AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ivy patted my shoulder and smiled. “That’s the right attitude, Irving. Now, let’s get you on your way.”
Hazel grabbed the prescription bottle and left the booth, so I could turn my chair, using my left fingers only. This was going to be a futile struggle without help. “Star, return.” He jumped off the bed and walked to my right side. “Chair,” I said, holding out the clip on the bungee leash. He waited while I connected his vest and commanded him forward.
Hazel held the door open as we rolled through and waved at Ivy after the door closed. “Your car is here. Do you want to drive or roll?”
“Let’s just roll. I can manage one handed when he’s pulling. Once I’m in the room, maybe you can come back and get the SUV and bring it down?”
“Absolutely. Let’s do it,” she said, waiting for me to command Star forward.
Once we were on the sidewalk and headed toward the small urgent care clinic, I noticed her discreetly direct the left side of my chair. Almost as though it was second nature to her to see a problem and offer a solution. Come to think of it, that was Hazel Cane in a nutshell, and I was a lucky man to have her by my side as a friend and colleague.
∞∞∞
How did people who didn’t understand the laws get on a board that governed them? That question kept running through my mind as we sat listening to the board debate the pros and cons of making the gazebo accessible.
“Let’s table this until our next meeting,” a councilwoman said to end the debate.
My heart sank and I met Hazel’s gaze in time to catch the fire that filled her eyes. My eyes likely held a lifetime of disappoint but the fire I had for fighting this fight had dimmed many years ago. I could see she was about to stand up and start a fight, so I shook my head at her to tell her to let it go.
“What on earth is wrong with this council?” Shep asked from the back of the room as he walked toward the front. “No one is asking you to be out there with a hammer building the ramp. We’re asking for your approval on something that has the funding in place, and in all honesty, should have been done years ago. Is it because Irving is new to town that you don’t want to build this? What if I got hurt on the job tomorrow and needed to use a wheelchair for the rest of my life? Would that be a good enough reason for you to build the ramp? What if Lucy, Noel, or one of your kids or grandkids had an accident and couldn’t access the gazebo? What if your elderly mother’s last wish was to sit in the gazebo, but you couldn’t get her there? Every community member deserves the same dignity you enjoy sitting up there tonight.”
“Mr. Lund, you are out of order,” the president of the council said.
“Maybe I am, Larry, but our goal within city hall has always been making Bells Pass a community for everyone. To make it a place where people can raise a family and be safe and welcomed. It’s always been about keeping the nostalgic feel of a community from days gone by while incorporating modern technology and advancements to make what we do here benefit people all over the country. Those of us working on the ground have done that. Many of you who work in the community as police officers, firefighters, business owners, and factory staff have done that. Yet, your blatant disregard for how important accessibility is in the twenty-first century is staggering and disappointing. You hired Irving and Hazel to make New Beginnings the best facility in the area, but you’re blocking them at every turn! Stop for a moment and remember we all want the same thing here, or we wouldn’t have gotten this far. Try coming at this from the angle that our goal is to make Bells Pass a better, more inclusive community.”
Shep grabbed a folder off his seat and brought it forward, setting it in front of the president. “In my admittedly unscientific research poll done at the diner, I’d like to share the communities’ opinions as well. I asked them one simple question. Should the gazebo be accessible to all.”
Larry picked up the papers and scanned them. “There are over two hundred responses here, Shep.”
“There are, and that was just one shift at the diner. Please, share with your colleagues the result of the poll.”
“All two hundred and thirty-six responses were yay with comments such as ‘duh’ and ‘why is this even a question?’” Larry read from the paper. I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling and risk one of them seeing me.
Larry passed the papers around to the rest of the council and it didn’t take long before Mr. Thompson had his lips pressed together in anger. After the papers were passed back to Larry, Councilwoman Lisa spoke. “I make a motion to vote on the item before us to approve the accessibility ramp to the Bells Pass Gazebo as put forth by city works.”
“I second that motion,” another council member said.
“All those in favor of approving the ramp to begin construction in the spring, raise your hand,” the president said. After he counted, I could tell he had to bite back an eye roll. “All those not in favor, please raise your hand.”
Only one hand went up. Mr. Thompson. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Hazel roll hers. He was going to be the reason we never got New Beginnings open. She had her secret weapon yet to deploy, though.
“With a vote of five to one, the item passes. The city works committee will now take possession of the project. I hand it off to Shepard Lund for implementation.”
With a smirk, Shep walked to the council table and accepted the paperwork with a nod. I wanted to do a fist pump, but that would be unprofessional. Then Shep walked by and held his fist out. How could I not bump it? I did, to the joyous laughter of those in attendance.
“If no one else has other matters that require our attention, the council will go into closed session to discuss employee concerns and compensation.”
Hazel stood immediately and walked to the podium. “I have one last thing to bring to the council’s attention,” she said, pulling the flyers from her folder. “It’s time-sensitive, which is why I wasn’t able to get it on the agenda, so my apologies.” She handed the flyer to the council and waited for them to read it.
“A sleep-out?” Councilwoman Lisa asked. “Is this something new?”
“Not at all,” Hazel said, walking back to the podium. “It’s been around for many years. It’s an event for people from all walks of life to show support and solidarity to those experiencing housing insecurity. We thought hosting a sleep-out would be a wonderful way to show the community what our goals are for New Beginnings.”
“This is only a week from now,” Larry said.
“Yes, sir,” Hazel agreed. “It’s the Friday before Thanksgiving.”
“And people have to sleep outside?”
