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“Hey guys. Come in.” Lainey bounces into the classroom. And she’s so full of life, always ready to be my helper. I typically bring extra snacks and find a way to offer it to them, without any of them feeling like they are a charity case.
“What can I do to help, Ash?” Lainey asks. All three kids show a lot of talent, and I allow Lainey and Collin to participate in the intermediate class after this one. Sometimes the two younger kids do both.
I hand her paint brushes and paint, and she begins setting them in front of each individual person’s workspace.
“Dev, you okay?”
He shrugs his shoulders. “Yeah. We’re good.”
I don’t believe him. “Did it get turned off again?” I ask of the heat.
“No, this time it’s the water.”
I place my hand out in front of me. “Hand it over.” He digs for a piece of paper out of his pocket. It’s a bill. I have very little left over at the end of the month, but I’ll be damned if I let these kids go without the basics in life.
“This shouldn’t be your problem, Ash,” he protests.
“You’re never a problem. And it should never be your problem, either. And thanks so much for coming to me.” I know it’s a lot on him to ask for help.
Before stepping out of the room to pay this bill so they’ll have water this evening, I point to a bag of snacks. “Greg bought a whole bunch of junk food then decided he’d go on a diet. Be sure to help yourself,” I offer. These kids are so special. I only wish their parents saw it.
* * *
For the past four weeks,we’ve been intentional with our time together. As quick as we’ve fallen for each other, I tried to show him that spending too much time together could cause us problems. Noah agreed, reluctantly. But, I’ve gotten some pushback. After five weeks of seeing each other once mid-week, then Saturday and Sunday, he’s mentioned spending more time together.
This week, he’s staying the night with me after we volunteer at the boys and girls club. It took a while for his background check to come back. He’s so excited to help me work with these kids. He’s also bringing better supplies, some donated by Kate and the rest on his dime.
My phone beeps, and every time I read his name, a huge smile appears on my face. “Is that him?” Greg asks, playing a game against the computer. “That’s what I’m talking about,” he yells at the screen. The asshole scored another record.
“Yeah, it’s Noah. I thought you were going out tonight. Weren’t you and Dave going to give us the place for a couple hours.”
“Sure, but don’t be having sex on my fucking couch or chair.”
“Let me win next time and I won’t,” I joke, loving to fuck with the man.
“Whatever. But yeah. Dave and I are meeting up with friends from high school.”
“Um, what? You went to high school together. You barely talk.”
He lets out a long and high pitched chuckle. “You know, we’re not a bunch of girls that have to talk every day. We talk when we need to.”
“Wonder what else I’ll find out about you two?”
“You’ll never know,” he quips. My phone beeps, and it’s Noah, again.
“See you later. Thanks for giving me the apartment for a couple hours...”
I’m out the door before Noah texts me again. I’ve not seen him in three days, and honestly, he may not need to convince me. Maybe I’m ready to spend more time together.
* * *
It tookus three trips to bring in all the supplies he and Kate have donated to the kids.
He’s unpacking all of them for the first class. “Tell me what I need to know.”
“This class is beginners. There are some with God-given talent, but most of the kids want or need a way to escape their lives. And it’s what I give them. The second class are kids who could go far with their art. Most are older, ten and up. I have a sixteen-year-old who brings his nine-year-old brother and seven-year-old little sister in the class. He can’t come if they can’t come. So, just be yourself.”
Kids start arriving, and every single one of them comes up to give me a fist bump or a high five, and a couple have been with me long enough that we have secret handshakes. I’d given Noah broad latitude for the project, and with every colorful thin slice of paper he sets at the work station and rounded wood pieces he put at each person’s table, I know he’s as excited as the kids.
