Smokescreen

“What about school?” I ask softly.

“My home situation has changed and I need a job. I’ve always been top of my class, I know I could do well for you.”

“Come here.” I motion to the picnic table beside us. Vicki and I sit across from this young boy who is growing more anxious by the second. “What’s your name?”

“Pedro Luis.”

“Pedro, I’m Stella and this is Vicki. Can you tell us a little more about why you want to drop out of school and work full time? You can’t be older than seventeen.”

“I’ll be eighteen in a few months. I meet the law to work full time.”

“But why would you want to?”

“I need to take care of my brother. He needs to finish school and I provide for him.”

My heart hurts at his admission and the visible pain in his eyes. “Can you tell us more?”

He slices his eyes back and forth between us and his shoulders slump. “My mom died a month ago, leaving me and my brother with my grandmother. She’s old and frail and doesn’t have a way to support us. My brother, Lucas, sees our struggles and is lashing out. I need to keep him in school and away from trouble. The only way to do that is to get a job. I work nights now, but it’s not enough.”

My heart breaks at his admission and I know he is only one of many crushing stories.

“There has been talk around here about the renovations of the factory and the workforce. I want to apply as soon as possible.”

“What do you want to do, Pedro?” I ask softly.

“I’m really good with numbers and can handle some technical issues. But I don’t care, I’ll clean the factory, run the machines, really anything.”

“You speak English really well. Where’d you learn it?”

“I taught myself. I also speak French and am learning Italian.”

“Really you taught yourself?”

“Yes, I work as a janitor at nights at the community center. They have audio programs I listen to as I clean and restock. They also have a computer station I’m allowed to use. I’ve already taken free courses that are equivalent to my remaining school classes.”

“So you go to school and work nights already?”

“Yeah, I had to help when my mom was sick too.”

Vicki and I exchange a look and both of our eyes are shiny with unshed tears.

“Pedro, let me see what sort of jobs we can look into that are available. Do you have access to a phone?”

“Yes, I have a phone for emergencies.”

We both give him a card and take his number. “Give me a few days. One of us will get back to you.”

He nods before getting up to leave. “Thank you.” His voice is resigned.

“Hey, Pedro, don’t lose hope. I promise you’ll hear from one of us soon.” He walks away and a tear escapes.

“What are you thinking, Stella?”

“I’m thinking Max’s commitment to this community just got a whole lot bigger. Better get ready because when I tell him my plan, it’s all hands on deck.”

A wide smile spreads across her face. “Looking forward to it.”

The floor has a worn path from my pacing. I’ve been going through ideas in my mind since getting back to the room and so far everything seems feasible. The legalities will have to be straightened out, but that’s what lawyers are for.