Chapter Thirteen

There may be a turning point...

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Jack rushed into the credit union with a worried look and a nervous twitch. He rambled about City Conwell accusing him of not making the March 20 payment, even though he paid and had it expedited to arrive the same day he sent it out �" March 19. David told Jack to calm down and he contacted City Conwell, and after some transfering around to different people, David and Jack learned that City Conwell did have Jack's payment.

“We received it Monday morning,” shetold them.

“Monday?” Jack asked in disbelief. “What do you mean you received it Monday? I had it expedited to arrive at the office on Friday. I sent it that morning, and they said it would arrive at your office before the end of that business day! You’re telling me no one received the package?”

“Sir, I don’t know, I just know that it wasn’t received until Monday, the representative said over the speaker phone.

“You guys told me I could make the payment the same day so long as I expedited it first class to arrive on that same did, and that’s what I did.” Jack’s tone rose And David waved his hand downward to calm Jack down.

“I'm sorry sir, I understand, and you’re right. I will relay this to the immediate loan officer handling your case.”

“Who is that loan officer?”

“I can’t tell you that sir, I don’t know.”

“Great! Wonderful!” Jack sighed.

“Listen, you can’t hold him responsible for your mistake,” David told her now. “He legally complied with your standards. We’re asking you to transfer us to the loan department to speak with the head supervisor.” David through out a name of the person in charge. “Tell him, that someone from First Primier Credit Union wants to speak with him.”

David was transferred over to the loan department supervisor’s voicemail. He left a message and hung up.

“I can’t believe it, they’re giving you the runaround too,” Jack laughed sarcastically. He let out a sigh and faced David.

“Thank you anyway. .”

David nodded, understanding his frustration. What was worse, City Conwell refused to transfer the mortgage over to his credit union, which would have made it easier for Jack to pay mortgage, as the credit union would have been able to refinance him with a lower rate. That had been David’s first try. The least David could do now was help as a mediator.

“I don’t want to go through a foreclosure,” Jack moaned. “I know tons of homes are being foreclosed. I don't want to be a statistic.” Jack rubbed his forehead with both hands and looked up at David again. “If I don’t take care of my wife and kids, then I’m nothing.”

“No, don't say that.”

Jack chuckled now . ”I know I may not get a permanent home mod, but it’s good to know you’re in my corner. Besides, I’m confident this trial mod will become permanent.”

‘Well, I believe you’ll get it too,” David assured him. “You’re one of our loyalist members, and you’re a friend.”

“Thanks man,” Jack chuckled. “If this country wasn’t so screwed up economically �"“ David heard a cell phone and Jack pulled his out and answered it, “Right. OK. Tell them I’ll be there in 20.” He hung up. “Listen I’ve got to get back to the office.”

After Jack left, David's BlackBerry danced across the desk and he picked it up.

“Hi, David?” It was Stella.

“How are you?”

“Fne, is this a good time to talk?”

“I'm at work, but will you call me tonight, after 9?”

“Sure .” She sounded calm. It was really the first time she reached out to him. “Talk to you later . “ she hung up.

He couldn't help but smile.

The phone vibrated again and he answered it.

“Hey little brother.” Nick? He seemed overly happy. “How are you?”

Is he about to ask for money again?

“What’s up, man?”

“Just wanted to say hi to my little brother,” Nick laughed. “What are you doing right now?”

“I'm working..”

“Of course, I know that. I have to work too. It’s been pretty crazy at the video store. ”

“Right.”

“Mom’s stroganoff was pretty good wasn’t it? It was...it was very good.” David heard him cough and snort a couple of times. There was a long silence afterward. David wondered if he was still there.

“Nicolas?”

“I’m still here,” Nick muttered. He went from being overly happy to suddenly solemn.

“What do you want? ”

More silence.

“Nick?”

“I think �" I….I blew it with you guys,” Nick suddenly blurted out. David detected a hint of sadness in Nick's voice. “I just…” did his voice crack? “I don’t know, I just…need to talk…”

David sat up. “Bro, Are you OK?”

“I’m fine .” Nick said, and then hewhispered. “I’m sorry about the other night. I was so....”

“Nick, don't worry about it.”

“I...I think I need help.”

“Nick , it's OK.” David listened to his brother's tone; the old Nicolas was coming through.

“Can we talk later? Maybe grab a bite to eat or something this weekend?” Nick asked tentatively.

“Yeah, or course. When?”

“Saturday �" would that work?”

“Why don’t you meet me at my place around 2 p.m. and we’ll go eat?” David said.

“Really? Sure.”

“OK.”

