Wonder What the Poor People Are Doing?
In early September, Nick and his mom both closed on their mansion and moved into new home. Their new house had four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage and was located in downtown Orange Bay, just minutes from the Fox ‘n Fields office. It was in an ideal location and at a reasonable price, given real estate prices in the area and trends. Nick felt a lot better about his new home than he did about the mansion. It wasn’t lavish, just simple elegance, and it represented living within one’s means in more modest ways.
Chipper seemed happy in the new home too, probably even happier than she’d been in the mansion; it featured a fenced-in backyard where she could roam freely. And it didn’t have a pool, which she probably liked. She couldn’t swim very well and had fallen into the pool at the mansion a couple of times before being saved by Nick’s mom. Her afternoons now consisted of a series of running patterns designed to protect the family from the local squirrels and lizards.
***
Nick was enrolled in three on-line courses at State, which he needed to successfully complete that semester to graduate in December. He worked about as hard in those courses as he would have worked while in the classroom, yet the distractions of football and women at State weren’t present, so his grades were higher than usual.
In mid-September, Nick accepted an internship at Fox ‘n Fields in its finance department. He was added to the team investigating the income potential associated with a new Fox ‘n Fields credit card, which was one of his mom’s new strategies.
Though he said he didn’t want to ride his mom’s coattails, the opportunity to investigate and possibly implement a portion of his mom’s strategic plan was too good to pass up. Plus the job was ideal, given his skill set and academic knowledge, and he considered it to be a stepping stone to higher level positions in the organization.
He’d use the skills and attitudes that his mother had always instilled in him to succeed. Her words rang like bells as reminders in his mind, “work hard, work smart, and be conscientious and efficient. Take on the extra tasks that no one wants with enthusiasm and never whine, complain, or gossip. Show up early and stay late and dress for the role you want. Give more than you take and always be humble, thankful and appreciative. And most importantly, never forget that you’re expendable; there are always at least ten people banging on the door for your job.” Nick wanted to work his way to the top, so he planned to wear a suit or at minimum a shirt and tie each day on the job.
He was also overseeing the construction and development of the new homes on the Collins’ Foster Home campus during this time and thinking of way to get the word out about the home. Being a ‘best kept secret’ wouldn’t help when attempting to raise funds for its causes.
That’s when Piper stepped in. She’d been volunteering at the home for years by counseling and assisting with the children. Nick convinced her to use her skills in social media to help to promote the home. By mid-October, Piper had secured over three thousand followers and fans in two short months on each of three social media accounts by generating a significant buzz about the kids, their promising futures, and the generosity of the community.
Piper also worked with Nick to plan and promote the upcoming celebration/fundraiser at the home, to be held on Friday, December 19th. In early September, he and Piper sent out the first round of ‘save the date’ letters for the celebration/fundraiser to all of his friends, his mom’s friends, a number of his mom’s employees and board members, members of society, philanthropy groups, individuals in the area who’d been recognized for their giving, and all of the groups with which the foster home was affiliated. In mid-October, they sent out formal invitations to all of the same parties. He also sent an invitation to Michael Clark, along with his wife and family. Michael Clark would be challenging Scott Kinnaird in the governor’s race in early November. To his delight, over four hundred people confirmed their attendance at the celebration, including the gubernatorial candidate and his family.
***
During the last week of October, Nick’s mom caught him in the kitchen one morning before work. “How about inviting some friends over this weekend for a little celebration? .We have so much to celebrate, most notably your upcoming graduation from State and the new homes under construction at the Collins’ Foster Home.”
“And Halloween.”
“Oh yeah, Friday will be Halloween. I never really liked that holiday.”
“Me neither. But I like costume parties. You know, I think I will have a party, Mom. I haven’t seen Tanner and Bob in a while. I’ll give them a call. Nick picked up his cell phone and walked into his room. After he confirmed that Piper could make it, he called his friends.
“Tanner, I’m having a costume party. Can you and Marlis come by Friday night? You can wear costumes if you want.”
“Sure dude. Sounds good. We’ll see you then.”
Nick then dialed Bob. “Hey Bob. Having a small costume gig on Friday night. Wanna come by? Costumes are optional.”
“Are clothes optional too?”
“No.”
“Bummer. Flypaper threw a clothing optional party last month. It was a total blast.”
“I’m sure. Flypaper lives alone. I don’t think my mom would appreciate a bunch of naked people running around her house.”
“Fair enough. I’ll be there. ‘Bout time you threw a gig. I’ve been waiting.”
“Oh, Bob, we moved. We’re in downtown Orange Bay. Smaller house, much smaller.”
“What! You sold the mansion? Dude. Why? You should’ve thrown a party before you left. I’m disappointed in you dude. That mansion was a chick magnet.”
“Well, this house isn’t a bad replacement. It’s in downtown Orange Bay, right by the shops and restaurants.”
“Pool?”
“Nope, but I’ll pick one up just for you before you get here.”
“Pick one up?”
“Yeah, they’re selling inflatable pools at Go-Mart. I’ll pick an inflatable up with a couple of rafts.”
“Okay, you got me. That sounds cool.”
***
That Friday, Piper came over early and helped Nick get ready for the party. They hung a few party decorations, balloons, and orange Halloween lights around the outside of the house, which supplemented the pumpkins and fall decorations already adorning the front porch.
Nick filled a large cooler with ice and refreshments and poured a variety of chips and dip into some party bowls. Piper sorted carrots, zucchini, and celery on a plate, centered by some veggie dip. Submarine sandwiches, chicken wings, and hot dogs would further provide good nourishment for their friends.
