Christmas break. His grant would pay a pretty good hourly wage for it so I wanted to see if you or Nolan were interested?” Actually, Eisner knew that Nolan wouldn’t be interested, but he’d immediately thought of the girl who had to eat at the shelter.
Tiona shrugged, “Sorry, but I’ll be in Raleigh over the break. Do you want me to ask Nolan if he’s interested?”
“No, no, I’ll send him an email. Thanks for considering it.” Eisner turned and left, feeling irritated that a girl so poor she had to eat at the shelter hadn’t snapped up the extra work like he’d thought she would. He’d felt like he’d really be doing her a favor, finding her this job. After a bit, he realized that he actually felt a little angry that a girl who was leaning on the charity of others by eating at the homeless shelter would turn down a chance to earn money. I’m turning into a conservative! he thought to himself.
***
Tiona carried her tray over and sat down next to Shelley. The social worker was talking to one of the homeless men. It sounded like Shelley thought the man could get a job as seasonal help for the Christmas season. He would need a shave and haircut as well as some nicer clothes which Shelley could provide. The man seemed reluctant, but Tiona couldn’t tell whether he was just lazy, or might be reluctant to be identified. No doubt some of the men were wanted by the police, or to pay alimony, or for back taxes, or as undocumented illegal immigrants.
Tiona lost interest in that conversation and started looking around the shelter. Her eye caught on several sets of children that were new to the shelter. They and their parents had that shocked and dazed look that newcomers to the shelter often had.
Shelley finished her conversation with the man and turned to see who was beside her. “Hey Tiona.”
Tiona said quietly, “I see we’ve got some new families.”
Shelley sighed, “Yes. It’s a sad time of year to run into a stretch of hard luck.”
Tiona chewed her lip for a moment. “I’ll put a hundred dollars into the account for each of the kids.” She paused, “That’s to get the kids something for Christmas. I’ll put $200 in for the parents too. I’m sure they can use a little something to spend on their families.”
Shelley gave her a wry smile, “Aren’t you breaking your rule about only helping people who are actively trying to get a job?”
Tiona snorted; then said, “Yeah, I’ve suddenly gone all sappy sweet over little kids at Christmas.” Until then she’d been speaking quietly and out into the room, so that it would be hard for people to tell she was talking to Shelley. Now, for a second, she looked Shelley directly in the eye. Then she turned back forward and said, “I do feel a little guilty about it.” She shrugged, “and I would rather help them get back on their feet, but I’m hoping that one nice gesture for the kids at Christmas won’t encourage dependency.”
Shelley looked around the room, “I’m pretty sure those new families really have just had some bad luck. I don’t think they’ll be here in the shelter very long.”
Without looking at Shelley again, Tiona said, “I’m going to be gone for a few weeks over Christmas. I’ll put some money in the account for you to spend at your discretion. I would like that money to go to people who are trying to get a job and just need a little help to do it.”
“Sure,” Shelley said, as she wondered once again just where Tiona got all the money.
***
Tiona hauled her suitcases up the steps into her parent’s home, thinking about her plans to sleep late, go out with her friends, and generally take it easy. Lisanne met her at the top of the steps and gave her a hug. Taking one of the suitcases, Lisanne spoke to the house AI, “Please tell Vaz that Tiona’s home.”
As they carried Tiona’s stuff up to her room Lisanne said, “What’s new in your life?”
Tiona laughed, “Well, my research is
Tiona shrugged, “Sorry, but I’ll be in Raleigh over the break. Do you want me to ask Nolan if he’s interested?”
“No, no, I’ll send him an email. Thanks for considering it.” Eisner turned and left, feeling irritated that a girl so poor she had to eat at the shelter hadn’t snapped up the extra work like he’d thought she would. He’d felt like he’d really be doing her a favor, finding her this job. After a bit, he realized that he actually felt a little angry that a girl who was leaning on the charity of others by eating at the homeless shelter would turn down a chance to earn money. I’m turning into a conservative! he thought to himself.
***
Tiona carried her tray over and sat down next to Shelley. The social worker was talking to one of the homeless men. It sounded like Shelley thought the man could get a job as seasonal help for the Christmas season. He would need a shave and haircut as well as some nicer clothes which Shelley could provide. The man seemed reluctant, but Tiona couldn’t tell whether he was just lazy, or might be reluctant to be identified. No doubt some of the men were wanted by the police, or to pay alimony, or for back taxes, or as undocumented illegal immigrants.
Tiona lost interest in that conversation and started looking around the shelter. Her eye caught on several sets of children that were new to the shelter. They and their parents had that shocked and dazed look that newcomers to the shelter often had.
Shelley finished her conversation with the man and turned to see who was beside her. “Hey Tiona.”
Tiona said quietly, “I see we’ve got some new families.”
Shelley sighed, “Yes. It’s a sad time of year to run into a stretch of hard luck.”
Tiona chewed her lip for a moment. “I’ll put a hundred dollars into the account for each of the kids.” She paused, “That’s to get the kids something for Christmas. I’ll put $200 in for the parents too. I’m sure they can use a little something to spend on their families.”
Shelley gave her a wry smile, “Aren’t you breaking your rule about only helping people who are actively trying to get a job?”
Tiona snorted; then said, “Yeah, I’ve suddenly gone all sappy sweet over little kids at Christmas.” Until then she’d been speaking quietly and out into the room, so that it would be hard for people to tell she was talking to Shelley. Now, for a second, she looked Shelley directly in the eye. Then she turned back forward and said, “I do feel a little guilty about it.” She shrugged, “and I would rather help them get back on their feet, but I’m hoping that one nice gesture for the kids at Christmas won’t encourage dependency.”
Shelley looked around the room, “I’m pretty sure those new families really have just had some bad luck. I don’t think they’ll be here in the shelter very long.”
Without looking at Shelley again, Tiona said, “I’m going to be gone for a few weeks over Christmas. I’ll put some money in the account for you to spend at your discretion. I would like that money to go to people who are trying to get a job and just need a little help to do it.”
“Sure,” Shelley said, as she wondered once again just where Tiona got all the money.
***
Tiona hauled her suitcases up the steps into her parent’s home, thinking about her plans to sleep late, go out with her friends, and generally take it easy. Lisanne met her at the top of the steps and gave her a hug. Taking one of the suitcases, Lisanne spoke to the house AI, “Please tell Vaz that Tiona’s home.”
As they carried Tiona’s stuff up to her room Lisanne said, “What’s new in your life?”
Tiona laughed, “Well, my research is
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