He hung up and continued working at the computer on other credit accounts and some in-house work. As he did, he couldn't help but wonder if he’d been duped by Nick.

No, give him the benefit of the doubt. It was good just to hang out with him again. Think about how he just called and admitted his mistake.

Once, when David was a junior, he stole $80 bucks from Nick’s room. He blew it on some beer, and pizza for his girlfriend and high school buddies. The next day David’s conscience caught up with him and he walked into Nick’s bedroom and admitted it. Nick could have easily told Dad about what happened, but he didn’t.

“Hey, don’t worry about it,” he’d told him. “Let’s just start over, OK?”

It was the first time David realized his older brother was in his corner �" despite being the better, more ambitious son. He even encouraged David to keep at when David pulled his college GPA up to a 3.8 from a 2.3, and he showed up at David's graduation in 2008, although he did leave early. They all supported David then - Mom, her sister, Janet, her sister Claire, David’s grandparents on his father’s side, cousins Alexandra and Carlos, Mark and Jeannette, Dewayne and several friends. Dad, however, didn’t come, and David never forgot that, but Nick did.

It was only right David would be there for him.

**************************************

It had been a good youth group that night. David talked a little with Bennie Chiang, the scrawny Asian 16-year-old he’d met earlier. Bennie asked if he could add David as a friend on Facebook. Now David lay on the couch as he viewed Facebook on his laptop. Bennie had made good on his promise to make David a friend. Nand he typed David a message: hey, thanks for confirming me.

David typed back: No problem man. Where’d you take this photo? Bennie’s default photo revealed a countryside landscape with a few tall mountains in the distance. Bennie himself wore thick glasses with ear-length scraggily hair, giving him a close resemblance to an Asian Harry Potter.

I was in Fuji with my cousins four years ago, Bennie typed. We went for two weeks.

David typed, Never been to Fuji before. Looks like Thailand. You take vacations with your family a lot?

No, not any more, Bennie typed back. Although it was merely a text, David sensed it was a sad message.

You’ve been to youth group several weeks now. How do you like it?

It’s cool, Bennie typed back. I like Pastor Mark’s jokes.

Yeah, he’s a nut, lol, David typed. He enjoyed this �" relaxing, doing what he loved �" relating to teens -- living for this moment. It had been a good day.

Bennie talked about how he liked to create his own computer games and watch Japanese anime. The kid seemed quiet at youth group, but he really opened up here on Facebook. David wondered what this boy was capable of, and why was he aloof when it came to his parents, especially when David asked about his father. Bennie just told David that Dad worked very hard and that he stayed out of his way.

I have to go, Bennie typed. I’m sorry.

No problem, maybe you can show me how to play you latest game.

The IM indicated Bennie was already offline. So quickly? Oh well.

He was about to sign off himself when he received an IM from Stella.

Hi, canyou talk? She asked.

He smiled and typed back. I’m free right now.

In a few seconds his phone rang.

“Hi Stella.”

“Hi,” she said.

“How are you doing?”

“I’m fine. And you?”

I'm good.What's on your �"“

“You don’t think of me as some charity work, do you?”

That came out of left field. “What?”

“You need to think about what I’m asking. You’re wanting me to talk about what happened, something I can’t even get away from, but you don’t even ask about me. ,I need a friend, not a psychologist. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

He said nothing, still stunned at what she said. His pathetic attempt at giving her a copy of his book came to mind.

“What was your motivation for talking to me?” she asked. “Of course we can relate as we've both gone through tragedies. But what’s the real reason??”

David knew why --- and that meant he had to tell her his original reason, even if it meant her cussing him out and never speaking to him. “I thought, maybe if I helped you, God would help me with someone else.”

She was silence on the other line and David wondered if she hung up.

She hadn’t. “So it is to get something out of it for you.”

David didn’t answer.

“Whom to you want God to help you with?”

David didn’t answer that. He just chuckled. “I blew it with you…didn’t I?”

Silence.

“I didn’t like your answer, but it was honest,” her tone relaxed . “And I like that.” She paused. “I knew you were there, at the park.”

“You did?” he sat up slightly. “Stella, I won’t tell anyone about that.”

“Thanks,” she said, and then, “Thank you for helping me.”

“Helping you?”

“To….be honest toward God…and for being honest with me. I have to go, OK?”

“OK. Stella, maybe we can talk ---“

“No, we can’t. At least, not about that. Not yet, anyway, but soon. I have to go,” he sensed her smiling through the phone. “Goodnight, David.”

“Goodnight.”

David remained on the couch, staring at his BlackBerry, even after she hung up.

Author's Note

ignore grammar problems as this book is about to be professionally edited. Let me know what you think