by Bob Blanton
“That hammer you got, it is too much like your hand, too small,” Raul said. “You want to drive nails all day, you need big hammer, so hammer do all the work.”
“This is all I’ve got.”
“You get tired swinging that hammer so many times. Wait.” he walked over to a truck and came back with a hammer just like the one he had. “You try this one; I no want you quit on me before dark.” And patting Matthew on the back he went back to work.
After another hour of driving nails, Matthew finally got to where he could drive them in with one shot, or sometimes one and a short one to set the nail. He was feeling pretty good about himself.
“Gee, Matt, that’s pretty good, you’re almost as fast as Raul,” Jennifer said as they were standing up the last outside wall for the house.
“No, he’s still way faster than I am. But this is really cool, what’s next?”
“Well we have to put up inside walls, silly.”
“Having fun, Matty?” His mother asked as she walked up. “You’re doing a great job; your father would be as proud of you as I am.” She mussed his hair, then followed Jennifer back to the pile of wood to get the next board.
Matthew looked after her, confused. He thought, “One day she’s proud of me, the next she’s disappointed in me, and now she’s proud of me again. I can’t keep all this straight.” He turned and went into the house to build the inside walls with Raul.
It didn’t take long to add the walls to create three bedrooms, a bathroom and the large room, which would serve as a kitchen, dining room and family room.
“Now we put roof on,” Raul said as he pointed at a stack of A-frames.
“How are we going to get those on top of the walls?” Matthew gave a long whistle as he followed Raul.
One of the other men drove what looked like a tow truck over to the house. He extended the winch from the back of it. He and another man draped the cable over the house; Raul had climbed up on the walls and nailed a large 4x4 into place with a pulley attached. The cable draped over the pulley and they hooked onto one of the A-frames. The driver ran the winch until the A-frame was above the house. Then Raul and the other man swung it around until it was sitting on the corner of the ceiling. They unhooked the winch, the other man walked the end of the A-frame down the side of the house until he was opposite Raul, and then they each walked down the outside wall carrying the A-frame. When they reached the other end of the house, they set it into place and nailed it down. Jennifer quickly handed up a short piece of 2x4 that Raul used to brace the A-frame so it would stay vertical. When they put the second one in place, they nailed a 2x6 between the two at the peak of the frame. Raul motioned for Matthew to come up and handle nailing the cross support in place. They repeated the process until they had all the A-frames in place.
“Wow, that was fast,” Matthew said, as they nailed the last A-frame in place.
“Now we take break,” Raul jumped down and walked over to his truck to get his lunch.
It was starting to turn dark, but they had four houses standing, and everyone was pitching in to finish up the roofing and siding on the last house. Reverend Bishop explained that tomorrow the families and other crews would finish installing windows, wire the houses and install wallboards inside. Then the families would get some help each evening to paint and finish them up. By next weekend they would be living in the homes.
“This is amazing, that you could do enough in one week to totally change a family’s life,” Matthew said as he surveyed the houses.
“It is rewarding and humbling at the same time,” Reverend Bishop said. “To see how little it takes to make a family here happy compared to what we demand at home. Now let’s get on the bus and get home.”
On the bus, Reverend Bishop explained to Matthew that the Mexican and Tijuana Governments were helping them plan out the conversion of the squatter’s camp into a real community. As the houses went up the government would move in to improve the public facilities, grading and graveling streets to eliminate the muddy tracks the residents had to fight through in the winter, and eventually adding water and sewer facilities to bring everything up to more modern standards.
Matthew and his mother were exhausted when they got home. But they both agreed that it was worth it and planned to volunteer for the next trip
Halloween Nightmare
On Tuesday after school and another four hours at Webmasters.com, Matthew stopped by the mall to check out Halloween costumes. He had volunteered to take Jessica trick or treating as part of his effort to atone for his errors. His mom thought it was a great idea, but Jessica was insisting that both go dressed in costume. It was ten days until Halloween, but the costume store was pretty much picked over. He found a Captain Hook costume for him to go with a Peter Pan costume for Jessica. He called home to check if it would meet Jessica’s approval.
