A novel by:
By: George (Ives) Pereira
CHAPTER 1
Jed grew up in a little village in Alberta Canada. His parents were dedicated and committed farmers who kept and reared cattle and sheep, and different breeds of poultry. One would have thought that in this Prairie village, which consisted of roughly ten houses some twenty miles apart from each other, that the cattle and sheep would be quite capable of looking after themselves because of the constant supply of lush grass that grew in abundance right through the summer. But that would be a display of ignorance about cattle and livestock rearing.
It was a full-time job being a farmer. Jed’s father Monty Kennedy was usually up at five in the morning, and he had a variety of chores to perform. Milking the cows had to be done by hand, and it took him almost half the day to do this. Jed’s mother Sonya would attend to the many chores in and around the house, but she often went to assist her husband in the barn. She swept the cattle stalls, where the cattle retired for the night, and fumigated the area with a recommended anti-bacterial solvent. The milk was then transported to the Milk Processing Centre where it was measured in gallons and then recorded in a notebook that Monty carried. He was paid at the end of each month and the price per gallon was to be negotiated whenever there was a change in the bank rate.
It was Jed’s task to go out and feed the waiting poultry and other animals. The leghorns were prolific egg layers. Every morning, Jed would collect fresh eggs which were laid in neatly constructed laying pens. It was not uncommon for him to collect at least thirty eggs each day, and sometimes more. His job was to sort out the eggs according to their size and then place them in appropriate cartons. Once there were close to fifty cartons, he and his father would drive across to an egg collecting agency and sell them for cash. When this money came in, Jed was made aware that much of the cash went to pay for the cattle feed that was necessary to maintain the health of the animals, especially during the winter months. Farming was by no means a get-rich enterprise nor was it a profitable enterprise. Jed wondered why his parents would show any desire to continue farming until he realized that it was far too late for them to retrain for blue collar jobs. Furthermore, it was a culture among farmers that their children continued carrying the torch as their forebears did. Jed was not sure that he would want to continue in his father’s footsteps for the rest of his life.
A few acres of the farm were given to growing grass which was harvested twice each summer and tied into big bundles of hay. They were then stored in the barn as winter feed for cattle. One of the farmers, who was able to invest in expensive machinery to help in harvesting the grass, grain or potatoes, was generally hired by Monty. However, over the years, this service has become increasingly expensive. It cut heavily into the profits that might have accrued after selling the produce that was harvested. Potatoes were sold, but a substantial part of the harvest was stored in the cool basement of the house for the family winter consumption and for seeding the following year. Vegetables such as carrots, cauliflower and cabbage were parboiled and then placed in a large freezer. At the end of the summer, many older chickens, way passed their laying function, were killed and feathered. After being cleaned out and some organs such as the heart, liver and stomach preserved, the chickens were frozen. Enough of it was harvested, allowing for sufficient meat for the winter months.
Jed had a sister who was named Audrey. She was three years younger than Jed. However, she could not be much of some help around the farm since she was disabled since birth. Even in the house, she could not do much because she was unable to stand or balance herself, still less walk. Sonya was saddled with the task of attending to Audrey’s needs, and she did it with much love and understanding. Sonya viewed her daughter as company for her. Although Audrey was unable to help with the chores, she was able to talk to her mother unceasingly. Some of the questions that she posed were difficult for Sonya to answer.
“Mom why is it that I cannot walk like Jed does?” asked Audrey when she was three years old.
Sonya stared at her lovingly but took her time answering. She could feel her tears welling in her eyes, but she turned away from Audrey and using her apron, she wiped her eyes dry.
“Honey, sometimes when mothers are having babies, things can go wrong with the development of the baby. Unfortunately, in your case something went wrong with your balance. The doctors who investigated your problems explained to us that nothing could be done about it, since your disability was caused by a malfunction in your brain. They have a long word for it, but I will not burden you with it. Honey, you do not have to worry, since we all love you very much and we will always be here to assist you,” she said not very convincingly.
“But Mom I would still like to learn to walk like Jed does,” she insisted.
“I know you do Honey. Both dad and I are looking for a school that will help you do that. We know that there is one in the city, but that would mean you would have to leave home. We are hoping that one of these days we will be able to persuade the Health Department to have a teacher sent here so that she could help you walk,” said Sonya sympathetically.
Audrey smiled at her mother and gracefully accepted the explanation.
Sonya walked up to Audrey and hugged her harder than she normally did.
CHAPTER 2
One blistering winter evening, there was a knock at the door. As was the custom with the family, they were playing monopoly to pass away their time. Monty was not expecting anybody. He thought that it was probably the wind that caused the sound. It was also very likely that one of the neighbors was calling on him for help. However, he did not remember hearing any car, nor did he see any car headlights if a car was approaching. The knocking was more intense the second time around. This time they all knew that there was somebody at the door.
Monty went to the door and opened it slightly. There in front of him was a young man who could not be more than thirty years old. He was dressed very scantily for the weather outside, and he appeared to be shaking like a leaf in the cold.
“Sir, I very cold, can come in please?” said the stranger.
The stranger looked harmless enough, so Monty opened the door wide enough to allow him in.
“What can I do for you?” asked Monty.
“I come walking for many hours. I am looking for work. I have no money, and I cannot go by bus to the city,” declared the stranger.
Country folks were generally kind and understanding since most of them had suffered some hardship or other. Furthermore, the stranger appeared to be sincere, and Monty immediately thought that he could use another strong pair of hands to help him around the farm.
He invited the stranger to sit.
Jed and Audrey were happy to see a new face after such a long time. What they noticed was that the stranger was brown and not white. He had a kind face though he appeared tired.
“What is your name?” asked Monty.
“Juan,” said the stranger. “I from Honduras. I speak Spanish. You speak Spanish?” he asked with expectations.
“No Juan. We only speak English,” replied Monty.
“We do not need any help here, but since you are trying to make some money to be on your way to the city, I will offer you two hundred dollars a month with your board and lodgings thrown in. This is a farm, and you will have to do some hard work. We do not have set hours, but you will be given work that will add up to eight hours a day. If you find this agreeable, you can start work tomorrow morning. I notice that you have not brought much with you. I will give you a change of clothes and a pair of boots which will be adequate for this weather. We have an extra room for you, but it will have to be cleaned out since we presently use it as a storage place. If this is agreeable to you, we have a deal,” added Monty.
Monty offered Juan a can of pop and he drank it very fast. It now became abundantly clear that Juan had perhaps not eaten for a few days. Sonya was asked to serve dinner a lot earlier than they normally did, and Juan could not take his eyes off the spread that he saw before him.
Juan could not help thinking that the dinner before him looked more like a dinner served on a special occasion like Christmas or Easter in his home country.
After grace was said, Juan tucked into the meal as though someone was about to take it away from him. Sonya and Monty watched him gulp down the food and were convinced that he had not eaten for several days. Jed and Audrey watched Juan go at it and thought that they would eat a lot less than they did normally so that Juan could have his fill. After Juan had eaten, he showed signs that he would rather go to bed instead of continuing a conversation with anybody. Monty took him to his room and after clearing the bed of stuff that was heaped on it for a long time, Sonya spread clean bedsheets on the bed. They bid Juan goodnight, and Monty reminded him that he would wake him up before five in the morning. Juan happily agreed.
When Monty and Sonya retired to their bedroom for the night, they knew that they had to discuss at greater length this new event in their lives.
“I hope that we did the right thing by taking Juan in,” remarked Sonya.
After a short pause, Monty said, “I guess that it was the only Christian thing to do. The poor boy was in an awful state. If we shut the door on him, he would have probably frozen to death.”
“I understand that he has come from far away, but it would be interesting to find out if he is here in Canada lawfully. Many of these types from South America walk into the country illegally and I am sure that there must be a law in the books that says that we are breaking the law by hiring illegal immigrants,” said Sonya.
“That is only one of my concerns. We have no idea who he is. He may well be an escaped prisoner who is trying to get away,” said Monty raising is eyebrows.
The couple sat on the bed holding hands and wondered whether they should go to bed. After all they had two children who they loved very much, and they did not want anything untoward to happen to them. Finally, Monty told Sonya to go to bed and that he would sit in front of the children’s bedrooms as a form of protection. He quietly went to the basement where he kept his firearms. He grabbed his pistol, made sure that it was loaded and then kept guard for the rest of the night.
At roughly three in the morning, he was awakened by the creaking bedroom door to Juan’s room. Monty held tightly to his pistol. Juan walked out sleepily and headed for Sonya’s bedroom. Monty shouted:
“Where the hell are you going,” and pointed the pistol at Juan,
“Please Sir. Do not shoot me. I am looking out for the bathroom,” said Juan with fright written all over his face.
Monty was embarrassed over his knee jerk reaction, and apologized to Juan saying that the gun was only for their protection. Juan did not understand this. Monty led him to the bathroom and then returned to his own bedroom where he sat on a chair and hoped that he would never demonstrate such ignorance that he just displayed ever again.
CHAPTER 3
The following morning, Monty was up at four-thirty in the morning. To his surprise, Juan was dressed in his working clothes and was waiting for Monty to emerge from his bedroom.
“Good Morning, Mr. Monty. I am sorry if I make you angry earlier. I do not know where your washroom was or else I would not offend you,” said Juan apologetically.
“Good Morning Juan. It is not for you to apologize. I am sorry that I pointed a gun at you. I really have no excuses for how I behaved but you can be sure that it will not happen again,” said Monty penitently.
“Since this is your first day at work, I am going to assign some jobs for you to do. I hope that you are a fast learner since I do not have much time to go over the processes over again,” said Monty.
“Mr. Monty, I am very familiar with farm work. I was born to a farming family, and since I was a bambino, I have been working on the farm with my parents. Here in Canada, you are blessed with machines to do a lot of your farming. Where I come from, farmers are far too poor to afford the luxury of machines. Everything has to be done by hand,” said Juan humbly.
When they got to the barn, Monty demonstrated how he milked the cows. He insisted that the teats of the cows were to be washed and sanitized before milking began. While he was on his knees, Juan knelt next to a cow and began milking. When Juan was on his fifth cow, Monty was still working on his second animal. Monty felt mortified with the speed with which Juan worked. That morning, all the cows were milked in a couple of hours.
Without being told, Juan began sweeping the barn. He took all the trash out of the barn and poured it into a pit that he had dug earlier. He then led the cattle out of the barn and by this time it was nice and bright outside. That day Sonya discovered that she did not have much to do in the barn. She was delighted to spend more time in the house and attending to Audrey’s needs. Monty watched Juan while he did not waste any time going from job to job without being prompted by Monty. Finally, Monty waved out to Juan to approach him.
“Hey Juan. I was actually tired looking at you work. From where do you get all that energy? You have not had your breakfast as yet. Please wash up and come to the dining room.”
Sonya served him with homemade bread with butter and jam spread thickly on it. She fried him a couple of eggs and bacon and placed a cup of coffee in front of him. Juan virtually inhaled the food and thanked Sonya for the care that she was taking over him.
“Are you married?” asked Sonya.
“No Ms. Sonya. I have a girlfriend back home who someday will be my wife. We had no money to even think of getting married. This is why I am here in Canada where word got around that people are very kind and where one can make some money if one works very hard. This is why I thought of going to the city where jobs are still available and where I could perhaps work at several jobs and make enough money to marry my princess back home,” said Juan unashamedly.
“Do you have your immigration papers?” asked Sonya.
“No. I walked all the way through the United States and was very happy when I crossed the Canadian border. It is a good thing that the police did not see me or else they would have arrested me,” declared Juan.
Sonya felt sorry for Juan, but her conscience told her that they were employing an illegal alien and that was against the law.
As soon as Monty came in, Sonya pulled him aside and her very expression told him that something important was in the works.
“Honey, we might be in trouble. Juan is an illegal alien. We must report him to the authorities. If you find this difficult to do, please pay him a week’s wages and request him to be on his way,” insisted Sonya.
“That is a knee jerk reaction my dear. Juan is a hard working person and I would really like for him to work for us permanently. Remember we are getting old and we are going to need all the help that we can get. I was even thinking of increasing Juan’s wages. You know how hard it is to get good workers these days. Leave this to me, I will try and come up with a solution. There is always a solution to any problem,” said Monty reassuringly.
“I still think that we should let him go, even if it means driving him to the city ourselves,” stressed Sonya.
“I respect your concern honey. A couple of days will not hurt. I am going to call Jeff in Calgary. We both respect his opinions and if anybody can help Juan it will be him,” explained Monty.
“Please do so immediately. I am not at all comfortable with the situation as it is now,” prompted Sonya.
CHAPTER 4.
“Hello Jeff, this is Monty. Hope that all is well with you.”
“Hi Monty! What a surprise hearing from you. How is Sonya and the kids doing?”
“I know that I should have been in touch with you more often, but you know that farm life is not the easiest life in the world. There is always something to be attended to,” said Monty.
“I completely understand. How is Sonya? I haven’t seen you guys for such a long time that I am almost beginning to forget what you guys look like,” said Jeff.
“We are all fine Jeff. The children are no longer children. My son Jed is a great help and my daughter Audrey is still struggling along. How is your family doing?” asked Monty.
