Chapter 28 – W-8 Friday Morning
This is Jose's last week. Darin has passed his test in Carpentry, Juan, Jake and Rick passed their exams and are now licensed electricians.
Troy and Mike opened the cafeteria this morning to prepare and serve breakfast. Mr. Styles came in, looking for LaVerne, and Mike said he wouldn't be in until afternoon.
"OK, Mike" Ruben stated, "This is Jose's last week, can I depend on you to do the cake thing? I am also calling a special mandatory meeting for 7:00 PM, and we can present the cake after the meeting."
"Yes Sir. And we will get the word out, about the meeting."
"Outstanding, Mike. I'm depending on you, thanks."
Ruben looked around the cafeteria, and asked Eddie, Ivan and Marty to join him for a few minutes.
"OK, men, here's the deal," Ruben stated. "Over the next couple of weeks, Ivan and the Carpentry Group will be renovating Dorm 2. Marty and the Masonry Group will be constructing showers and changing rooms outside the pool and gym area, and that will involve the Plumbing Group as well."
"What's the time frame for all this?" Marty inquired.
"Well," Ruben stated, "The first group of Juvi's are scheduled to arrive 4 weeks from this coming Monday. If not complete, it will be, hopefully within a few days after. The Dorm 2 renovations shouldn't take more than 2 or 3 weeks, and by the time the first group of Juvi's get here, the remainder of you guys will all be in Dorm 1."
"When are the materials for Dorm 2 being delivered?" Ivan asked. "And where will the Dorm 2 supplies be stored?"
"All of the supplies, for both projects, are to be delivered Monday morning, bright and early. We will order the readymix concrete as soon as the forms are completed. Dorm 2 materials will be stacked where the pool table now sits. Where the pool table goes, will be determined tonight."
"Ivan, you might want to give Mitch a heads up. All you guys need to gather up your tools today from the work site, as, at least for the next 4 weeks, you'll be working here on campus. See you tonight at 7:00." Ruben got up and walked out.
"Wow," Ivan stated, "changes are a-coming! I've only got 3 weeks left here, so I probably won't get to see the completion of them."
About 8:00 AM, 16 Trainers and Trainees board the bus, heading out to the training site, a few of them for the last time. Before the bus left, Ivan stood.
"Listen up everybody!" Ivan stated. "I have a couple announcements to make. We had a chat with Mr. Styles this morning. As you all know, the school is going to go through a transition in the near future. He laid out some of the plans, all groups will be involved, starting Monday, with some construction projects."
"For at least the next 4 weeks, we will all be working on campus, so everyone needs to gather their tools up today and bring them back with us." Then, tearing up a little, "For 2 or 3 of us, this will be our last time to make this trip to the training site. This has been a great opportunity for us, and it is with sorrow that future inmates won't have this opportunity. We need to be thankful, that we had it."
"Lastly, Mr. Styles is having another of his famous Friday night 'mandatory' meetings tonight at 7:00 PM, following dinner."
"Babe," Nate spoke softly, gripping Adam's hand, "Not only did this school give us an educational opportunity, it allowed us to meet and fall in love."
"I know, Baby." Adam replied, smiling and looking at his lover.
Most of the guys treated the morning like any other morning, up until lunchtime. They returned to campus for lunch, then all the guys, except for the Carpentry Group returned to the training site to spend the afternoon gathering up their tools. CG had already brought their tools to campus before they started the Dorm One renovation. They still had some finishing touches to complete on Dorm One that afternoon.
The culinary crew planned to have dinner ready to serve at 6:00 that evening, as they knew most of the guys would want to eat a little later, because of the 7:00 PM meeting. The buildings and grounds guys didn't know about the meeting until they came in to eat, but Mike informed them. He and Troy, having been relieved about 2:00 PM actually sat and ate dinner early with the other three cooks as a group.
Ruben and Sean walked in about 6:30 and fixed themselves trays, and sat at an unoccupied table. They ate their dinners quietly, with little conversation. At about 6:55, Styles turned his dirty dishes in, and pulled the podium out from the wall, preparing for the meeting. Sean is counting heads.
"Gentlemen," Ruben stated, "and I use the term loosely. They say 2 heads are better than one, but I'm going to pick on 26 heads tonight. I have a dilemma, and I'm asking for your help, or at least, suggestions. Can I see a show of hands, how many of you use the pool tables here?"
After counting, "18 of 26, that's a big majority. Here lies my problem. The pool table in Dorm 2 needs to be stored, or relocated. The renovations in Dorm 2 are starting next week, and it's been suggested by powers above me that the pool table be sent to storage, unless we can find a way to relocate it. Does anyone have any suggestions? I see a hand. Marty?"
"Just a thought, Mr. Styles. These tables are pretty large, and right now we are seating 7 men to each of the 6 tables for a total seating capacity of 42. If we were to seat 8 men to each table, and move them just a tad closer together, we could eliminate one table, that one at the end of the room. A perfect spot to place a pool table."
"The problem I see," Styles responded, "is that the cafeteria is locked after the evening meal is served, until the morning crew comes in to prepare breakfast. Shorty?"
"This is true, Mr. Styles," LaVerne spoke, "we also lock the doors leading to the kitchen and the serving line. The only thing out here is the coffee urn, and, of course, the tables and chairs. I know we have always locked the dining room, but I would question if it is actually necessary."
"I think," Styles countered, "it's locked for security, to perhaps prevent vandalism. Kurt?"
"Man," Kurt responded, "we got it made here, compared to the pen. I really don't think anybody would be that crazy. Vandalizing would be a sure ticket back to the pen! And we know you've got cameras around some of these areas."
"Guys, I appreciate your thoughts, and suggestions. You've presented a right solid argument, and the points are valid. Welcome to pool hall #2. We are going to need about 6 rugged guys to carry that pool table here from Dorm Two. Let Sean know who you are, and what time tomorrow you want to move it. I guess that extra table can go out on the porch for now."
"Next item, awards. Darin passed his Carpentry Certification last week, and Juan, Jake and Rick are now all Certified Electricians. Will you four men please come up here and accept these certifications? Also, in a couple of weeks, Darin and Rick will become trainers, as Ivan and Mitch will be leaving us."
"Speaking of leaving, our compadre Jose' says he's tired of cutting grass and he is going home tomorrow. Let's give our final adios to Jose'. Do we have a cake?"
Stephen carried the sheet cake from the kitchen, followed by Vern and Jeremy, with ice cream, plastic plates and forks. The cake decoration read 'Que le vaya bien Jose' (Good Luck Jose').
Jose' responded, tears in his eyes, "Gracias mi Amigos (Thank you my friends)" and proceeded to hug everyone in the room, including Ruben.
Darin, looking at Bryan, "Bri, wanna volunteer with me?" Bryan nodded.
The six guys that volunteered to move the pool table were Kurt, David, Cory, John, Bryan and Darin. They all agreed to do the chore right after the Brunch was finished tomorrow, Saturday. Sean made notes of that.
Vern and Jeremy will have a short night tonight, as they are flipping, and will be opening for brunch Saturday morning, Mike and Troy will be closing, and Stephen will be doing the split, working the line for both brunch and supper. Mike and Troy had opened this morning, and just came back for dinner and the meeting tonight. They are off duty from now until 3:00 PM Saturday.
Mike, on the way back to the Dorm, "Troy, let's go swimming."
"Since I've been here I haven't been able to check out the pool, I don't have any swimming suit."