“Hi, Mom, I’m at the costume store,” Matthew said into the phone. “Do you think Jessie would like to go as Peter Pan? They’ve got a cute costume for her and a Captain Hook costume I think I could stand to wear.”
“I don’t know, let me ask her.”
Matthew could hear his mom talking with Jessica. Jessica was talking about fairy princesses and knights, but after a brief discussion about Peter Pan, she seemed to decide that that would be okay.
“Matty, Jessie says that as long as you’ve got a real hook on your hand, she’ll go as Peter Pan.”
“Well the costume comes with a plastic hook, if that’s not good enough for Jessie, I’ll get a real one at a hardware store. Anyway, I’ll get it right away. I’ll grab a burger and fries so don’t worry about dinner.”
“Okay, but you have to be home by eight; and don’t make a habit of skipping out on dinner.”
“I won’t, bye Mom,” Matthew wondered how long he was going to be grounded.
“Bye, Jessie wants to say goodbye, too.”
“Bye Matty, I want a hat too, okay?”
“Don’t worry; I’ll make sure you’ve got the entire Peter Pan outfit. Now bye.”
Matthew hung up the phone smiling to himself. The small things that Jessica would pick out as important always amazed him.
Matthew went back to the store and bought the two costumes. When he got to Ruby’s in the food court to eat, he saw Jennifer standing in line.
“Hi, Jen, what ya doing?” he asked, as he walked up to her.
“Oh, hi, Matt. I’m grabbing a burger with Brea. She ran off to the lady’s room, left me to hold our place in line. Do you want to join us, I’m sure Brea won’t mind?” Jennifer gave Matthew a smile.
Matthew glanced at the five couples in line after Jennifer, “Why not, if you’re sure you don’t mind.”
“Don’t worry,” Jennifer said. “What did you think of Saturday? Pretty cool, huh?”
“Yeah, I guess it was. I was totally beat on Sunday, but it was fun and I felt like I’d really done something important. Mom and I are going to volunteer for next month too, are you?”
“Like I said, I always try to go. It’s kind of my hobby. I like working on the houses and seeing how much it means to the families.” Jennifer stopped to wave over Matthew’s shoulder at Brianna.
“Hi, Matthew, are you going to join us?” Brianna asked as she walked up.
“If you don’t mind. The line’s kind of long and Jennifer invited me.”
“No problem, as long as you don’t think your reputation will be ruined by associating with a couple of freshmen.”
“Your table is ready,” the hostess said just in time to allow Matthew to avoid responding to Brianna’s comment.
After they ordered, Brianna turned to Matthew, “Jennifer said you went on the Habitat for Humanity project last weekend.”
“Yeah, my mom and I went with the church. It was pretty neat helping out like that.”
“I’m sure it was. I went with them on the last project. We don’t belong to your church, but they accept any volunteers, and Habitat for Humanity is non-denominational.
”
“Yeah, there were a lot of different people down there.”
“Are you planning to go again?”
“I was telling Jen that my mom and I were talking about going next month. I’m not sure I’ll be able to go every month like Jen, but I plan to go as often as I can.”
“That’s great. What are you doing for Halloween? Jen and I are going down to Balboa Park next Saturday for the Haunted House at the Museum of Man. You want to come?”
“I can’t, I’m babysitting my sister. Mom’s got some conference to go to at the university.”
“Why don’t you bring her with you? Mom’s taking Hanna to it.”
“I don’t think so. Jessie can’t sleep for days after she sees a scary movie. She already asked and Mom said no. She doesn’t want to sleep with Jessie for the next week; she’s kind of a cover hog.”
“That’s too bad. Jen tells me that it really rocked last year.”
“It sure did. What have you got in the bag there?”