“We are fine, thank you! Catherine often thinks about you guys. I think that it is highest time that we visited each other,” said Jeff.
“How right you are Jeff. I am, however, calling you for some advice and assistance. I know that I can always rely on you for the best advice that there is. You know that both Sonya and I are getting on. We are finding that without help at the farm we tire out very easily. Something happened recently that has confirmed our belief that help is what we really need,” said Monty.
“I am sure that farm life is no picnic,” said Jeff.
“Thanks!” said Monty. “Recently, a young fellow knocked on my door looking for work. He was actually on his way to Edmonton but did not have the funds to pay his bus fare there. He therefore came to us and asked us if we could offer him any work so that he could make some money to pay his way to the city. I took him on, and discovered that he did not require any training since he came from a family of farmers himself. The problem is that he hiked all the way across the States to Canada from South America and is here as an illegal immigrant. His name is Juan. He is an excellent worker and I would like very much to hire him as a worker at the farm. The point is that I may be breaking the law and I was wondering if there is any way I can help Juan stay here in Canada,” said Monty pleadingly.
There was a pause for a while.
Finally, Jeff responded. “I can understand your fears Monty. What you need to do is to go to Immigration Canada and file an application on behalf of your friend, as a temporary Immigrant worker here in Canada. I do not see any difficulty in you obtaining permission from the Canadian government allowing Juan to continue working with you. You might, however, have to go out of Canada to file this application. This means that you cross the border into the United States and there make application from and Canadian office. You might think that this is silly, but this is how laws sometimes operate,” stressed Jeff.
Monty wasted no time. The following day, he crossed the border into the U.S. and reported to a Canadian representative there in order to file an application for Juan. Before he left, he experienced some difficulty obtaining personal information from Juan since he was sometimes vague on some essential points of information. However, he finally extracted from Juan all the information that he thought that he might need. The application was finally filed and the operative at the Canadian mission assured him that after a security test was conducted on Juan, Monty would be informed whether Juan would be allowed to stay or would have to leave the country. There was now little that could be done but to wait and hope for the best.
While Monty was away, Juan took complete charge of the farm. He had insatiable energy and even Jed could not keep up with him. When Monty returned, Sonya had only the most encouraging comments to make about Juan’s untiring effort to complete the farm chores on his very own. He even refused his lunch because he had so much to do. She was now convinced that everything possible should be done to retain Juan’s services. It was going to make life so much easier for them all. Monty was pleased to receive such positive reports about Juan and he made it a point to talk to him the following morning about his efforts to keep him legally in Canada.
“Hello Juan,” greeted Monty early the next day finding Juan already at work early in the morning.
“Hello Sir,” said Juan with a smile on his face.
“I just want you to know that I filed an application with the Immigration Department to allow you to stay in Canada as a worker. It is going to be a little while before they consent or reject my application. As you must know by now, they have to investigate your past life. The only reason that they will reject your application is if you have had a criminal record in Honduras. Did You?”
“Blessed Maria!” exclaimed Juan, “I have no time to break any law. I work and work all day and rarely had time even to be with my girlfriend who I love very much,” declared Juan in all earnestness.
“Then you do not have anything to worry about. If you are allowed to remain in Canada, I hope that you understand that you will be working for me. I will be increasing your wages to encourage you to stay and will also give you an opportunity to go and visit you girlfriend after a couple of years, when you have saved enough. This will not be too difficult since your board and lodging will be free. It means that most of your salary could be saved in a bank. What do you think of this proposition Juan?” asked Monty.
“In Salvador we believe strongly in being grateful if somebody is good, giving and kind to us. You have been kind to me Mr. Monty and I will stay and work for you as long as you want me to,” assured Juan.
“We have watched you work with the animals and we think that you are a true farmer with the care that you take over them. We would like you to continue doing that. My wife and I are now getting on and cannot push ourselves as we have been doing so far. Much of the work will have to be handled by you but rest assured that I will be throwing in my lot too, to make things easier for you,” cautioned Monty.
“I have never been afraid of work. In fact, Sir, I enjoy working hard. My father often told me that hard work keeps one out of trouble. You have given me a start and I will try and live up to the standards that you have set for me,” said Juan.
CHAPTER 5
A month later, Monty received a letter from the Immigration Department in Ottawa. Monty knew that it was with regard to Juan’s immigration status. He was nervous about opening the letter so he asked Sonya to read the contents of the letter to him.
She first scanned through the brief letter herself while Monty stared at her face hoping that it would reveal some form of happiness. After what seemed to be an inordinately long time, Sonya broke into a smile and hugged her husband.
“Juan can remain in Canada,” she declared.
Monty did not bother to read the letter. He rushed to the barn where Juan was hard at work.
Juan heard Monty shout his name as he entered the barn. He wondered whether he had done something to upset his boss. Rather than move quickly, he ambled towards Monty with an expression of concern written all over his face. When he observed that Monty was approaching him with a broad smile on his face, Juan felt a little relieved.
“I have good news for you Juan,” stressing every syllable of each word.
Juan did not say anything.
“I just heard from the Immigration Department. You are now legally in the country and have been authorized to work here and pay your taxes every year,” declared Monty.
Juan could not help tears running down his cheeks and he spontaneously walked up to Monty and hugged him. Conscious that he was sobbing, he broke away from Monty and went back to work without saying a word. Monty was aware that his tears said it all.
That evening Juan was treated to a special dinner and both Jed and his sister now felt that they had inducted a new member into their family.
When Juan was not working, he sat with Jed and Audrey and told them stories about his growing up and some of his experiences in Salvador. They loved his stories because many of his growing-up experiences ran congruent to their own. Audrey liked the story of how he had met his girlfriend and some of the things that they did together. Audrey was at the age when she privately yearned to have a boyfriend, but she frequently went into depression because she thought that no boy would ever want to be with her because of her disability. Juan treated her as though he did not notice any disability and was quick to tell her how pretty she was and that boys would line up to sweep her off her feet if they met her. Audrey felt her self-worth and self-confidence soar whenever Juan told her that. Somehow her mother, who she loved very dearly, never raised the subject about boys, and she got the impression that like most mothers, she still looked upon Audrey as her little baby. She knew that she would like to have a heart to heart talk with her mother on the subject, and also ask her to create conditions whereby she could meet boys her age. She realized that this would be very difficult since most of the boys lived a fair distance away. The ideal place would have been in the City where there were far more social activities than out in the countryside. She was also aware that she had to learn how to walk, the sooner the better. Her mother needed to be reminded about her promise to obtain help to enable her to walk and this was long overdue. Audrey was aware that her mother did very much for her, and she did not want to hurt her by being too demanding. She reflected that her father would now be available since Juan had assumed many of his responsibilities on the farm. It might just be possible for him to drive her to the school for the disabled. While her mother was having a shower, Audrey asked her father whether he would get her the help that she needed leaving out the purpose for learning how to walk. Her father informed her that he would phone the school during working hours and line up a meeting with them. He assured Audrey that he loved her very much and would do all he could to enable her to walk.
True to his promise, Monty called the School for the disabled and requested a meeting with them. They were happy to meet with him the following Thursday. Audrey was ecstatic that her father had been true to his promise. She was looking forward to the visit and found that she could not sleep well with the excitement of it all. She was quick to inform Jed and Juan about the new development and they were both very happy for her too. When Audrey got to the School, a wheel-chair was waiting to take her in. The director of the operation took Monty into her office and politely asked a nurse to take Audrey to the waiting room. The meeting with the director took roughly half an hour and both Monty and the Director emerged from the office.
Monty was told that a specialist would be sent to the farm house twice a week and Audrey would be put through a series of exercises intended to strengthen her leg muscles. Those exercises were to be repeated several times a day. The Director assured Monty that after a month, Audrey would be encouraged to stand without being supported. Initially, she would require some assistance but that after a month or so, she would be able to stand without any assistance. In the third month she would be encouraged to walk. All the exercises required constant practice even when the specialist was not around. Sonya bought Audrey special clothing for her exercises. But what made Audrey very enthusiastic was the encouragement that she received from Jed and Juan.
Finally, the first day of her physiotherapy arrived. The entire household was in a state of animation. Audrey somehow had mixed feelings. What if her exercises did not work for her? A young woman walked through the door. She looked like a teenager herself. She introduced herself as Pamela Briggs. She asked them to call her Pam. She then asked that she be left alone with Audrey for a few minutes. When everybody had dispersed, Pam sat on the bed next to Audrey.
“Hello Audrey. I thought I would spend a few moments with you in order to tell you how pleased I am that you have decided to try and walk. This is a very big step forward. You are going to sometimes feel depressed that you are not making progress as quickly as you would like it to happen. I just want you to know that the nerves in your legs have been asleep since you were born. It has now been several years. In order to wake them up, you have to be constantly at work on the exercises that I am going to introduce you to. The journey is not going to be an easy one, but you look like the kind of person who will never give up. Remember as you go along, that only one who can make walking possible is you, and that the journey is not going to be an easy one. Are you prepared to work on it?” asked Pam.
“Thank you Pam. I am looking forward to doing all the things that young people do. I am aware that if I do not walk there will be many things that I will miss out in life. I am going to try to give it all I got Pam. I have no other choice, if I really want to live a normal life,” assured Audrey.
CHAPTER 6
The next two hours were spent doing a variety of exercises. Jed and his mother were asked to watch while Pam was going through the vigorous motions with Audrey. Many of the exercises involved Jed and his mother’s participation and they took the directions with much seriousness. Audrey felt her muscles come alive for the first time, and though there was no pain while performing the various exercises, she felt very tired after it was all over.
Pam instructed Sonya and Jed that it was now up to them to encourage Audrey to repeat the exercises twice a day, and privately advised them that Audrey would need a whole lot of positive reinforcement as she performed the exercises. Pam would return in a couple of days and start Audrey on a new exercise regime.
Audrey’s whole disposition changed after her first session with Pam. She appeared to be a whole lot more happy, and constantly told her mother that very soon, she would not have to take care of her once she was able to walk. Sonya realized that Audrey was fighting the diagnosis made by the doctor when she was born. It was a constant struggle for her to believe that Audrey’s medical condition could be reversed. But then, Sonya believed in miracles and before she went to bed she prayed fervently that the miracle would materialize.
Whenever Juan finished with his chores at the farm, he would join Jed and Sonya while they exercised with Audrey. As always, Audrey enjoyed having Juan around because he made her laugh while she exercised. Juan also told her that once she could walk, he would take her to visit his country Salvador where she could meet some of the most handsome boys in the world. She liked that very much. Juan also encouraged Audrey in sticking to her exercise regime particularly when he sensed that she was giving up on herself.
After two months of tireless effort, Audrey began to feel more confident in herself. When there was nobody around in her room, she would try and stand on her own, but held securely to the bed for support. She had very little feeling in her legs, but she nevertheless felt good that she could stand on her own two legs. It was now time for Audrey to learn how to walk. Juan’s bedroom was made available to her since it was less cluttered than the other bedrooms. Pam held on to one hand and Jed held on to the other. Audrey was then asked to put one foot forward but no matter how hard she willed the foot to move, it just would not budge. Pam physically held her foot while Sonya held her hand and kept placing one foot in front of the other. Audrey was aware that she was not ready to walk. Pam, in her usual enthusiasm explained to Audrey that she was going to repeat the exercises that she was doing over the past two months. Audrey was despondent about this but she had much faith in Pam and decided that she would comply. In addition to the exercises, Sonya was directed to give Audrey an opportunity to stand on her feet for at least ten minutes every single day, and that they had to be by her side while she was standing as insurance that she would not fall. Audrey would take every opportunity to try to stand by her bed and soon learned that her balance was improving incrementally by the week. She soon discovered that she was getting more confident while she stood and did not need the support of her bed. That was very encouraging to her and she hoped that her legs would now make up its mind to move when she willed it. Before she went to bed, she would say a prayer asking for divine intervention in her struggle to walk. An answer to her prayer came in a very strange and perplexing manner. On one of those crisp mornings, she got up from her bed and stood on her feet. For reasons that she could never explain, she fell hard on to the floor and struck her head violently on the side of the heavy center table. She lay where she fell unconscious and it was obvious that she received a concussion. Sonya was in the kitchen doing her chores and was totally unaware what had transpired. After half an hour Audrey regained consciousness stood up on her own, and walked to the kitchen with surprising confidence. When Sonya saw her standing at the door, she almost passed out.
“Why aren’t you in bed……..and how on earth did you get to the kitchen?” she asked with her eyes almost popping out.
“Mom, I walked here,” shouted Audrey, laughing and crying at the same time.
Sonya rushed to her side, but Audrey put her hand up to stop her mother from holding her. She walked slowly back to the bedroom laughing her head off. Sonya got on her knees and thanked the Lord for this miraculous cure, while Audrey turned around and rushed to her and held her tightly around the neck. Fearing that this might be some kind of aberration Sonya told Audrey to lie down and relax. Rather than do that, Audrey continued to walk out of the bedroom, and to the patio where she could see the sun shining brightly, and the animals in the field walking around and feeding on the lush grass all around them. Jed saw her from a distance and thought that he was seeing a mirage. There was Audrey standing on the patio and waving frantically at him. Jed rushed over to her and was so overwhelmed with the vision of his sister walking up and down the patio. He also broke down and turned away with tears running down his face. When Audrey explained what had happened to her that morning, Sonya called Pam immediately. She discovered a deep cut at the side of her head just above her left ear. Pam instructed Sonya to have Audrey taken immediately to a hospital in Edmonton.
