You hugged him, and we met with Mr. Ramirez and his wife in a chair, a fact not lost on Hazel or me. Meeting the shop class, you charmed them all. The Race-car drivers did a driving course first. Then one of the race drivers gave a race helmet to Aunt Ellen. As she goes up the lift, he climbs in and checks that her wheelchair locks are in place. It provides a green light on the dash. I had it wired to the starter, no green, no start. Next, he hooks Ellen's special seat belt in. I was also working on adding the seat belt to the starter. The doors close, and the Van pulls away. She drives an open lot for over twenty minutes. He stops and picks up a DPS instructor to give the driving test. The race car guy moved to the back seat.
She drove off the test track into the city in a pickup truck, followed by film crews. Returning and pulling up next to the race car, they got out. The Race car driver grabs her and wheels her to us. Ellen is holding up a temporary Driver's license. It was a start; eleven people passed their driver's test that day. The Van design made the national news.
The next day "Come on, Baby, we got to book your test in a few minutes." Hazel says.
You drop me off at the test center. I get there and turn and blow a kiss to you. A couple saw this and laughed, then looked at you sitting in your car; I heard a. "Lucky bastard."
I answered. "You have no clue that is my wife's luck; hell, it was hard work."
I knocked out the test. I checked each question twice and finished. Calling home close to six pm, the latest the test was given. I was told you were there waiting on me. I run out and kiss you with as much passion as you did me on your test. We drove to the house and started dinner.
Within a few days, there was an offer to buy the patent; it was a lot of money.
I say. "For them to give me a truck and let's start a foundation to put kids at risk to take shop classes and college would be paid for, or they can take the money to start a business. Let me check with the wife first; she's my business partner."
You had run out for breakfast tacos and were gone when I got the call.
When you return, I say. "Hon, I turned down a million bucks today, baby. I told them to give me a truck and let's set up a foundation to send at-risk kids to college or money to start a business. I knew I could not give you children; I thought helping thousands of kids a year might soften the blow. I need a yes from you."
Again she tackles me hard, yes, like a girl hard as you cried into my shoulder. "It's a yes, baby. I'm speechless."
You filled our coffee cup, and I called and told them to set it up and make the truck white, please. After being without things to do, Hazel had something to do in her college to start with, what clothes and what courses to take, to name a few. The rest of the day was regular till right before six-thirty pm.
Hazel says. "Come on, baby. We got to go to dinner. It's at eight pm, but you got to clean up the High school kids who want to treat you to dinner tonight. I was on the phone all day talking to the suits we have checks to offer to the kid's college or to open a shop with. Also, the two who did the most are also offered a bonus, and the local car dealership has a van for the shop teacher."
The restaurant was a nice one right off downtown across town from us, but it was a fifteen-minute drive to town and less than that to get there. Joey told us four kids work here, and one kid's dad is the manager. Walking in, I felt like some fix was in. I distinctly recall that Hazel said it was just us tonight; everyone was there. There were people in suits there, none that I knew but a husband and wife were there. I've seen them before; he's talking to Bob and pointing my way. We were handed drinks as Jean walked over and kissed me and Hazel, taking my free hand and leading us around to meet people.
Jean says. "This is my daughter Hazel and my dear son-in-law Dan Allan Bogart; he truly is closer to a real son to me. This is Senator Mr. George Jones and his Wife, Barbara."
Bob introduces us to the following three men who were high-ranking members of the big three car companies. So we met six car dealership owners. Something was up. We were seated after drinks and a four-course meal of chicken and roasted potatoes or fish dish it looked like Trout. The dinner was over, they brought out cake and coffee, and after a few minutes, the servers came by and topped off the coffee.
Bob stood at the podium, inducting himself. "I'm a Husband, a father, a friend of this young man Dan and his father-in-law. He met us on his first date hours late. He got in a fight at a pizza place he came inside to tell us why. Our daughter met a young blacksmith, a carpenter, a master knife maker, and a great cook, to name only a few of his skills. He protected my baby and her friends and continued to do so many times.
