bottom soil in Illinois just east of the Mississippi River. Corn, wheat and soybeans thrived in the black gumbo.

  A quarter mile off the county oil road an old white farmhouse stuck out like a lone tugboat on the river. Mounded dirt raised the structure out of the flood plain. The home itself sat a good twenty feet higher than the ground that surrounded it and was easily above the 500-year flood plain requirement. Any flood water that breached a levee would surround the home but not destroy it unless, of course, the flood was of Biblical proportions. If water ever did get over the levee the roads would go under water and the only transportation onto the property would be by boat.

  “This looks like a country estate,” Julie commented as Aieshia turned off the oil road and onto the asphalt driveway. After a four-hundred-yard drive Aieshia pulled onto the circle driveway and parked under the metal canopy that extended from the front of the home.

  The van was a mere eight feet from the front door. Aieshia popped out to unload the groceries and last minute fix-it items that were needed around the property. Carla was waiting with Pabby and Shae. Within seconds the leader of the orphanage was out the door.

  Pamela Porter was the head of Footprints of Hope Children’s Home. At forty-three she had held the position for fifteen years. When her appointment was first announced eyebrows in the area had been raised as to whether or not her qualifications met the criteria. The only prior work experience that she had was as an administrative volunteer for Kramer House which was a temporary home for unwed mothers.

  The work history was a moot point. An attorney by the name of Tanner Atkins was trustee for the absentee owner of the orphanage. His good friend, Judge Buchanon Porter, had an energetic wife that couldn’t have children of her own. The suggestion was made to appoint her to the top position at the children’s home. Two goals were accomplished with that single act: one, to help a courtroom friend and two, to fill the void in his wife’s life that was caused by sterility.