When Monty returned after he and Juan had delivered the morning’s supply of milk, they were both overjoyed that Audrey could now walk. Monty wasted no time, however, in driving Audrey to Edmonton. Both Jed and Juan joined Monty on the trip.
After the wound on Audrey’s head was patched up, the doctor suggested that he would have an X-ray and a CAT scan taken to verify that all was well in Audrey’s head. A concussion was observed, but the doctor explained that it was not very serious and that Audrey did not have much to worry about. However, he did recommend that Audrey rests for at least a week. Audrey thought that the doctor was being inconsiderate and she had already made up her mind that she was going to walk until she fell down through sheer exhaustion. The doctor was not able to explain why Audrey’s ability to walk emerged as a result of her accident and informed Monty that he would be consulting with a specialist to determine the cause.
CHAPTER 7
Now that Audrey was able to walk, Sonya thought that it was time for her to attend school. She had been home schooled for the past several years, but going to school might help her fine tune her academic and especially her social skills. Since Audrey was in her teens, it would be necessary for her to travel all the way to Edmonton for her education. What she also needed was a girl’s boarding school where she could be with her peers. Monty and Sonya were aware that this was going to cost them. In order to raise the money that they needed, they decided that they would sell some of their cattle to bring in the funds that were required to pay their way.
They chose the Michael Fox (private) Girls School which came well recommended. Summer was full of hope that she could now do what girls her age did, and she looked eagerly forward to moving to her school where she could be independent and make decisions for herself. Sonya, Monty and Jed were sad to see Audrey leave. They accompanied her to her school and assured her that they were only a phone call away. Sonya hugged Audrey and promised her that they would drive over every alternative Friday to pick her up and bring her home for the weekend. Audrey thought that this arrangement would be cool.
The House Mistress and the Dorm Representative welcomed Audrey and took her to the dorm where she was to share a room with another student her age. Her name was Henrietta Anderson. Both students felt drawn to each other, and became aware that they might get along famously together. Henrietta was from out of town too but she had grown used to being on her own and away from her family. However, Audrey did notice that Henrietta was one of those girls who liked to party frequently. She did not mind this initially, but when she discovered that she was not spending enough time on her books, she wondered how to tell Henrietta to go to the parties without her. Henrietta was a very sensitive person and prone to get offended very easily. Furthermore, there was a lot of heavy drinking at these parties and for the first time she observed that quite a few of the girls in the group, accompanied by their boyfriends were given to unseemly sexual advances. A couple of the boys tried to encourage her not to be a square, but all this was so new to her, that she tried as much as she could to avoid these parties feigning illness so that Henrietta did not become insistent on her going out with her.
Audrey broadened her friendships while she was at Michael Fox. There were a number of girls in her class who attended classes but were able to go home each day. They were referred to as “Day Scholars” as opposed to “Boarders”. She was friendly with most of the students in her class, but there were two students who she latched herself to. Janet Garsen and Jennifer Marone were close to her and often spent their spare time in the cafeteria talking about the teachers and about their families. Both Janet and Jennifer had boyfriends but they rarely, if ever, discussed their relationships with them. Audrey hoped that before long she would meet a boy with whom she could share her love and affection. Her friends frequently told her how beautiful she was, and that they were surprised that boys did not line up to capture her attention. Somehow, Audrey felt that being cloistered in the dorm did not give her the opportunity to meet boys. Her dorm mate Henrietta was far too fast for her, and the boys that she associated with appeared to be after only one thing….sex! This was not the life that she was looking forward to. In her quiet moments she wondered whether she lacked the sexual drive that her friends appeared to possess. Was there something wrong with her? She often fantasized about her dream boyfriend and that excited her quite a bit until she came down to earth and realized that fantasy was vastly different from having a real boyfriend.
Life suddenly changed for Audrey when she was invited to Janet’s house to meet the family and to have dinner with them. It was there that she met Janet’s brother Jason. From the time that Audrey locked eyes with him, she wanted to be close to him. Audrey thought that he was very handsome but she tried to play the “hard to get” game with him. When she got to the dorm, she could not stop thinking of him. She thought that he was the most handsome boy that she had met so far. He was respectful at all times but said very little. She could not wait to meet him again. She was disappointed that she had not encouraged him when she first met him. Now she was not able to tell whether she would ever meet him again.
After several days had passed, Janet told Audrey that her brother could not stop talking in superlatives about her. He would have liked to take Audrey out on a date, perhaps to a movie, but he was reluctant to ask her whether she would go out with him. Audrey felt that here was an opportunity. She told Janet that she liked Jason but that she was far too shy to do what most girls were able to do, and that is to be forward enough to encourage another meeting. Janet told Audrey that she would ask Jason to call her and that she could take it from there.
The phone call was made that evening.
“Hello Audrey. This is Jason. Do you remember me?” asked Jason.
“I have not stopped thinking of you,” said Audrey much to her surprise about being so forward.
“We should meet one of these days and perhaps go out for a coffee,” said Jason.
“That would be very nice. I do not have any school work tomorrow evening so I can say that I am free,” said Audrey like a busy entrepreneur.
“That’s great. What do you say that we meet at Tim Hortons tomorrow at five o’clock?” said Jason.
“That will be great,” said Audrey. “I am sure that we will have a lot to talk about,” added Audrey.
That night Audrey found it difficult to sleep for she was looking forward to meeting, what she now thought was the love of her life. She clung on to her pillow and pretended it was Jason. She finally fell asleep, but was soon awakened by the sound of her dorm partner who came into the bedroom and noisily fell into bed without changing into her night clothes. She constantly moaned as though she had a bad tummy ache but Audrey thought that it would be best for her not to intervene unless she was asked for assistance. The moaning continued for a long time, so Audrey switched on the light and found Henrietta in a fetal position and all covered with soaking sweat and shaking like a leaf in a strong wind.
“Henrietta, you don’t look well at all. Can I phone the hospital for an ambulance?” asked Audrey with genuine concern.
“No. Please do not do that. I know what is wrong with me. I will soon be well again,” replied Henrietta in a soft but deliberate tone.
Audrey thought that she may have had too much to drink but was still very concerned with her condition. She promptly went to the Dorm Supervisor’s room and reported what was happening in her bedroom. The Supervisor took one look at Henrietta and immediately called emergency at the hospital. An ambulance was promptly dispatched to Michael Fox. By the time it got in, Henrietta was declared to be unconscious. They promptly placed her on a stretcher and wheeled her to the ambulance where they quickly performed some preliminary tests on her. From their experience they suspected that she was suffering from a drug overdose.
Audrey could not sleep for the rest of the night. She sat up in bed and read. However, she could not concentrate on what she was reading. Henrietta was always good to her and she felt a sense of loss now that she was away. She had no idea that Henrietta was dabbling in drugs and wondered what kind of future she had starting so young.
The following morning Henrietta’s parents came to the Dorm looking distressed. They came in to collect Henrietta’s belongings.
“Is Henrietta alright?” asked Audrey.
“Honey. She had overdosed last night and had it not been for you alerting the Dorm Mistress she would have certainly died. They caught her in time, but she is still unconscious. Please pray that she regains consciousness. You have been a good friend to her, and I’m sure she will forever be grateful that you came to her aid,” said Henrietta’s mother hugging Audrey.
Audrey felt all alone after Henrietta’s mother left. She knew that she was going to miss her friend Henrietta and she did not relish the idea of being alone. She remembered that she was going to meet Jason in the afternoon, but somehow she was not very enthusiastic about the meeting. She felt as though there was a death in the family. After classes, the Dorm Mistress met Audrey and informed her that she was going to have a new partner in her Dorm. She was not able to tell her when this was going to happen, but that it was going to be any time now. Audrey hoped that the new girl would be compatible with her and that she was not going to be like Henrietta whose main focus was on socializing rather than using her time purposely.
That evening, she met Jason and told him that she might not be good company after the incident of the previous night. Jason explained to her that drug taking had become a culture among students and was even worse among university going students. He tried to console her by reminding her that she had spent most of her life on a farm. In the cities right across Canada, he told her that drugs were used as though its consumption was normal. It was rapidly becoming a culture. He assured her that not all students were involved in this culture and that if she was to stay away from it, she had to be watchful and careful with what kind of company she kept. He told her that he had known of some strong willed kids who got sucked into the vortex of drug taking and had wrecked their lives.
“Now why don’t we forget about this stuff and enjoy our coffee,” said Jason with a smile.
“This is all new to me Jason, and it is going to take me some time to come to terms with these kinds of sordid experiences,” said Audrey.
“It is called growing-up and getting street smart,” smiled Jason. If you do not develop that early enough in life, the city will eat you and spit you out.
They spent an hour together and Audrey informed Jason that she had to return to the Dorm since she was expecting a new girl to take Henrietta’s place. Jason was very obliging and walked her home. He assured Audrey that he would be in touch with her and that he would give her time to come to terms with her most recent experience. He kissed her lightly on the cheek and left.
That weekend Sonya and Monty were happy to have Audrey home with them. As most mothers do, Sonya had a great big spread for her and spent much of her time cooking all kinds of dishes that Audrey enjoyed, so that she could take them back with her to her Dorm. Fortunately, each Dorm was equipped with a refrigerator so the food could remain good for the whole week. While she was home Audrey said very little about the incident involving Henrietta. She was afraid that her parents would have second thoughts about her returning to that environment. She did mention, however, that she had met Jason and that he appeared to be a decent boy. As a mother who was aware of the prevailing attitude of young people towards sex, she pulled her aside and explained to her that if she was to get involved in sexual activity that she had to insist that her partner used a condom. Getting pregnant at her age would only destroy her ambition to go to university to become a lawyer. Sonya also informed her that taking birth control tablets may be an added insurance that she would not get pregnant. Sonya never thought that she would have to give such advice to her daughter. When she was growing up, sexual activity was a preserve of two people who were married. If a girl was known to be easy, she was ostracized by the community and that was a constraint on the behavior of most girls. Unfortunately, this did not apply to boys who could be rakes but were excused because “boys will be boys.” This double standard was an accepted norm in society when she was growing up. Audrey listened intently to her mother but deep in her consciousness, she realized that she sometimes had strong sexual urges. How sure could she be that she would not give in to the strong temptation of sleeping with someone she loved?
Jed was happy to see Audrey again. He had many questions to ask her about School. Audrey made it a point to answer his questions as fully as possible. Audrey helped her Mom around the house and Sonya felt encouraged because at long last Audrey had become an able-body. Gone were the days when she had to attend to Audrey’s very basic needs.
Juan continued to work hard. He was now at the stage where he missed his girl-friend in Salvador. What made him anxious is that she had stopped corresponding with him. He had not heard from her for nearly two months. He had all kinds of visions that his Joana may have fallen ill. He sometimes speculated that perhaps Joana had found somebody new and that she was perhaps already married to someone else. He thought that he would break down if he did not return to Salvador as soon as possible.
Monty also discovered that Juan began to slacken in his work. One morning, while they were milking the cows, Monty thought that he would confront the problem.
“Juan you know how much I respect you, but recently I have discovered that you have been rather slack on the job. Are you sure that you are well?” Monty asked.
“You know Senior, I have been mentally quite disturbed. My girlfriend Joana has stopped writing to me, and many of my letters have been unanswered. I fear the worst has happened to her. Is it possible for you to allow me a couple of weeks to return to Salvador to find out just what has been happening? You know that Joana has been my life. The reason that I am here is because I wanted to carve a better life for her and for me. But now it seems that if Joana has abandoned me the emptiness that exists in my heart will consume me,” said Juan.
“I understand your pain,” said Monty. “Of course you can take a couple of weeks off. In fact as part of a bonus, I will pay your passage to and from Salvador,” assured Monty.
“In Salvador there is a saying that Canadians are doubly blessed because they care very much for people who are hurting around the world. What a wonderful example you are. Thank you so very much for being so caring,” said Juan.
The following day, Monty drove Juan to the airport where he was able to obtain a direct flight to Salvador. Juan had tears in his eyes before he boarded the plane and was soon on his way. While the plane was still in sight, Monty wondered whether Juan would ever return. He almost considered that Juan was now a part of his family and he was increasingly aware that if Juan chose to remain with his own family, it would be a great loss for him.
What compounded Monty’s concern was that Jed was seriously thinking of leaving the farm and seeking a nine to five job in the city. He also felt very isolated where he was and longed to be in the company of friends who were his age. With Jed gone, Monty would have to look out for at least two other workers to keep the farm functioning. However, he was conscious that the payout for labor would be far too high to make the farm a profitable proposition. He was getting far too old to handle the rigors of the farm work on his own. The long and the short of his situation is that he would either have to sell the farm or rent it out to someone for a sizeable rent. This meant that he and Sonya would have to vacate their house on the farm and perhaps gravitate towards the city where they could rent an apartment at a reasonable rent. They would also be close to their children and this in itself was the only positive thing about the move.
