Thank you all for reading Chapter One. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I hope you find chapter 2 just as enjoyable. None of the characters in this story are real. They are solely figments in my own mind.
Please remember to vote and comment. IR2R
Shaun left his meeting with Kersh with a sense of accomplishment. The two men talked about several key factors that impeded these young men's growth. Kersh informed him that they had a functioning computer lab and classrooms at the facility. Most of the boy's classes were remote and televised. The local school district provided materials and instructors for the kids.
After talking with Kersh, Shaun planned to arrange tutors and purchased additional hardware and software for his charges. But before he made any arrangements, he wanted to speak with Judge Munoz to make sure he wasn't in violation with the mentoring program or any state guidelines.
He went to her office immediately after leaving WCDC and they talked. Judge Munoz was impressed. She knew MacGregor would serve well in this capacity, she just didn't expect him to take it to heart.
She explained to him that he could get the young men things they needed, but don't make empty promises. He scoffed at her. Then she smiled.
Shaun laughed and for the first time in all of the years he'd had faced this Judge, he realized she was a decent woman. Standing at the end of their brief meeting, Shaun shook her hand and went home.
Over a few weeks, Shaun ordered e-readers, laptops, and through materials for all three charges. The electronic devices would be kept under lock and key in the supervisor's office, but the three young men would have access to them when needed. He even arranged to visit with them twice a week. One visit was to talk to them about etiquette, behaviors, and life skills; the other visit was a chance for the boys to discuss what issues or needs they had.
After arranging the help the boys needed, Shaun kept his word and visited twice weekly. Soon, the young men opened up to him and seemed to be ready to reintegrate with the world. A few months passed, and Shaun wanted permission for an off site visit. Kersh wasn't so sure, so Shaun wanted to convince him and Judge Munoz that this was a good idea.
The first few weeks that Shaun visited, all three young men were reclusive. They were polite, and he had to goad them into interacting with him. The level of distrust they displayed was almost insurmountable. However, Shaun understood, and he kept talking, and eventually they grew to trust him.
He engaged them with topics he thought might interest them. He asked questions to help them open up. He even would just sit quietly, and neither of them would talk at all. He visited with them individually and also as a group. Kersh, had new occupants arriving, so eventually the three boys ended up in the same section.
This was perfect, because now they could interact with each other. Since they all worked with Shaun, they knew each other. Their friendship grew and the three of them grew to respect each other even more.
Shaun encouraged them to socialize with each other. Often, they ended up helping each other out. Both Kevin and Daren took extra care of Gianni. He was the youngest and needed protection the most.
Even though, the three didn't interact with others at the facility, the three for some reason seemed to bind and form a tight unit. It didn't happen overnight, but eventually all three boys grew to trust their mentor.
After his first few visits, he spent time with Gianni and for the first time saw glimpses of the young boy buried inside the solemn young man. The first time Shaun heard him laugh, it was at some antic Darren and Kevin pulled.
He smiled. The guys looked so carefree and happy, that he hated for the day to end. But like all the other times, his visit ended and they had to return to their rooms. Shaun was amazed at how attached he'd become to these boys. He hated leaving them. He wondered if they could leave the facility, even if it was only one day.
True to his word, he visited and spent time with them twice a week. Slowly they began to trust him. Kevin was the hardest. He was extremely antisocial and as a victim of abuse, had a hard time trusting anyone. It seemed the only peop le he trusted were Darren and Gianni. He respected Kersh, and eyed Shaun warily.
On one visit, Shaun decided to try and get Kevin to open up. Although, it was hard, He managed to get him to talk about his life before the death of his parents. When asked about the foster homes, Kevin shut down. But Shaun knew of the abuse he'd suffered. It angered him every time he thought of it. At the end of his visit, he reminded him once again that no one would ever hurt him like that again.
After a few more visits, and more time had passed, Kevin responded with a simple. "Thank you."
Shaun was overjoyed, because he'd finally gotten through his barriers. Now, he could really help them. After the first few weeks, Shaun had Darren to read the card he'd given him the first time they'd met. After Darren read it, he was so quiet, so still. It was as if he was frozen.
"Mr. MacGregor, I owe you an apology. I was out of line and I know better. It's just that no one, other than my sister has ever..." Darren took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. "If you will help me, I want to do better. I want a chance at a decent life."
Shaun smiled and he wanted to embrace this brave young man, but he knew it would make him uncomfortable. So he patted his shoulder and said, "Darren, for every step you take, I'm right there with you son, right there." He promised, and just like that, a friendship was formed.
Shaun wondered, if the boys could leave the center. He was determined to take all three young men from the facility for at least one day. He wrote a proposal and presented it to Judge Munoz, hoping his argument was enough to sway her decision in his favor. In his proposal, he highlighted how important it was to expose them to real life situations. They could visit his office, and some of the local manufacturing plants, concluding the day with dinner at his home with Delia and Michal.
Judge Munoz read his proposal and told him to give her some time to consider it. Shaun was ready to argue, when she reminded him that she didn't say
No
, just that she needed time. So for the next week, Judge Munoz consulted with their social workers, Mr. Kersh, and the youth court official that sentenced them and saw no reason to not grant them the day.
She planned to call Shaun Monday morning, when she got a call about a disturbance involving one of the young me. She called Shaun immediately. Shaun was at home with his wife when Judge Munoz called, and he was greatly alarmed. He wanted to go straight to the center, but the judge asked him to wait until Monday.
Shaun agreed, but his worry for his three boys caused him a restless night. Shaun called into the office and explained that he'd be delayed. He then called Judge Munzo to find out what she knew of the incident. Then he reported straight to the WCDC and directly to Kersh's office. Kersh was not surprised to see him. He knew MacGregor had a vested interest in the boys.
"Darren struck one of the correctional officers yesterday when he ordered his sister to leave. I spoke with Officer Klaus, and he claims the attack was unprovoked. We are investigating, and we will get to the bottom of this." Kersh assured him.
"Let me see him. Where's Darren?" Shaun demanded. He knew something wasn't right. If Darren struck the guard, something had to cause the reaction.