He put on a cowboy hat and mask hat and offered the same to Piper.
“Thanks, now we’re matching,” she said as she sat down on the couch and put her hat and mask on. “Everything looks good. They should be here in a few minutes.”
“Yup.” Nick sat down next to her and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you for helping me get things ready.”
“You’re welcome.”
Bob was first to show up.
“Hey there,” he said as he strolled in wearing a worn pair of jeans, cowboy boots and an old t-shirt. “Nice place.”
“Thanks. What are you dressed as?”
“A rodeo star.”
“That’s cool. The cooler is out back.”
“Perfect,” he said as he moseyed out of the back doors and onto the patio.
Tanner and Marlis showed up next, followed by a handful of other friends. A few wore costumes, but Tanner and Marlis chose to dress as themselves.
“Grab a drink and make yourselves at home,” Nick said as he guided each into the house, “the cooler is on the patio deck and the food is in the kitchen.” He walked into the kitchen and grabbed himself a paper plate and filled it up with chips and wings.
The country music was rocking in the background as everyone milled about and made conversations with one another.
“Great party, Nick. This was a good idea,” Piper said as she walked into the kitchen and joined him, filling a plate with some veggies and a chicken wing.
Nick licked his fingers and said, “You helped, sweetheart. It wouldn’t be the same if you weren’t here. You’ve been the best girlfriend a guy could have. I love you, Piper.”
“I love you too, Nick.”
He put his arms around her and kissed her in the middle of the kitchen.
“Get a room,” Bob shouted.
Nick backed off and laughed. “Nice one, Bob.”
“Hey, where’s that pool?”
“Out back. I filled it up just for you.”
Nick turned his attention back to Piper. She looked perfect, as always. She was wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans, a black belt and black high heels, which was casual yet feminine. He planned to marry that girl one day. “Follow me,” he said as he took her hand and led her to the couch, where they both sat down next to one another. “You are just so easy and comfortable to be around.”
“And so are you.”
“Hey,” Bob called out from the back yard, “Nick.”
Nick got up and walked out onto the patio to find Bob in the inflatable pool, floating on a raft, which was just slightly smaller than the pool itself. He was fully dressed in his jeans, shirt, and boots.
“Hey Nick, I got a question.” Bob leaned back on his raft and put one hand behind his head with the other gripping a can of beer.
“Yeah?”
He took a long swig before saying, “Wondering what the poor people are doing right now.”
“They’re probably sitting in a pool just like that one.”
“You got that right. Big underground pools are so overrated.”
“Hey, how about coming to the Collins’ Foster Home fundraiser party in December? We’re building homes to house another fifty kids and celebrating construction completion then.”
“Yeah, that sounds cool Nick. Thanks. I like kids. Hope to have a couple one day.”
“Me too.”
Nick was about to turn around and head back in the house when Bob said, “Hey man, where’s your beer?”
“In the house, next to Piper.”
“Oh, I got it. You’re hoping she’ll slip some drugs in your drink so she can take advantage of you.”
“Yeah, right.”
Bob lowered his voice. “You’ve tagged her, haven’t you?”
“I’m a gentleman, Bob.”
“Gentleman? I don’t see any gentlemen around here. I was talking to you, Nick. If you invited gentlemen to this party, you’d best ask them to leave. My belly’s rumbling from all of the beans I had at lunch.”
“Man, you’re gross.”
“Only on the weekends, Nick. I save my best jokes for you.” Bob chuckled as he downed the rest of the beer in his hand and grabbed the one he’d placed by the end of the inflatable pool.
“Keep those jokes coming and you won’t get any of the ladies to join you in the pool,” Nick said with a laugh.
“Nick, I hate to break it to you, but this pool isn’t for socializing. It’s for show. I’m just getting warmed up here for the ladies while they enjoy their beers. I’ll be out to make my moves when they’re ready for my kind of sophisticated humor.”
Nick laughed before heading back inside and sitting down next to Piper. The beer he’d left there was more of a prop than anything else. It had been there all night, unopened, and was now warm.
***
The following Monday morning, Nick turned on the television and watched a reporter as she stood in front of the county courthouse and announced, “The jury has come to a decision in the Ramsey case, which we’ll report to you right after the break.”
“Mom, you gotta hear this,” Nick shouted up the stairway. “The Ramsey case. They’re going to announce the verdict.”
She walked down the stairs and entered the family room as the reporter continued. Nick could see that she was still fighting the cancer inside of her with every bit of energy she had. Three rounds of chemo hadn’t cured it yet, but he had hope.
“After much deliberation, the jury has found Tricia Ramsey guilty of first degree murder for the premeditated murder of her husband, Braedon Ramsey. She is being held without bail as she waits for her sentence, which the judge will decide in three weeks.”
“During the trial, it came out that Mrs. Ramsey had been having an affair with Governor Scott Kinnaird and was the mother of two of his children, young twin girls, currently staying with relatives. She’d claimed to be an active member of the Fellowship Church, yet no one at the church confirmed her presence in any of the activities in which she’d claimed to be active, though a few recalled her dropping her girls off at Sunday school. She was also pregnant and due to deliver in late November. Custody of the children was to be decided at a later date. The governor couldn’t be reached for comment.”
“Just crazy, huh Mom. Poor kids. Hopefully things will work out for them. I wonder if he’ll lose the election next month.”
“Yeah, the timing couldn’t be worse for Kinnaird. Michael Clark must be celebrating.” She paused and said, “We’ll have to follow up on the girls. Probably owe that to Braedon. Maybe I judged him more harshly than I should have.”