Sonya loved her house on the farm and relished the slow pace of life there. On her trips to Edmonton she could not wait to get home. She did not like the pollution all around her and the city noises were most disturbing to her. There were no wide open spaces in the city and the sound of birds was conspicuously absent. However, she was a practical woman and knew that she had to come to terms with the situation that called upon them to compromise so that they could live their lives comfortably. Monty and Sonya realized that if they sold all their livestock they would realize a tidy sum which would serve them as a pension. In the city there would also be an opportunity for both of them to secure jobs in one of the large department stores. Even on basic wages they would not have to draw on their savings and that would be a bonus. Once they realized that they had an alternative, they decided to put their plans on the backburner. If Juan returned it would give them another lease on life. They therefore persuaded Jed to stay on until Juan returned and if he did not do so in the next three weeks, he would be free to leave. Jed was understanding of the situation and agreed willingly to stay on.
CHAPTER 8
Winter was closing in on them. It was getting progressively cold. Monty had to order in hay for the cattle from the adjourning farm. In addition he had to supplement the feed for the cattle by ordering in at least a hundred bags of cattle feed. Sonya made sure that all the vegetables had been parboiled and kept in a large freezer. Most of the hens were slaughtered, feathered and also placed in the freezer. Jed was a great help during this time and he worked well into the night assisting his father in preparation for the onslaught of winter. At the end of the day, both Sonya and Monty were exhausted. Monty wished that Juan was around. Two weeks were already up and there was no sign of him. There was yet one week to go but Monty did not have much hope that Juan would return. He had not received a card or a letter from Juan. He found this to be strange.
At the end of the third week, there was a knock at the door well into the night. There standing at the door was Juan. Monty gave a deep sigh of relief as he embraced Juan and so did Sonya.
“We are very happy to see you back,” said Monty. “We hope that everything went well in Salvador,” continued Monty.
“I was very happy to be back home and to meet Joanne. She looked as lovely as ever but I noticed that she had put on a little weight. This did not disappoint me because she still looked very beautiful. The shock came when I walked into the house and discovered a beautiful baby lying on the bed. I thought that perhaps Joana was making a little money by caring for the neighbor’s child. To my greatest surprise, Joana held my hand and told me that the baby was ours. You can well imagine what a shock I got when I heard that, “exclaimed Juan.
“Congratulations Dad,” said Monty and Sonya in unison.
“It was then that I understood why I had not heard from Joanne for such a long time. She was occupied caring for the baby. By the way my baby is a boy and my wife named him Carlos. I think that is a wonderful Spanish name. Carlos is a strong baby. While I was home, I could not get my eyes off him. I told my wife that I would not return to Canada since she was going to need all the help that she needed. Joana explained to me that there was no future for the family in Salvador. She encouraged me to return to Canada and if possible to try and bring them across so that Carlos could get a good education. She has asked me to tell you that she is also prepared to work on the farm. I can assure you that she is one strong woman who could put her hand to any job that she is offered,” said Juan.
“You look very tired Juan. Have a shower to freshen up. After you are done, you will join us for dinner. It might also be a good idea for you to hit the sack early,” said Monty.
“Hit the sack, I don’t understand,” inquired Juan.
“I’m sorry,” said Monty. “It is an English expression that means you could go to bed,” said Monty grinning.
“Si Senior. I like this expression and I will use it whenever I have the opportunity,” said Juan.
While Juan was asleep, Sonya and Monty discussed the prospects of bringing Joanne and the baby to join Juan. This was not going to be easy. For one, they would have to build an extension to their house where Juan and his family could live independent lives. In order to do this Monty reckoned that it would cost them a few thousand dollars. Even if that was possible, how were they to go about sponsoring the new arrivals? Neither of them knew what the Immigration rules were. Monty thought that he would once again get in touch with his friend for directions. It only seemed right for Juan to be reunited with his family. Joanne would definitely be a great help to Sonya and perhaps Monty could think of expanding his livestock by introducing goats. Mutton was very popular among immigrant groups and would be a source of added income which would not hurt. He could increase his production of potatoes as well and devote part of his vast land to growing corn as feed for cattle so that he would not have to buy cattle feed for the winter. His silo had a great capacity to store the corn.
As far as building the extension to his house, he knew that he could obtain a loan from the bank. He had acquired some basic skills in building but there were some aspects to building the extension that required more skilled labor than he was capable of doing. He wondered whether Juan had any building skills and thought that he would bring up the subject with him the following day. However, he had to make it clear to Juan that it was only after he was able to clear immigration for his wife and child that the building would commence.
After the work was completed the following day, Monty sat down with Juan over a cup of coffee. He broke the news about his interest in helping Juan bringing his wife and child over to the farm and explained what it would entail.
“Gracias Mr. Monty,” said Juan. “I am very indebted to you and so will my family be,” added Juan.
“You must understand Juan that this might take a long time, if it is going to be at all possible,” declared Monty.
“I understand what you are saying and thank you for the trouble that I am putting you through,” said Juan.
“By the way, if I was to build an extension to the house, have you got any experience in building?” asked Monty.
“I have worked with concrete and have been trained in doing some basic carpentry. I could work on the foundation to the house and also help in framing it. I can also do a fairly good job in brick laying. I am quick to learn if I am shown how to do anything with constructing a house,” said Juan.
“That is very comforting. If your wife and child do join you, we are going to need suitable accommodation for all of you. This will only be possible if we build an extension to the present building. But this is only going to happen once we hear from the immigration department,” said Juan.
“I will pray to Maria to help us. She has never let me down,” concluded Juan.
CHAPTER 9
Audrey’s new companion in the Dorm was a girl of East Indian descent. Her name was Indira Madwani. Indira was the daughter of a wealthy Indian entrepreneur who was In the I.T. industry. She spent much of her time with her books and did not appear to have any other interests. Every weekend, her father picked her up and took her home. Indira was not a conversationalist. When she was not studying, she was either reading a novel or listening to Indian music which was piped in through large ear phones.
Her quiet demeanor made Audrey lonely for company.
Fortunately for her, Jason would often phone her and talk to her for hours. When classes began she was happy to be in the company of Janet and Jennifer. She spoke to Janet about Indira and complained that she was no company for her. Janet told her that as long as she did not bother her, she should not be worried about her.
“Most young people from India and other developing countries know that their future depends very much on scoring high in their studies and many of them do. It is also my understanding that most Indian students are keen to uphold their family name. Failure in one’s education could blemish the standing of the family within the community. It is therefore incumbent on the student to score high in their studies. Somehow there are quite a few Canadian-born students who neglect their studies and often drop out of school,” said Jennifer.
“My dad tells me that many of the C.E.O.’s in Canada and the United States are of Indian origin and that must tell us something,” said Janet.
“Silicon Valley in the United States is run by many Indians who are now millionaires,” added Jennifer.
“I am sure that if you befriend Indira, she might open up to you. It is just possible that she is shy and needs to be encouraged to communicate a little more,” advised Janet.
“I guess one has to live and learn,” said Audrey. “I think that the only way to make a friend is to be one,” she added.
The conversation then turned to the newest in fashions and this absorbed the rest of their time together.
Jason had already arranged to take Audrey out that evening. This time he told her that he was going to treat her to a sumptuous dinner at one of the high-end restaurants. There was also dancing to a live four-piece band and Audrey was reminded to put on her dancing shoes.
“I am really thankful Jason for your invitation. I have a confession to make. I do not have the resources to pay my way as I would like to. My allowance is very limited and I know that asking my parents to increase it would put an extra burden on them. Can we not just go to MacDonald’s for a meal? After all we just want to enjoy each other’s company and food is not really that important,” said Audrey.
“This is my treat,” said Jason. “Please do not think that you should ever be indebted to me. Like you said, I love to be with you and would like to put a little icing on the cake by doing something special for you tonight,” added Jason.
“I really appreciate that very much Jason, but I just wanted you to know that if I cannot match your generosity, it is not because I don’t want to, but it is because I just can’t.”
“Enough of that my Love. I will pick you up at seven this evening and guess what? I will be driving my Mom’s car so that we do not have to take the bus. Now that is service, isn’t it?” said Jason.
“Thank your Mom for me. I will be waiting for you. I am sure that we are going to have a great evening,” assured Audrey.
At seven on the button, Jason arrived to pick Audrey. She was dressed in one of her only exquisite dresses which emphasized her hour-glass figure. Around her slender neck she wore a silk scarf, lent to her by Indira, which made her look distractingly attractive. It was a black silk scarf with gold embroidery. She wore light makeup and all in all, she was bound to steal the show wherever Jason was taking her. Jason himself wore a suit that made him appear like some kind of business executive and Audrey could not take her eyes off him. They drove to the Hilton Hotel and walked up to its tastefully decorated restaurant. They were led to their table which had more crockery and glasses and polished cutlery than Audrey had ever seen before. At home all they used was one folk which also served as a knife. After a sumptuous dinner which included a wine of their choice, the dance band began to play the kind of music that older people relished. Jason took Audrey by the hand and led her to the dance floor. There were many older couples already dancing and Jason held Audrey in his arms and they moved in unison around the floor. Audrey apologized that she was not a good dancer but Jason told her that she was doing very well. The couple danced until past midnight, since Audrey had gained permission to stay out late. They then went for a drive until they reached a park. They both curled up in the back seat and hugged and kissed. Audrey was getting excited by the minute and so was Jason. To Audrey’s surprise, Jason pulled out a packet from his pocket. He told her that it was a condom and asked if she knew what it was for. She nodded her head. He then reached for Audrey’s underwear and pulled it down. Somehow she did not object, since this was a novel experience to her. She was enjoying every moment of it. Jason then had his way with her little realizing that Audrey was in great pain since it was her first experience. Her moans were misinterpreted by Jason. Audrey wished that it would be over quickly and as though it was an answer to her prayer, Jason was done in a minute. Jason drove his girlfriend directly to her Dorm, saying very little on the way. Audrey wondered whether she had done something wrong because he appeared to be very disinterested in her. When they got to the dorm, Jason promised that he would call her the next day. Audrey thanked him for the wonderful evening and without so much as a hug they both went their way.
CHAPTER 10
The information Monty obtained was that Juan would have to file immigration papers for him and his wife from outside Canada. The immigration forms would then have to be mailed to his Canada address, but he would have to go to a Canadian Immigration Center located outside the country to file it. This was not as difficult as it might sound for all that they had to do was to go across the border to the United States and hand over the papers to a Canadian Immigration Center over there. Accompanying the application Monty would have to attach an affidavit making a request to hire both Juan and Joana on their arrival in the country. This would enable the Salvadorian couple to enter Canada as Landed Immigrants should Ottawa accept their applications. This was duly done but now came the anxious waiting time for Ottawa to make up its mind.
During this time both Juan and Monty would sit down to plan the new extension to the building. After many changes were made to the plan they came up with one that both thought was pleasing to the eye and would also afford Juan and his family a whole lot of privacy. They then made a list of materials that were required to build the place right down to the last nail. This was necessary in order to determine the approximate cost so that Monty could obtain a bank loan to start the project. It also became necessary to let Juan know that there would have to be a small rent that he would have to pay in order to defray the mortgage. Juan thought that it would only fair. By the same token, Monty looked upon the addition as an investment that would increase the value of his property.
At the farm auction Monty was able to buy a male and a female goat. He would have liked to buy a few more of them but his funds were now far too stretched to afford any more. Juan took special care of these animals who, he learned from his own experience in Salvador were by their very nature able to multiply very fast.
After a tense and worrisome period of two months, Juan received a reply from the Immigration Department requesting that he and his wife go for a complete physical, and to submit the results to them within a month. Things were looking up. Both Monty and Juan were encouraged by this. Because of the urgency of this matter, Joanne was faxed the prescribed medical forms and instructed to mail them directly to the Immigration department in Ottawa. Juan was driven to Edmonton where Dr. Savio Rodrigues, an immigrant himself, examined Juan and gave him a clean bill of health. These forms were promptly dispatched to Ottawa with a note that his wife’s medical forms were to follow shortly. It took roughly a month before a request was made that the couple’s passports be sent to Ottawa to obtain their Landed Immigrant endorsements. There was much excitement in the Kennedy home. Sonya prepared a sumptuous dinner and served her home-made wine. After their meal they sat in the living room and uninhibitedly sang some of their favorite songs. Juan hummed along with them since he was not familiar with the songs.
During the celebrations, Jed was informed that since Juan and his wife were going to help around the farm, he was at liberty to leave whenever he so desired. Both Sonya and Monty hugged him and told him how much they loved him and that they would rather see him stay, since the ownership of the farm was to pass into his hands someday. Jed tried to explain to them why it was necessary for him to leave for his own growth. However, he was so caught up in the emotion of the moment. He teared up and was unable to talk. He assured his parents finally that he would visit them on a regular basis. He was hoping to find a job that would give him an opportunity of paying for his keep and also to enable him to retrain to become an auto mechanic. Once he owned his own car, his trips to visit would become more frequent.
Since the dinner was held in his honor, Juan thought that he had to say something.