“Oh, costumes for Halloween,” Matthew said. “I’m taking Jessie trick or treating; we’re going as Captain Hook and Peter Pan.”
“Hey, why don’t you come to Jason’s and Brianna’s party afterwards?” Jennifer asked. “He can come can’t he, Brea?”
“Sure, I think Jason has already invited him, hasn’t he?”
“Yeah, I haven’t decided yet about going. I’m waiting to see what my mom’s going to do. She might want to go out that night, so I’d have to stay home with Jessie.” Matthew avoided the subject of his being grounded for the foreseeable future.
The waitress walked up with their order. As they started eating, Jennifer and Brianna described the costumes they had gotten for the party. By the time they had finished describing every little detail of their costumes and Jason’s and a couple of others’, the three had finished eating.
“Hey, I’ve got to get home. If I don’t see you before Saturday, have fun at the haunted house,” Matthew said. “I’ll let Jason know about the party.” Matthew paid his share of the bill. “Bye.”
“Bye, Matt,” Jennifer and Brianna said in unison.
. . .
On Saturday evening Matthew was staying home with Jessica. He had to watch a Disney movie with her, twice. Then after a little ice cream for dessert he put her to bed at 8:30. He had rented Ghostbusters to watch after Jessica went to bed. He thought it was appropriate for the season, a real classic. His mother drove up just after 10:00 when the movie was ending. As she entered the house, her face was white as a sheet.
“Mom, what’s the matter?” Matthew asked as he saw her.
“You haven’t heard? The Stevenson girl has been abducted. Where’s Jessie?”
“I put her to bed at 8:30,” Matthew said jumping to his feet. “What do you mean, Emily’s been abducted?”
“Not Emily, Sonja.” Mrs. Brandt rushed up the stairs to check on Jessica.
Matthew followed her, his mind racing. He couldn’t believe it, there had been two young girls abducted in L.A. last month. The police had never found them. No one else was reported missing for the last three weeks, so everyone had pushed it out of their minds hoping that the nightmare was over. But now Emily’s little sister, it rocked his whole body as he remembered Sonja singing with Emily.
Mrs. Brandt slowly opened the door to Jessica’s room. Jessica was sleeping soundly, hugging her teddy bear. Closing the door, she turned to Matthew, “Let’s go downstairs. I don’t want to wake her.”
“Okay, I’ll be down in just a minute,” Matthew replied as he ducked into his room, closing the door behind him. He grasped the stone that was hanging around his neck. Please, he thought, please let this work. He slowed his breath as he thought of Sonja, nothing. No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t see her. He thought of Emily, and there she was in the family room of her house, sobbing. Her mother was trying to comfort her, but was sobbing so hard herself that it was of little use. Matthew closed his virtual camera and went downstairs to talk with his mother.
“I can’t believe this,” he said as he walked into the family room. “Who would want to abduct a six-year old girl?”
“I don’t know. The police think it might be a kidnapping for money. Mr. Stevenson is very rich. I hope that’s what it is.”
“How could you hope such a thing?” Matthew asked looking at his mother in amazement.
“Because the alternatives are too awful to think about. If it’s a kidnapping for money, there’s a chance they’ll get their little girl back. But, if it’s something else…” she broke into sobs, her whole body shaking as she imagined the horrible fate that might await Sonja at the hands of her abductors.
“What else could it be? Tell me.”
“I don’t know; it could just be someone who wants a little girl of their own. In that case at least it might not be so horrible for her.”
“What could be worse?”
“It could be child molesters, or child slavery,” her voice deepened with despair. “There have been several cases reported in the news lately. There are some who think that’s what happened to the two girls who disappeared last month.”
“What do you mean child slavery?”
“It’s too horrible to talk about.” She started to cry again.
“Mom, you’ve got to tell me.”
“People buy and sell children; people who want a little girl or boy that nobody knows about. That way they can keep them hidden and do whatever they want to them.”
