Everett

I eased up to make a turn onto Kirby and couldn’t see. So, as I went forward, I ended up blocking the crosswalk. A young man appeared and had to go behind my car to cross the street. I felt so bad that I rolled my window down to apologize to him. When I finally turned and was now waiting in the center lane to merge into on-going traffic, I saw him again out of the corner of my eye. Realizing he was in a uniform, walking, and essentially in the middle of nothing but now a residential area, I again rolled my window down, this time to offer him a ride. Yeah, unfortunately, not something we feel comfortable to do in today’s society. But in my spirit, I knew it was okay. When he heard my offer, he instantly said “oh yes ma’am!! That would be great!!!” He was walking to work: a trek he made daily, over two miles each way regardless of weather conditions. Upon talking, I discovered he was my daughter’s age and he worked two blocks from me at a local restaurant. When I dropped him at work, we had become fast friends and he had shared a small piece of his life with me. He lives at home with his single mom. His older brother joined the Marines and now lives in CA. I asked him about a bike so he would not have to walk to work. He said he was trying to save for one. So, my friend, Steve Drake, got him a bike. My friend, Deb, gave me a helmet for him. My other friend, Steve, in CA ordered him a light and some blinkers yesterday and shipped it to me. Many of you have offered help; so, Francesca and I have set up a Go Fund for Everett! He doesn’t have a phone, not at home or a cell phone. So, my goal was to try to obtain a phone for him and pay it in advance for a couple of months. I also noticed he could use some good shoes. I also have looked into and found a job possibility for him and have a meeting this afternoon about it. When I dropped him at work, I realized that all this young man needed was someone who cared and could find him an opportunity. He said to me “Mrs. Betty thank you so much for the ride. Can I offer you some gas money?” I can barely type that line without crying and I truthfully can’t tell you the number of times I have cried since. Everett captured my heart. He did so again today. You see, I called Everett at his work early this morning to tell him I was bringing him a bike and some gear. I asked him if he was interested in this possible job opportunity I had learned of just yesterday afternoon. His excitement made my whole day and when we were about to hang up, Everett said to me: “Mrs. Betty, thank you for calling me and God Bless you for all you have done.” You know what strikes me most about Everett? The fact that as my friend, Chandra, so astutely pointed out yesterday, “we are all way closer to needing a bike than we might like to acknowledge”. This fact and the fact that I am reminded of growing up in a home with a single mom who often would say “I don’t know what I am going to feed you tonight for dinner” or “get in the car becaues we have to go pay $5 on the electric bill; so, it doesn’t get turned off today.” If you can’t nor choose not to help this young man, it is completely understandable. We cannot do everything for everyone or support every cause. I would ask that you please help him by praying for him. There is just something in me that knows I am supposed to do something for him. And, I know I aready have. So, has Steve, Deb, Joy, Francesca, Steve, Haven, Lissa, Helen. God bless you for it. We can make a difference even if it is small. The ripple effect of caring: that is free!