“My friends: I am no good at making speeches but I have to say what is in my heart. All of you have been very kind to me and to my family. I thank you so very much for all the trouble that you have taken to help us. Few people would be as good and as helpful to assist other people in need. You have shown this by your example. My family and I have much to be grateful to you.”
Before Juan could go on, Monty began clapping and the others followed.
“Tomorrow is another day,” said Monty, “We have to be up early so that we could not only do the farm work, but we should also start building the extension to the house. Juan and I will start digging the foundation and it promises to be a back aching job. I suggest that we call it a day,” added Monty.
“You mean we should ‘hit the sack’ Mr. Monty,” said Juan with a smile as they piled out of the room.
It took Monty and Juan twenty days to complete the shell of the extension to the house. It started taking shape and everybody was excited about the rapid progress that was being made. In a week’s time the frames of the house were fully boarded and it began to take shape. Juan told Monty that the roof needed to be attended to as quickly as possible in case of the spring rains. Shingles were ordered in and after three days, the roof was covered. There was a sense of relief when this was done. The windows and doors had arrived just on time so they were put in place. Since wiring the place was a specialized job, Monty made the necessary arrangements to bring a professional in. It took the electrician about four days to complete his job and with electricity connected, both Monty and Juan could work on the inside well into the night. The hard work that both Monty and Juan put themselves through was beginning to tell on them. Finally, Monty suggested that he was bringing in a crew to do the outside bricking and the tiling in the building. During this time, he suggested that Juan and he could take a few days off from the rigors of work over such a protracted period of time. Juan, who never complained of being overworked, demonstrated how tired he was by sleeping in well into the morning. Neither Monty nor Sonya made any attempt to wake him up early. When Juan did wake up he apologized to Monty for his laziness but Monty assured him that he needed the rest.
Once the extension to the house was completed, Monty and Sonya thought that they would concentrate on the inside of the house. They told Juan that they would provide the basics such as beds and furniture for their living room. They were hoping to bring in more furniture by attending garage sales where perfectly good furniture was sold at give-away prices.
It seemed as though there was some divine intervention in the succession of events. No sooner had the extension been completed, Juan received a telephone call from Joanne that she and Carlos were ready to fly into Edmonton. There was much excitement in the Kennedy household. Both Jed and Audrey came home to witness the reunion of Juan with his family. Juan was anxious to hold baby Carlos in his arms and to have Joanne by his side never to part again. As soon as Juan saw Joanne with the baby in her arms walk through the door at the airport, he waved frantically to catch Joanne’s attention. He knew that she would be under stress having arrived in a new country. In fact this was her first trip out of the country and her first time in a plane. There was relief written all over her face as soon as she saw Juan. Needless to say, there were tears of joy on both faces as they hugged each other with Carlos wondering what was going on. Monty and Sonya were introduced to Joanne. All that Joanne could say was “Gracias” repeatedly. Sonya reached out and took Carlos in her arms relieving Joanne of the strain of carrying him. Carlos did not object and mumbled something which Sonya hoped was approval for holding him. When they got to the farm, Juan proudly opened the door to their new quarters. Joanne smiled her approval and told Juan in Spanish how everything was so clean and beautiful. Sonya excused herself and retired to her kitchen where she still had some cooking to be done for dinner. Monty walked to the barn to determine whether all was well. Audrey and Jed sat in their living room and related all their recent experiences in the big city.
Since Joanne was quite exhausted with the journey but mainly through all the stress, Juan asked to “hit the sack”. He attended to Carlos who fell asleep no sooner he had felt the warmth of the bedroom. Juan then went out to perform some of his chores but felt very relieved that at long last he was with his loved ones.
In the evening, Joanne had a shower, which she enjoyed very much and then readied herself for dinner. She found Sonya’s cooking different from what she was used to, but she nevertheless enjoyed it. After dinner, Juan announced that Joanne would cook dinner for everybody the following day. Sonya was curious about what cuisine she was going to follow.
“Salvadorian, of course.” Announced Juan proudly. He then went on to explain some of the most popular dishes in his country. There was a dish called “Puposa”. It was made from corn flour, cheese, ground pork and beans. Please don’t ask me how it is put together. Right now only my Joanne knows. It is the same with “Pollo Encebollado”. It is chicken simmered with onions and cheese added to it. Finally, there is “Panes Rellenos”. This is like a submarine sandwich. It consists of Marinated Chicken, tomatoes, watercress, cucumber, lettuce, mayonnaise and mustard. Mind you there are many other dishes prepared in Salvador but they may be a bit too exotic for your taste buds.
“Can I watch Joanne as she cooks? I know that it is the best way to learn how to replicate how she makes it if I wanted to make it on my own in future,” said Sonya.
“Of course,” said Juan. “I am sure that Joanne would also like to learn how to cook Canadian dishes too,” added Juan.
“Perhaps tomorrow may be a bit too early. Joanne has only just arrived and I am sure that she will have other more important things to attend to than cook,” said Sonya. “Why don’t we wait until next week when Joanne feels a little more rested? Also, please tell Joanne that I will be very happy to look after Carlos if she wants to attend to things without being interrupted. You know that I love children. Carlos and I are already great friends,” said Sonya.
“I think that Joanne can understand English more than she can speak it. I am sure that the smile on her face right now tells us that she not only understands your offer, but she is most grateful for your assistance with Carlos,” said Juan.
“Gracias,” said Joanne warmly.
“Mr. Monty would also like to have Joanne share in the work in and around the farm. Please make a list of her responsibilities so that she could make her contribution as well. Joanne is a very strong woman and is used to working hard,” said Juan.
“I am sure that we can work something out for her,” said Sonya.
They bid each other goodnight and retired to their respective rooms.
CHAPTER 11.
Jed and Audrey returned to Edmonton. Jed had found a job in construction and was attached to a crew that was responsible for clearing the site of bits and pieces of garbage left behind by workers who dealt with materials used in the building activity. Jed just barely could afford the helmet and boots that were mandated for everybody working on the site. His work also involved heavy lifting. At the end of his shift he was so exhausted that he thought that he would pass out. Fortunately for him, he was paid by the day so he was able to rent a place in a rooming house. Being on basic wages, he had very little left over after he paid his rent. He gradually began to understand how much better his situation was when he worked for his parents. Granted that he not only had free accommodation but he also did not have to pay for his elaborate meals. In his present situation he found that he was pretty much on a starvation diet. He had no idea how long he could survive on his present wages. He had great plans about paying for his education that would get him a certificate in auto mechanics, but this dream seemed to be receding by the day. He did not want to ask his parents for financial assistance because he realized that with all the payments that they were required to make, not only for Audrey’s education but for the mortgage on the extension to the farm house, it would be unrealistic and insensitive to add to their debt.
Jed was also sure that if he told his parents about his present situation, he would first have to accept the fact that his plan to fend for himself was a failure, and that his parents would urge him to return to the farm where they could see a better future for him. He was now on the horns of a dilemma. Should he continue to stay the course with the hope that it might change, or should he go back home where he knew that life was a cake walk? His male pride dictated that perhaps he should find another job that was less exacting and one which paid a living wage. He also thought that he would make the rounds of auto mechanic outlets with the hope that they might employ him as an apprentice where he could obtain on-the-job experience and yet get paid basic wages for his service.
As he had expected, his effort to find a job as an apprentice bore very little fruit for the first week. During the second week he appeared to hit the right outlet. The Manager was impressed by Jed’s initiative and told him that he would like to try him out for a month. If he showed any promise, he would keep him on. Jed was absolutely thrilled by his success and promised his future boss Edward Mendes that he would be proud of him.
During the first week, Jed was taught how to put on and remove tires from the rings that held them. He was then shown how to balance the wheels. His mentor was impressed with the speed with which he learned the process and in a couple of days, Jed was on his own. When he was not changing tires, he would grab a broom and sweep the workshop clean. His boss Edward kept a religious eye on Jed without him knowing it. At the end of the month, Edward called Jed into his office.
“Well Jed, I think that you are a born mechanic. Your mentor has informed me that you should be moved on to another skill area. You are now going to learn how to align the wheels of a car by using a computer. Are you familiar with computers,” asked Edward.
“Sir, I have been working on a farm with my father since I could walk. If you ask me whether I am able to milk a cow or grow potatoes I’m your man,” said Jed.
“I admire your honesty. Unfortunately there is nothing here that you could milk or grow. Because I am told that you learn very fast, I am going to let you work with George Haynes who is a master mechanic. He will show you the ropes.” He got on the intercom and called George to the office. George agreed to take Jed under his wings but did tell Edward that Jed would have to be given a crash course in the use of the computer first before introducing him to the complicated process of wheel alignment.
When Jed received his pay packet that month, he was surprised that his pay had exceeded the basic wage. He brought this to the notice of the boss who assured him that there was no mistake and that his wage was increased because he worked so hard. Edward informed Jed that after six months they would have another talk about his pay packet. In the meantime, Edward put his hand into one of his desk drawers and pulled out a laptop computer. He handed it to Jed and told him that he needed to practice at home what he learned from George. The laptop was being loaned to him and that that Jed had better take good care of it. Jed held the computer tightly in both his hands and thanked Edward for his generosity.
Within a month, Jed had learned how to use “Word” and how to send emails. He managed to get a self-help book on how to touch type and practiced for hours to increase his speed without sacrificing accuracy. His familiarity with the computer made George Haynes’ job that much easier. After showing Jed the ropes for about a month, George reported to Edward, that Jed was ready to work on his own. His familiarity with tire changes and aligning cars kept Jed busy for a month after that.
Edward then spoke to Jed privately and advised him that it would be to his advantage to become a certified mechanic. This meant that he would have to attend courses being offered at Night School offered by a Vocational School not far from where they were. Edward informed him that his Company would pay half the fees and emphasized that Jed would go far once he obtained his Specialist Certificate in auto mechanics. Furthermore, his on-the-job training would enhance his understanding of the theory that he would have to learn.
Jed thanked Edward for all that he was doing for him and innocently declared that he viewed Edward as a father figure.
Edward smiled at him and went about his business.
The following day Jed signed up for Mechanics101. It was his first course. It started that very night. It was a very long day for him but he knew that he needed Certification as an auto mechanic or else he would not go very far in the business.
He studied well into the night and got up early in the morning to head for work. He watched oil changes being made and he thought that perhaps even a child could do that. He was then moved to “brake work” and soon had that under his belt.
Working on “transmission” took a lot more of his attention and it was then that he understood the value of being trained in a school to fully comprehend how it worked.
During his practical in School he was placed in charge of a group of students to demonstrate to them some of the basics that he had already learned at work. He felt very elated that his teacher held such confidence in his ability. His math and Science, however, needed special attention. Quite often, the other students appeared to forge ahead of him without any difficulty. Jed realized that his early education in Math and Science were not that great so he got himself some books and spent time, when he should be resting, trying to remediate some of his deficits.
It took Jed a little over a year to obtain his Certification and that was the day when Edward ordered in some beers and all kinds of food to celebrate the occasion with the rest of the Staff. Jed’s pay scale was then revised and he could now save up to buy himself a car rather than travel by bus as he did before.
The Kennedys at home were informed about his achievement. They were very happy for him. Since he started his courses he was not able to visit his parents. Jed was quite surprised that it was almost a year and that it had passed so fast. Jed would visit Audrey from time to time and also give her a few dollars each month from what he had saved.
Jed felt that he was getting older and that he would like to get married and start a family. There was so much that was needed to do that. Marrying a rich girl might have solved the problem but he knew that was frivolous thinking. Perhaps meeting a girl who he could love might be the first step. However, in his mind he knew that it had to be a working girl whose wages with his could go a long way in paying the bills, raising a family and living the good life.
One way of meeting someone nice was perhaps to recruit Audrey’s help. She had come to know a whole lot of girls perhaps a lot younger than he was, but surely they must have had older sisters!!
He therefore decided that he would get in touch with Audrey and over a dinner he would try and recruit her assistance.
CHAPTER 12
Audrey was not doing as well as she should in School. The teachers were concerned about her borderline grades. A couple of them interviewed Audrey to get at the cause of her poor performance, for they were cognizant of the fact that she was a lot brighter than she made out to be. Audrey was aware that Jason was the cause of her lack of interest in her studies. She thought of him most of the time and could not wait to be in his arms whenever he was with her.
She thought that sex was great and looked forward to it, but she was not about to tell her teachers that. However, Audrey did have nagging pangs of conscience since she knew that she was not living up to the expectations of her parents who were sacrificing so much to educate her. Jason, who was a Chartered Accountant, was doing very well at his job and was making a good wage. On several occasions he confessed his love for Audrey, but never once did he suggest that he wanted to either live with her or to marry her.
She poured her heart out to Indira who she had come to respect primarily because of her devotion and dedication to her school work. Indira warned her that she was no challenge to Jason. She was giving in to his carnal desires far too easily. She told her that men would like their women to be a challenge and somehow individuals who wrapped their persona in a cloak of mystery. Then only do they feel a sense of accomplishment and will perhaps be really interested in popping the question. Indira asked Audrey whether she really loved Jason or whether she viewed him as a person who broke the monotony of her life away from home. Indira suggested that she put her cards on the table with Jason and tell him that they would continue their friendship but that would not indulge in any sexual activity in future. If that is all that he wanted you for, watch him run.