“That’s sick,” Matthew said. His stomach got queasy and he felt like he was going to throw up.
“It’s a horrible life for the child,” his mother said. “They’re sexually and physically abused until they’re too old to keep, then they’re either killed or sold into some other kind of slavery.”
“That can’t happen here, not in the United States.”
“Unfortunately, it does. We’ll have to be extra careful with Jessica. No trick or treating this year. Maybe we can take her to a party where she’ll be safe.”
Matthew’s mind was spinning, what could he do? There had to be something. He had this special gift, there had to be a way he could use it to help. He sat down in a chair and put his head into his hands. “This is unbelievable.” As he sank back into the chair and stared out into space his eyes landed on the stuffed animal he’d put on the bookcase back in September. Ari’s little bear. In the excitement of the horse racing and everything that had happened since, he’d never returned it to Ari.
“That’s it,” Matthew said, rushing over to the stuffed animal. Picking it up he tried to see Ari. Nothing. “It worked before,” he thought. “Maybe it’s been too long since Ari held it. I know it works, I checked it twice when Jessie left the toy in the chair. I know it’ll work.”
“What’s going on, Matt?” His mother sounded worried.
“I was just thinking aloud. I’ve got to go over to the Stevensons’.”
“No, I don’t want you out with this going on. Who knows where these people are and what they’ll do.”
“I have to go!”
“The Stevensons don’t need anyone else over at their house. I’m sure it’s crawling with police and friends, much less the reporters.”
“Mom, I’ve got to go.” Matthew tried to sound as adult and serious as he could. “You have to trust me.”
“No, I won’t allow it.”
“Mom, I’m going. I’ll climb out a window if I have to, but I’m going. I can’t explain, but I have to go. Please trust me.” Matthew pleaded with his mother, “Please!”
“I must be crazy,” she said as she sat down sighing. “You take your phone and call me if anything happens.”
“Thanks, Mom. And don’t worry, I’ll be careful.”
Matthew raced to his room and grabbed his phone; then he raced down to the garage and got his bike out. He rode the four miles to the Stevensons’ house in record time. While he rode, he tried to think how he could convince someone to give him one of Sonja’
s toys or a piece of clothing. They’d think he was crazy. He could only hope that Emily would listen to him.
When he arrived at the Stevensons’ house, there was a police car in the driveway. The officer told Matthew that no one was allowed onto the estate, and no he would not call and ask them to let him in. Matthew turned and rode his bike back down the street. Putting it into the ditch to hide it, he relaxed and turned on his virtual camera. He used it to check out the layout of the property around the Stevensons’ house. There were two guards patrolling the area. “No dogs, thank God.” He figured out that he could duck between the neighbor’s house and the hillside and make his way around the Stevensons’ pool. If he timed it right, he would be able to get next to the house without being seen. Emily was still in the room off the pool. Her mother had gone back to the study to talk with the police and her husband.
Matthew checked the guard positions as he crept around the neighbor’s house. When both guards were as far away from him as possible, he made his move. Quickly crawling over the fence, he dashed over the pool deck and up to the house. He went to the window where Emily was seated and knocked on the glass.
“Emily,” he hissed, “Emily.”
Emily apparently didn’t hear him. She was just sitting in the chair, crying.
“Emily!” he said louder, rapping sharply on the window.
Emily looked around, startled.
“Emily, it’s me, Matt. Let me in.”
“Matt, what are you doing here? Are you crazy?”
“Quiet, let me in and I’ll explain.”
“Just a second,” Emily walked to the French doors and opened them. “Are you crazy? There are armed guards out there, you could have been shot!”
“I know. But I want to help.”
“What can you do?” Emily closed the French doors behind Matthew.
“I can help you find Sonja,” Matthew whispered. He hoped he would be able to convince Emily to let him help before her parents found him there.
“You’re nuts, the police and the Sheriff are both searching for her. Dad’s trying to get them to call in the FBI, what can you do?”