He showed us his love for our baby that first week. He designed a wheelchair ramp on paper in ink right before us. He had my sister-in-law, who's in a wheelchair, make a strap to let her dance with her husband. He redesigned her house, making it a home perfect for a person in a wheelchair, with ramps to get in the place to kitchen counters and wheelchairs high. She was able to start cooking again; no more T.V. frozen dinners. He added a ramp to a church and designed a public restroom for a person in a wheelchair. Then developed a Van to be driven by a person in a wheelchair safely, and that's why we're here today."
He introduces The Senator from Texas, who gets up and does a twenty-minute talk about education needing practical skills and support to move forward to keep America great. The next three were the car companies' CEO of the big three. They pledged millions as all three said they could not fill their classrooms with trained mechanics. The shortage has been felt for years; everyone was getting college degrees. Finally, the local car dealers got up and echoed the feelings of not finding well-trained mechanics.
Mr. Ramirez went to the podium and spoke. "I met this young man. I thought he was much older than nineteen years that he is. He showed me plans to change a van for a person in a wheelchair from one to ride into one of freedom by driving. Being shown how it can be safely done in a wheelchair will give back the freedom to my wife. She passed her driving test; we are building her one soon. We were here today to tell Dan, no to thank Dan and his lovely wife for starting this Foundation. He once told me this Van was a ripple of loving his wife. I was not sure what he meant then. But we all seen his ripples. Dan, I have a list for you to read; please come up and read this, sir."
I started to stand my courage was there, but my face looked white; I would be unlikely to read this without significant mistakes. Hazel stood, took my arm, and led me to the podium.
Hazel stood at the podium saying. "I'm Hazel, my dear husband Dan is dyslexic; if you don't mind, I read this for him. The Foundation has the support of the Senate, all three Automobile manufacturers, and three colleges. It will be called The trades school act. A bill is before Congress next month to add to the ten million the Foundation starts with. Twenty cities are picked to start one high school in each city will have the program. The trades are being expanded to other fields. The idea that this is a ripple of Dan's love to me is the greatest joy in my life and to all who know him. We thank you. Now my sexy husband would like to say a few words because he is a man of few words."
Hazel went to leave, and I kissed your cheek, holding you by my side. I say. "Ripples, I love to tell you I am some hero but to tell the truth, I was afraid of life when I met my wife. My life was not worth living; a loner. I did not know enough about life, but learning with Hazel's family, I wondered if life had to be as hard as possible. I worked with my hands more than I did with my mind. I saw my friends going to school to go to college. I knew my grades would never be good enough to get a degree or job that would give me an income. So I started designing Jewelry. My income and life became a plan to talk under the covers as partners. Hazel came up with the idea of a foundation for the handicapped, and she said we needed a better name for it. My mother-in-law said persons with disabilities. It sounded better. Maybe one day, the world will see people in wheelchairs as damaged, not broken. Until then, we must do all we can to make the world an easier place to live. I thank you now, as the next thing to do is I'll like my wife to read from the list as your name is called. Please come up and receive your awards and a check for four years of college, or you can submit a business plan to start one with additional loans that might be available."
Hazel began calling up the students, and I shook their hands and gave them a check. The dealers presented Mr. Ramirez with three Vans, one from each company. The thing wound down as every person in the room shook our hand or hugged us. Some who loved us kissed us, after we left to get ice cream. We sat outside and saw a couple kissing at another table. The girl found her engagement ring in her ice cream cone. He went to his knee, and you handed me my camera, and I took a few shots of the couple as they glowed. Hazel went and got their info to send them my photos to them.
Bob and Jean look on with smiles, and Jean says. "Ellen, you miss that we did not get a big church wedding?"
Ellen says. "We missed that boat, dear, but I don't care. We are one; that's all that matters now."
Her face and Jeans looked happy together but sad they missed what Hazel and I had. I feel your hand on my leg and your thoughts this time. We are planning a double church wedding when we get home to our place at the top of the stairs. Getting home, we started planning.