Audrey had something to think about. Jason had become a habit with her and she found that it was going to be very difficult to break the habit. What Indira had told her made a whole lot of sense and it was now up to her to play the game that Indira suggested, after all she remembered from her studies that ‘all the world is a stage’. Audrey also intended to cut back on dates with Jason since she required to do a whole lot of catch-up work with her studies. This meant that she had to put in long hours even on the weekend.
Somehow Jason was in agreement with Audrey that she would have to spend more time on her studies if she was to do well in School. He promised her that he would put no pressure on her to go out with him and that he would leave it entirely up to her to call him when she thought that she needed a break. Audrey was quite surprised at this reaction since she expected Jason to cut off his relationship with her completely.
For a month after that, Audrey hit her books. She spent most of her waking hours after her classes in the library where she knew that she would not be distracted. In the comfort of the Dorm she found her thoughts drifting away from her studies. Her bed also seemed like a magnet when she was studying and this did not help her at all.
Jed called her one Friday evening and informed her that he was coming over to visit her. She was very happy to have her brother come to see her. Of course, she did not know the real reason for his visit.
“Hello Audrey,” greeted Jed embracing her.
“Hello Jed,”
“How have things been with you?” asked Jed.
“Things have been quite rough for the past month or so. My grades have not been that good so I have been putting in extra hours to bring them up,” she said.
“I know that if you are determined to do something, you will succeed,” encouraged Jed.
“Thanks for the encouragement Jed. And how are you doing?” asked Audrey.
“Actually, I am doing very well. My wages are now the envy of my co-workers and my boss has elevated my position to supervisor,” he said proudly.
“Congratulations Jed,” said Audrey.
“Thanks Audrey. I am here on a special mission. I can now afford to rent a livable apartment, and my wage is good enough to tempt me to settle down. My problem Audrey is that I have not met a girl who could share her life with me. I just do not have the time to meet girls. I was just wondering if you could introduce me to some of your friends,” said Jed.
“Jed, I would seriously like to help you. Unfortunately, the girls that I know are teenagers in School. They are far too young for you. What you need are girls closer to your age. Most of the girls that I know have older siblings but how I am going to get you to meet them when I don’t know them myself is a problem that I have to look into,” said Audrey.
“I understand what you are saying Audrey. If by some minor miracle you do meet with girls my age perhaps you could put in a good word for me,” said Jed.
He then put his hands in his pocket and pulled out a bunch of notes.
“Here is something that will tide you over for a little while,” said Jed.
“You are always so generous with me, and I love you for it,” exclaimed Audrey.
She refused his invitation to go out for dinner since she had to study, but she assured Jed that she would be on the lookout for girls his age. She was making no promises, but she would do her very best.
They embraced and Jed went on his way.
CHAPTER 13
Back at the farm Monty and Sonya began to live more relaxed lives. Both Juan and Joanne were assigned their jobs and they took them seriously.
Carlos became a part of the Kennedy household. Sonya loved to cuddle him and Carlos responded positively to all the love and attention that he was getting.
At Juan’s request, Monty conducted oral English classes for Joanne. Juan also attended classes since he knew that his English needed much polishing. Monty loved to teach these two adults some of the basic structures in the English Language. There was much interactive work, for the main purpose was to get the students to articulate the language. Monty also encouraged Juan to talk to his wife at home in English rather than in Spanish. This total immersion in English soon bore results and within six months, Joane spoke the language as though it was her native tongue. It was apparent that both Juan and Joanne needed formal education in their written skills. Unfortunately, this had to be done in a school offering English as a Second Language. For the time being, the Salvadorian couple put this on the back burner since transportation to the city for E.S.L. courses once a week was considered not worth the trouble.
Once a farmer, always a farmer. Monty often threw in his lot to assist Juan and to lighten his work. Joanne grew enough vegetables to last the entire winter. In addition she also grew some exotic vegetables that were familiar to her. Large tracks of land were given to potato cultivation, and since corn was staple to Canadians as well as Salvadorians, they grew a large track of land with corn. With the passage of time, the goat population began in increase. Goats were sturdy animals and there was enough food for them on the farm to keep them happy. They were let out of their enclosure for a couple of hours each day in order to feed. While this was happening they had to be supervised for fear that they would enter the vegetable plot and abscond with everything in sight.
Both Juan and Joanne worked hard for the Kennedys for five years. They had saved their money ambitiously but soon realized that they would never be able to afford a farm of their own. While the Kennedys had done everything in their power to try and keep them happy, Joanne felt that the future of their children should be made a priority. Joanne was now pregnant with her second baby and she thought that they should locate in the city where opportunities for their children would be at the premium. Furthermore, all the good schools and colleges were in the city and that was an additional incentive for them to leave the farm. Juan and Joanne milled these thoughts in their minds for a couple of weeks wondering how to break the news to the Kennedys who would probably go into depression at the news. After all, the Kennedys were discovering that age was taking a toll on their energy and strength and Juan with his wife were providing them with the relief that they so badly needed.
After much urging by Joanne, Juan decided to break the news to Monty. He invited both Monty and his wife to dinner and then set them down in their small but cozy living room.
“Monty, we have something to discuss with you. We have been agonizing over it for over a month but we thought that it was best that we got it off our chests,” said Juan.
“This sounds very dramatic. Is it something that we have done? “ asked Monty.
“It has nothing to do with what you’ve done, but everything with what we are about to do,” said Juan.
“Now that’s a relief,” said Monty.
“First of all some good news. Joanne is having a baby,” said Juan.
Both Monty and Sonya jumped out of their chairs and warmly hugged Joanne.
“This has nothing to do with what you are about to do Juan. It has already been done,” said Monty amidst hearty laughs.
“Joanne and I have been thinking about our future and the future of our children. We feel that the future of our children lies in the city and not on the farm. It is there that our children will be able to attend the best schools, colleges and grow up with other children rather than be isolated on the farm. Employment opportunities are greater in the city and I’m sure our children will be able to look forward to an enriching life there. We are therefore thinking of moving to the city as soon as our baby is born in another eight months or so. We know that this will be very disappointing to you since it has always been our pleasure to work for you and you will have to look for people to walk in our shoes,” said Juan.
There was silence for a little while.
“This has come as a shock to us Juan. We understand that your first loyalty and consideration is to your family but we were hoping that you would stay with us much longer. We have tried to be as accommodating as possible and we somehow feel abandoned by you at a time when we need you the most,” said Monty.
“There is nobody in the world that we are more grateful to than to you and Sonya. You have been family to us. You have been our backbone. Your generosity and love is unmatched. I want you to know that I will continue to work for you until you find somebody to take my place. In the meantime, Joanne will move with the children to Edmonton where she will set up house until I am able to join her,” said Juan with a smile.
Both Sonya and Monty got to their feet and without so much as a smile bid them goodnight and left.
Joanne looked at Juan and knew that both of them were going to have a sleepless night.
It is heartening to know what a good night’s sleep can do to most people. While Juan was working the cows, Monty approached him and patted him on the back.
“Thanks for the great dinner that Joanne gave us last night,” said Monty.
“We will be very happy to have you over for dinner again,” said Juan.
“Thank you Juan. Sonya and I were very saddened by your announcement that you would be leaving us. On reflection, however, we thought that perhaps you were doing the right thing. We understood that your family deserves only the best. Perhaps we were being a little selfish thinking that Sonya and I could now retire since we had you and Joanne to take our places on the farm. I am glad that you will be with us until we find somebody with some farm experience to take your place. If we don’t, we will have to either rent out the farm or sell it. Both those options will be painful to us since our entire lives were spent on this farm. The unfortunate part is that Jed has shown a preference for city life, so he is not likely to ever continue in the tradition of the Kennedys,” said Monty not waiting for a response from Juan.
Juan thought that it would be best not to raise the subject any more. He hurried attending to the livestock since he had to take on Joanne’s responsibilities. Being pregnant Juan did not want her to bend too much while attending to her vegetables.
That evening Juan sat down with Joanne and in their native Spanish discussed the next phase of their lives and the preparations that they had to put in place to make the move. It was yet a bit early to draw up their plans but they were excited about the next phase of their lives in Canada.
A few months later Joanne went into labor and the country doctor was sent for just when her contractions commenced. The delivery was a quick one. It was a baby girl. Sonya assisted the doctor by providing him with hot water and a few hand towels. As soon as the baby was born, the doctor placed the baby on Joanne’s stomach. Joanne held on tightly to her baby. In a little while, the baby was placed on a bed and wiped clean. Throughout the process the baby cried but the doctor said that it was normal. After the placenta was expelled, Joanne was cleaned, and she soon fell asleep. It was a day of hard work for her. Juan watched all this with great curiosity. It was the first time that he actually witnessed the birth of a baby…..and it was his!!
The following day they named the baby Agatha. Sonya once again made every effort to be helpful. She helped bathe the baby and assumed many of the responsibilities that Joanne would have had to assume. However, Sonya was very understanding, since Joanne returned to her chores on the farm and only snatched some time to rush into the house to breast feed Agatha. Carlos was getting more independent but he required supervision. He could easily get into trouble if he was not watched.
CHAPTER 14
One weekend when Jed and Audrey came home, Monty and Sonya sat with them to discuss their future plans in the light of Juan’s plans to move with his family to Edmonton.
“Your mother and I have had to come to some decision whether we are to sell the farm or rent it out. We love this farm but we have come to realize that one cannot live on sentiment alone. Your parents are now old and without help they cannot run it. Apart from a small pension that we get from the Canadian government, we will have no income from the farm unless we get somebody who is trustworthy to do all the chores that we have been doing for so many years. Because of the escalating price of feed, tools, and farm materials to keep the farm going; and the salary that we would have to pay a prospective worker when factored into the income that the farm will bring, there will be very little left over. If we choose to rent out the farm, we would probably realize an income of two thousand dollars a month. If we sell the farm we could realize three hundred thousand dollars. Put into a good investment in the bank, the interest will be good enough to keep us going. However, if interest rates fall, we will be obliged to draw from our Principal. It will also create stress in our lives because we will always be at the mercy of interest rates. We therefore feel that the best option would be to rent the farm to the highest bidder,” said Monty.
“Dad, I am sorry that things are not working out for you at the farm. I now have my own life in Edmonton. I am doing well in my job and before long I am hoping to have my own auto repair outlet. I wish I could tell you and Mom that I would be your knight in shining armor, and save the farm by coming back to it. I want you to know that if you choose to rent or to sell the farm, we can arrange for you to move to the city. You can live in your own apartment and live out your retirement without any stress or worry. When my auto outlet opens I could hire you to do some light work in the office for which you will be paid enough to live comfortably. I know that the farm has had a special place in your heart but believe me the city is not that bad. It will take a little while for you to get accustomed to the change, but you will soon experience that the city has a lot to offer you. The cultural life is great and both you and Mom could make new friends by joining seniors’ clubs that will enrich your lives,” said Jed.
“Mom and Dad, I wish that both of you could stay on the farm. This is all that you have known all your lives. I think that Jed is right. It is now time for you guys to enjoy your retirement years by moving to the city. Change is always intimidating, but if you give yourselves half a chance you will discover that the city will provide you with a rich cultural life. At the farm we have never had friends visiting us. It has been a very reclusive life. Both Jed and I can assure you that we have met some fine people in Edmonton. Our friends here have enriched our lives and given us a sense of identity,” said Audrey.
“Thanks for your encouragement,” said Sonya. “I believe that I would like to try the city. Dad is my main worry. He has spent his entire life on the farm. Farming is what he knows best. Getting rid of the farm would be like cutting off one of his limbs. It is not going to be easy for him. Had he been younger perhaps the transition would not be as painful,” added Sonya.
“Mom, we are going to be close to him when he gets to Edmonton. After he has learnt the ropes about city life, he will wonder why he had not made the move earlier,” encouraged Jed. “Furthermore, when I get my Auto Shop going, he will have something useful to do and that will take his mind off his present preoccupation with the farm,” added Jed.
Monty remained silent while the exchanges were made. He finally came to a decision that he would lease the farm out for a couple of years. He thought that this would give him an opportunity to try it out in the city and if he still yeaned for farm life, he could return to it in two years’ time.
Jed and Audrey thought that it was a fair compromise. Monty said he would take immediate action by advertising the lease of his farm. He hoped that there would be an agreeable response to the terms that he set out and all that he had to do was to wait for a response.
Within a week he had four applicants. Two of them wanted an extension of the lease so he ruled them out. One applicant wanted Monty to keep the livestock et al behind as part of the deal. Monty insisted that the animals had to be bought off from him if they wanted to have them. This applicant said that this was not agreeable to him. He was ruled out. The last of the four applicants said that the lease for two years was of particular interest to him and his wife since they were novices at farming and if in two years it did not work for them they could opt out. The couple was from China and they had three adult children who would assist them at the farm. After they had signed on the dotted line and paid the first and last month’s deposit on the very elaborate lease, the Kennedy family were ready to make their move.
