Thursday, November 28, 2013

Chapter 41

Jenny always turned her phone off at work.  She'd seen at least a dozen people fired for texting on the job.  Mr. Jackson was a very tolerant boss, Jenny felt, but he wanted his people to work.  She took it out of her locker, flipping it open and closed, finally turning it on. 

She had 3 messages from Mr.Jones.  She called him back.  "Hey, sweetheart!" he caroled "I found something great for you.  It's a nice horse trailer with a water trough.  You can put hay on the floor when you need to..." Jenny howled with laughter.  "Actually, I found something a little better than that, but I need you to make a promise.  You have to take it.  I know you hate to accept anything, from anyone.  You don't even take a disability check.  But I want you to take this, OK?"  Jenny wondered just what he'd gotten her, and was silent a moment.  "Why are you doing this?" 

Jack Jones, JJ to his friends, ran his hand over his bald head.  "I'm doing this because you're like a daughter to me."  Jenny gulped as her eyes filled with tears.  Her own father had walked off years ago.  A tear rolled down her cheek as Lavon rose from his chair, alarmed.  She waved him down again, turning to face the wall. "I wouldn't leave my daughter out in the cold, so I want you to have this.   Just.  Please. Take. It!"  Jenny agreed, wondering what she'd gotten herself into. 

Charlie met Jenny at the bus stop and offered to drive her home.  She looked up at the sky, dark with rain, and agreed.  As they rounded the corner, Jenny clapped with glee as she saw the pickup truck with a travel trailer, in her driveway.  Mr Jones sat proudly in his wheelchair, the scars on his head catching the light as he waved. 

Charlie gulped.  Who was this guy?  And what the heck was that?  He braked quickly, out of the way, and leapt out to inspect the travel trailer. 

Jenny squealed with glee as she looked around it, then frowned at Mr Jones.  "Does it have a bed and a toilet?"  He grinned  "All that and a tub, even!"  Jenny gaped as he gave her a key.  "It's a little old but it ought to do the trick for you."  He frowned at Charlie "Until you figure something out." 

Jenny bounced inside, spotting a nice queen bed on the right.  The bathroom sat in front of her, a simple and modest arrangement of sink, shower, toilet.  To her her left lay a tiny kitchen, table, and sofa.  She began gushing as she stuck her head back out to yell at Mr. Jones. 

"Please" he finally told her "I've asked you a million times, call me JJ?  Please?  That's what I want for this" he said with finality "Call me JJ."  Jenny blinked back tears as a large, tattooed man began connecting the trailer to her utilities. 

Shortly afterward, the spare container arrived, thanks to Jeff, along with supply of boxes. 

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