Juan and Joanne with their two children moved to Edmonton after assuring the Kennedys that they would always be there to help them if help was needed. They thanked them for all that they had done for them and their children. They pointed out that few people would have ever extended themselves as they did since Juan’s first meeting with Monty. They then hugged each other and amidst a lot of tears and sobs, they left for a new life in a new environment.
Monty and Sonya were sad to see them go but they were encouraged in as far as the Salazars did not possess any skills that could be used in the city, yet they were bold enough to venture accompanied by all the insecurities that awaited them. Monty was sure that Juan’s dedication to hard work and his loyalty to whoever he worked for, would enable him to find placement in the work force. Monty thought how much more fortunate he was. For all practical purposes he was financially secure and he also had the support of his children. This made him stress free though the fear of the unknown made him somewhat uneasy.
The Kennedys had a little over a month to vacate their premises and the farm. Jed took it upon himself to find affordable accommodation for his parents, and since the School holidays had just begun, Audrey was able to help pack personal belongings that her parents would need. Before long, Jed called home to inform his parents that he had found just the right place for them, and that it was urgent that he came to Edmonton to approve of his choice before signing the lease.
“Please bring Mom with you,” said Jed. “Don’t forget that she will be spending more time at home than you will, so it is of the utmost importance that she approves of the apartment,” added Jed.
“I could not agree more with you Jed. Mom will definitely be with me. Since accommodation is of the utmost importance at this stage, we will be at the bus station around ten o’clock tomorrow. Please meet us there.”
“That will be great Dad. And remember Lunch is on me,” said Jed.
CHAPTER 15
Audrey was soon able to catch up with her studies.
Her companion Indira encouraged her to study, as she did, well into the night. Jason called Audrey almost every day inviting her out for dinner, but she politely declined the invitations. Indira became more of a counsellor to Audrey than a Dorm companion. She told Audrey that Jason was her first love, and as far as she was concerned, it was more like an infatuation rather than love. She told Audrey that she had her whole life ahead of her and rather than become somebody’s sex object at such an early age, she should work towards a profession that would sustain her right through her life. Audrey did not have an argument with what Indira had to say to her. She was aware that her parents would perhaps have the same advice for her. However, her intimacy with Jason was often missed and she had to fight back her desire to hook up with him whenever she felt lonely for his companionship. Jason’s calls became fewer with the passage of time and Audrey knew that her relationship with Jason was now coming steadily to an end.
Indira advised Audrey to find a hobby besides her studies to occupy herself. Since she always enjoyed painting and drawing, she decided to attend art classes that were offered free in the evenings. She looked very much forward to these classes and with the pocket money given to her by Jed whenever he visited her, she was able to buy the materials needed to paint. Her first painting was a Fall Scene. The art teacher praised her work and assured her that if she continued to paint, using some of the techniques that she taught her, she would eventually develop her own unique style and would produce some excellent work. Audrey was very encouraged by the positive comments that she got not only from her teacher but also from her colleagues. At the Dorm, she set up her easel and whenever she had the time, she would paint with absolute abandon. Indira was her main critic. However, criticisms were always positive.
In order to encourage her art, Jed bought one of her paintings for fifty dollars. He told her that he would be very happy to sell her paintings if she so wished. Audrey was absolutely thrilled at the prospect since the money that she made would help her buy some more materials to continue painting. She also felt encouraged because when her paintings sold it simply meant that somebody appreciated her art. This did much to boost up her self-image
Audrey was constantly conscious of Jed’s request earlier on to find him a girl that he could date with the object of finding somebody that he could share his life with. She once raised the issue with her close friends. Not wanting them to think that her brother was some kind of a loser, she made it appear that Jed was far too busy to go on the dating circuit because of his devotion to his job which demanded long hours of work. She flashed out a photograph which depicted him as a handsome and desirable individual.
When Audrey was alone, her friend Jennifer Morone approached her with a proposition. She declared that she had a sister who was about Jed’s age, but who was dreadfully shy. She was an attractive girl but not forward enough to attract the boys she often spoke about, but because she was shy, she developed cold feet the moment they came anywhere close to her.
“I could talk to her about Jed. However, Jed will have his work cut out for him to bring her out of the doldrums created by her inability to relate to the opposite sex because of her shyness. Above all, he will have to be very patient with her because I would not want to see my sister hurt in any way,” said Jennifer.
“Thanks Jennifer. Jed is as nice as they come. I don’t think that he would hurt a fly. Who knows, there may be chemistry between the two of them, that is, if you believe there is a thing like love at first sight. Let me give Jed a call and I will let you know whether he will buy into this arrangement. Let’s have a talk tomorrow. I am sure that I will have Jed’s take on this. I really appreciate your assistance in this matter Jennifer. Who knows we may be sisters-in-law someday,” said Audrey with a laugh.
That evening, Audrey was happy to contact Jed and give him the news and encouragement that at long last, she was able to line up somebody for him. Jed asked Audrey if she had seen the girl and what she thought of her. Audrey lied that she had and thought that she was very beautiful.
“I am not worried that she is shy. I am sure that after she is with me for some time, we will be able to work on it, and make her a little more forward but definitely not aggressive as some women are. I have to say that I don’t particularly like aggressive women, and if her shyness makes her less aggressive, she will be my kind of girl. I guess that most boys would like their future spouses to be like their mothers, and you know how much we adore our mother,” said Jed unashamedly.
“I see where you are coming from Jed. But if your idea of a mate is someone who is to be subservient to you, you are going to have a very dim future with women,” said Audrey.
“You have not told me her name,” said Jed changing the subject.
“Brenda Marone,” replied Audrey.
“I like that name. When do I get to see her?” asked Jed.
“Whooo! Put on the brakes there Jed,” reprimanded Audrey. “I have to take the message to her sister and she will take the good news to Brenda. It will be up to Brenda to decide whether she will go out with you. My suggestion is that you take it in stages. If she decides to meet with you, it would be best for you to visit her at her house first. If she likes what she sees, (and that goes for you too) you can then ask her whether she will go out with you. I know that her single parent is very keen on Brenda meeting somebody nice and I am sure that you will measure up to her expectations,” advised Audrey.
“Thanks Audrey. I owe you one. Please get back to me as soon as the spade work has been done,” concluded Jed.
CHAPTER 16.
The Kennedys were very impressed with the newness of the apartment which was situated on the tenth floor of a high rise apartment building. The apartment was given a fresh coat of paint and, in keeping with modern-day tastes, each of the rooms was given a coat of differing colors. There were two bedrooms, a large living room, a small family room and a kitchen already equipped with a large fridge and a stove. The kitchen itself had a lot of storage place and that pleased them a whole lot. There were two bathrooms one, of course, being an ensuite bathroom to the main bedroom. The main bedroom window had a large picture window where they could see the traffic and part of the city. Air-conditioning and heating were included in the rent. The asking price was eight hundred dollars a month. It did not take long for Sonya to approve of the apartment. Monty kept silent and did not object to his wife’s decision to sign the lease.
The Kennedys were assured that the apartment was in walking distance to where Jed worked, and that was the next place that he would be taking them, so that they could be introduced to his boss. Edward Mendes received them warmly and offered them chairs on which to sit in his office. Shortly thereafter he offered them some coffee. Monty was very curious about what was going on in the shop which was buzzing with activity. Jed took him around and explained to him the different operations which Monty found very intriguing.
They finally headed for Jed’s apartment where they could freshen up and get ready for dinner. The restaurant of choice was going to be the Mandarin Restaurant where Chinese food would be served in all its splendor. Audrey was to meet them there. Jed was particularly happy that she was coming, in the hope that she was bringing him good news regarding Brenda. Sonya and Monty enjoyed the food and with little persuasion returned for seconds, since the buffet had so much else to offer. While they were gone from the table, Jed asked Audrey whether Brenda would see him.
“You are one lucky guy,” said Audrey. “Brenda took one look at your picture and confessed that she would like to invite you to the house for tea. I think that she is wise, since pictures can sometimes be quite deceptive. Why not examine the real thing eh?” continued Audrey.
“When would she like me to visit?” asked Jed.
“That has not been finalized yet Jed. You will just have to be a little patient. Besides, it all depends on how long dad and mom are staying on here. Once they are settled in their own apartment, you will be free to pursue your mystery girl,” she said teasingly.
“I guess you are right. As soon as mom and dad are settled, I don’t think I am going to have any time to myself. What with work and all that!!!!” declared Jed.
Just then Sonya and Monty returned to the table with loads of food on their plates.
“I guess this is going to be my favorite restaurant once I move here,” said Monty. “The food is simply delightful.
Jed was happy that his parents were deliciously happy with the food, and assured them that this was the first of many things that would persuade them never to abandon the city.
CHAPTER 17
Jed had a shave and a long shower. He put on a dress pant rather than jeans, and wore a long sleeved shirt that did not have any creases. He applied some British Sterling to his face and his arms in order to smell good. Watching himself in the mirror to make sure that everything looked good, he walked down to his Honda Civic, which was his newest acquisition, and drove up to meet his date Brenda.
When he got to Brenda’s house, Audrey was there to meet him. After all, it was she who arranged the date and she felt that she had an obligation to introduce Jed to Brenda. As soon as they knocked on the door, Brenda’s mother Christine opened it.
“Hello Audrey,” said Christine shaking her hand. “I guess that this must be your brother Jed,” she continued.
“Pleased to meet you,” said Jed shaking Christine’s hand.
“Likewise,” responded Christine. “Please come in,” she added.
Brenda suddenly appeared but avoided eye contact with her guests. Jed shook her hand warmly and thought that she was a very attractive girl. He was aware that she was very shy, and did not interpret her seeming aloofness as being rude. He made sure that he sat next to her and tried to make conversation with her.
“I hope that you did not think that Audrey was too forward in arranging for us to meet,” baited Jed.
Brenda continued looking at her lap rather than into Jed’s face. She replied, “I am happy that you were able to visit us. Audrey showed me your picture and I thought that you looked very handsome.”
“Thanks Brenda. And may I say that you are perhaps the prettiest girl that I have met so far,” said Jed.
“Thank you Jed. This is the first time that anybody has ever said something as nice as you did.”
“If you will allow me to take you out on a date, I would have no difficulty in saying what I did a hundred times or even more.”
“Where do you propose taking me on this date?”
“I leave it entirely to you. It would all depend on where you would like to go. I would suggest going to some place where we could dance and also have dinner.”
“I would love to do that but I have got to warn you that I cannot dance.”
“Well then, we can both learn to dance by dancing,” said Jed.
“I am off on Saturday evening. Would you like to go out with me? I will make all the necessary bookings.”
“I think that I would love that,” said Brenda looking Jed in the face for the first time.
“Holy mackerel Brenda, you look even more beautiful when you look up. I hadn’t noticed that you have such beautiful green eyes,” said Jed.
Before Brenda could respond, Christine walked in with a tray of delicious home prepared goodies.
The group did not wait to be asked but reached out and helped themselves until the plates were emptied.
Shortly thereafter, Jed and Audrey excused themselves and left. Jed made sure that he told Brenda that he looked forward to his date and that he would pick her up at seven in the evening on Saturday.
As Jed drove Audrey to her Dorm, he thanked Audrey for setting him up with Brenda. He thought that she was an attractive woman, but that he was apprehensive about what she would bring to a marriage if there was going to be one in their future. He had no idea if she had any marketable skills, for it was very important to have two incomes if life was to be put on easy street. Audrey told him that the ball was now in his court and that the decisions that he made would have to be his own.
“On no account must you ever hurt her or lead her on if she is not what you want. Furthermore, she could always go back to school to acquire a marketable skill should she possess none. Think about it seriously, and all that I can do is wish you all the best,” said Audrey.
Audrey exited the car and walked up to her living quarters.
Jed shouted after her, “Have some of your paintings completed so that I could sell them. There is quite a market for them out there.”
Audrey shot back, “Thanks Jed. I intend mass producing them.”
CHAPTER 18
Audrey’s graduation from High School was a milestone in the lives of the Kennedy family. They were all there when the High School Diploma was bestowed on her. This was followed by a great celebration at the Kennedy apartment. It was too early for Sonya or Monty to quiz Audrey on what her intentions were going forward. They thought that graduation night was a special night and that Audrey should relish it to the fullest. Before the celebrations came to a close, however, Audrey announced that she would like to go to college to study the finer points of painting. Painting was not only what she liked to do, but that it was a form of therapy while she exercised her imagination.
She also announced that she was moving out from Jed’s apartment, and would be living with her boyfriend Jason Garson. This came as a shock to her ultra conservative parents who thought that she should first think of getting married before living with someone who she obviously cared about.
“That is ancient thinking dad. Today, people live together, and only if they find themselves compatible, they slip on the ring,” said Audrey.
Looking at Sonya, Monty declared, “I told you that we should never have sent her to the city. It has filled her with crazy ideas and it would seem that there is nothing that we can now do about it.”
Sonya remained silent.
“Mom and dad, there is something that I have not told you yet. I am three months pregnant with Jason’s child. This means that before long you will be grandparents,” said Audrey almost in a whisper.
Both Sonya and Monty dropped their heads. Under normal circumstances, this piece of information would be a reason for much demonstrated happiness. Neither Sonya nor Monty got up to embrace her over the unexpected news. Monty stood up and announced that they were leaving. Sonya, on the other hand, walked up to Audrey and assured her that if she needed any help, she would always be there for her. Deep in her heart, she felt a heavy weight. As a mother, she thought that she was a failure.
Jed pulled his parents into his bedroom and declared, “Mom, Dad, there is something that I have to explain to you. You have been the greatest parents that anybody could ever have. You have taught us right from wrong and gave us the work ethic. You now have to realize that both Audrey and I have grown up into man and woman. We are not children anymore. We have our lives to live and it is up to us to make our own decisions about life. There is no doubt that we will make mistakes as we go along, but then we have to answer to those mistakes ourselves. Some of us may even learn from the mistakes that we make. I know that you would like us to live by the standards that you set for us but that is not the way that life works. As parents you have done your job. What a wonderful life of dedication and devotion you have demonstrated to us. We will try to emulate much of what you taught us, but you must remember that we live in a changing world, and the young have to sift through the many changes and embrace those elements that they think are appropriate for them. Please do not make any judgements about Audrey. She is a fine person and from what she has told me about her boyfriend Jason, he is a caring individual who will be a great partner and father to their child. Jason is a working individual, college educated and will be a good provider. I hope that you will have a change of heart once you get home and that we can continue to nurture each other as we have always done, in spite of our differences.
“Thank you Jed,” said Sonya. “You do realize that we were looking forward to the day when Audrey would have had a great wedding…..white dress and all. Your dad and I have always been talking about that. Those dreams are now shattered. I guess that we will have to get over the shock of Audrey springing such news on us. Your dad and I will have to discuss this when we get home and hope that we will come to some kind of resolution about which direction we should take. I know that your dad is one broken man right now. If it is true that time is a great healer, hopefully he will get over the shock of it all. Goodnight dear Jed and do phone your dad more often than you do. Your calls will help him over what he obviously considers a great big burden in his heart.”
“Thank you mom for being understanding. I love you and dad very much, “concluded Jed as his parents left his apartment.
Audrey went to her room, aware that she had unwittingly hurt her parents. She was not sure how Jed received the news about her pregnancy, and was not in the mood to find out that evening.
The following morning Jed was up very early and headed for work. Audrey began packing her belongings and was quite surprised that it took her no more than an hour to get her things together. She then phoned Jason to come and pick her up. While she waited she thought that rather than phone Jed to inform him that she had left the apartment that she would keep a note for him.
My dear Jed: I have moved to Jason’s apartment today. Sorry that I was not up, to tell you this before you went to work. Please do not interpret my exit as being because of you. You have been a great brother to me, and I have so much to be grateful to you for. First of all, I thank you for accommodating me and treating me like a queen when I stayed with you. Your patience and understanding of some of my slothful ways will always be in my memory. I am leaving because I want to be with my baby’s father more than anything in the world.
“I have already decided that you will be my baby’s godfather because I don’t know anybody else who would be such a good example to my child. I hope that you will consent to this request.”
“I will phone you as soon as I am settled in our new place. In the meantime thank you once again for being such a loyal brother to me. Loves, Audrey.
Just as she finished the note, there was a knock on the door. Jason was there to escort her home.
CHAPTER 19
“I have some serious misgivings about having left the farm,” said Monty. “At least there I would be away from the immorality that one witnesses all around in the city and now it has come to roost in our family,” he added.
“Honey, I know how you must feel. But as Jed has told us, we live in a different world, and he cautioned us that the world is changing dramatically. I think it is up to us to change with the times. Audrey having a baby is not the end of the world?! In fact it is something that both of us were looking forward to……having grandchildren who we could spoil! We have not met Jason as yet. Who knows he may be just the kind of son-in-law we were always looking for. And don’t forget, Audrey also mentioned that if they found that they were compatible they would be officially married.”
“What I find troublesome Sonya is that she never mentioned Jason to us before. What was she afraid of?”
“Honey, she is a grown-up woman and she has a right to withhold information from her parents if she so wishes. Of course, it would have been nice had she told us about it so that we could have advised her accordingly. But, it is what it is, and we have to take it from there putting to rest some of our prejudices,” said Sonya.
“I don’t know Sonya, much as I would like to be understanding I am finding it difficult to come to terms with this situation,” said Monty.
“A few small steps at a time,” said Sonya. “And the first step that you are going to take is to phone Audrey and speak to her from your heart. Remember she is your daughter, and so you have to first apologize to her for demonstrating your disapproval last night. You will tell her how much you love her and that if she needs any help you will always be there to assist her.”
“That is going to be a tall order Sonya. Women find it much easier than men to play the game of pretend. That is indeed what you are telling me to do, aren’t you?”
“Honey, you can either choose to be right or continue to be miserable, or do what is sensible in order to be happy. Think about it seriously and you will discover that there is a whole lot in what I am saying.”
Monty walked to the bathroom and shut the door. He was in there for an unusually long time and Sonya dreaded that he may have passed out. She knocked at the door and Monty emerged wiping his eyes with a paper towel.
There was silence in the apartment for what seemed a long time. Sonya could not help feeling that Monty needed his space while he came to some decision about contacting Audrey. Once his mind was made up, he told Sonya that rather than phone Audrey, he would like to go personally to meet with her. Sonya thought that it was a brave and smart decision. Monty also expressed a desire to meet Jason, and though Sonya did not think that that was a good idea she told him that Audrey would love that to happen.
CHAPTER 20
As a fully qualified Auto Mechanic, Jed thought that it was time for him to start his own Auto outlet. This was at the time when Edward Mendes, his boss, felt that he would establish Jed as the Manager of his Company, enabling him to spend more time with his family.
Jed kept his plans from his boss. He first had to determine whether the banks would give him the finances that he needed to buy the expensive equipment to make his outlet viable. The other concern was to find a location where he could operate from. This was not an easy venture. Banks usually gave out loans provided that the borrower was able to back up the loan with collateral. Jed did not have that kind of capital. If he went to a private lender, the interest rates demanded would be astronomical. Perhaps, he thought, he would advertise his willingness to partner anybody who had the resources to fund the project, and he would give the investor fifty percent of the profits. After five years, Jed would be allowed to reduce the capital expenses with whatever he had saved. As soon as the capital expenses were fully paid for, he would become the sole owner of the business. As an added incentive, the outgoing owner/investor would still continue to reap five percent of the business profits in perpetuity.
He waited impatiently for the phone to ring after the advertisement was placed in the local newspaper. There was no response for a couple of days and Jed thought that he would have to come up with another plan. On the third day, however, the phone rang and a very business-like deep voice came from the other end of the phone. “This is Vincenti Porcini. How much do you need for this business?”
“My estimate is that it will cost me roughly eight hundred thousand dollars to get the basic hardware and instrumentation for the outfit. Furthermore, we will have to reckon with the rent and the payment of a skeleton staff to start off the business,” said Jed.
“Please meet me at the Pigale Restaurant on Fairbank Street tomorrow at eleven in the morning. I would like to have a tete a tete with you so that we could iron out this deal,” said Vincenti.
“I will be very happy to meet with you Mr. Porcini,” said Jed.
Vincenti put down the phone without as much as saying goodbye.
Jed felt encouraged by the event as it unfolded and he hoped that Vincenti would agree with the terms that he thought would be advantages to him in order to maximize his income.
Somehow, Jed could not sleep well that night. He could not understand what was bothering him. Was it the excitement that he was soon to become an entrepreneur? He really could not tell.
Jed arrived at the Pigale Restaurant an hour before his appointment. He ordered a cup of coffee and from the price that he had to pay for it, he realized that the Pigale was some kind of upscale restaurant. A limousine drove up to the restaurant at exactly eleven, and a middle aged man, wearing dark glasses and a hat emerged. He wore a black suit. Somehow, Vincenti did not need to ask Jed who he was. He appeared to know. He walked straight up to Jed and shook his hand.
“I respect people who keep to their appointments to the minute,” said Vincenti.
“Thanks,” said Jed. “Now for business,” he said putting up his right hand. As soon as he did this three waiters descended upon him.
“The usual,” he said. The waiters disappeared. Looking at Jed, he continued.
“You need eight hundred thousand dollars for your project,” he said. “That is a whole lot of money. You know that money does not come easy, so I have to be up front with you. I will give you the money. I also agree to the generous terms that you gave me over the phone,” he said
“Perhaps we should get to a lawyer and set up an agreement,” said Jed.
“Lawyers?! Who needs lawyers? We are two gentlemen and what we are making is a gentleman’s agreement. We do not need a lawyer for this. All that I can say to you is that if you do not keep your side of the bargain, you will not be happy,” said Vincenti with a very serious look on his face.
Jed suddenly became aware that he must be dealing with someone from the underworld. He read about criminals who were attempting to launder their money gained from illegal businesses, into legitimate ones. He looked into Vincenti’s eyes and asked him to give him time to think about the deal.
“What is there to think about,” declared Vincinti. “You need money. I give you money,” he added.
Jed knew that the money being offered would go a long way in gaining his independence. From his calculations, he felt confident that he would be able to pay back the loan in the next ten years. Why then was he afraid to close the deal?
Vincenti put up his left hand and one of his cohorts from the limo approached him with a black bag. He placed it in front of Jed and told him that he was very happy to have him as a partner. He also told Jed that there were instructions in the bag and that he was to follow closely.
He stood up promptly, shook Jed’s hand and walked back to the limo not touching the elaborate breakfast that was placed before him.
Jed grabbed the bag and rushed off to his car. He placed the bag in the trunk of his car and drove to his bank nervously to deposit the money. He could hear his heart beating fast for he had never had so much money in his possession.
His next move was to carefully examine two advertised locations where he could start his business. He was able to find one in the industrial area but there were far too many Auto outlets on the same street. This situation bothered him because of the competition that they would pose for him. The second location was in a commercial area. After surveying it, he knew that he would be required to do some renovations in order to accommodate his machines and bays that were necessary. He called a contractor that was known to him, and it was agreed that the renovation would cost him a good hundred thousand dollars. He tied up the deal with the Real Estate Company that he dealt with and instructed the contractor to start work right away. The owner of the building agreed to the renovations and negotiated a rent that Jed found to be reasonable. He signed a lease for ten years. Since the building did not belong to him, he placed the onus on the lessor to insure the building.
Now it was time for Jed to let his boss Edward Mendes know that he would be moving out on his own. Edward was saddened by the news of his departure, but there was very little that he could do about it. He was aware that Jed was an ambitious individual and he marveled at his initiative over the years. He was sure that Jed would do very well in his new endeavor and wished him the best.
CHAPTER 21
Sonya got in touch with Audrey and told her about her dad’s intention to come and meet her and Jason. Audrey was heard sobbing at the other end of the phone.
“Hello Audrey. Please do not cry. Your dad wants to make up for his indifference when you gave him the news about your pregnancy. He has not met Jason .He thought that it might be a good idea to do so. Let me tell you that this took a lot of soul searching on the part of your father and I am sure that you will accommodate him since he thought long and hard before he arrived at this course of action,” encouraged Sonya.
“Mom you know that I love both of you with all my heart. Dad is free to come and visit us whenever he wants to. Since Jason is free on the weekend that would be the best time to meet him. I am sure that dad will like Jason very much. He is a sensitive person, does not have any bad habits, and is a very kind and caring individual. Perhaps this Saturday would be very appropriate. Shall we say around ten in the morning?” asked Audrey.
“Ten would be fine Audrey. I will also come across to visit the two of you. How are you feeling? Do you feel any movements in your stomach? Have you seen a doctor about your pregnancy? Are you eating well? Don’t forget that you are now eating for two people.”
“Thanks for your concern Mom. I have seen a doctor and it would seem that so far everything is fine. Jason always reminds me about our doctor’s appointment and that demonstrates his concern over the baby’s health and my health too,” said Audrey encouragingly.
“I am glad that both of you are responsible prospective parents. I cannot wait for the baby to come. I intend spoiling the child which is the prerogative of all grandparents. But first things first. We will see you soon so that all of us can start on a sound footing. Bye for now Love. See you soon!” concluded Sonya.
Saturday rolled in very quickly. Audrey was at the entrance to her apartment waiting impatiently for her parents. Jason had a shave and dressed up conservatively in order to impress the guests. Monty was nervously silent all the way to the apartment, with Sonya repeatedly reassuring him that all would go well.
The meeting went well. Jason impressed Monty with his knowledge of the world and spared no effort in convincing Sonya that her daughter was in very safe hands. Since this was their first visit, they remained for only a short time and after an elaborate tea, they left for home.
Both Monty and Sonya were relieved and pleased that they had visited, and Monty confessed that he was feeling a lot better by apologizing to Audrey because of his behavior when they last met.
It appeared to be mutual, for that evening Audrey called her parents and told them how happy and pleased she and Jason were to meet them. Audrey also thanked them for their understanding and assured them that she would fulfil their hope that someday she would get married to Jason.
Sonya stressed that they were there for her and if she needed any assistance all she had to do was to ask.
CHAPTER 22
With Jed getting increasingly busy running his new auto outfit, and Audrey occupied with taking care of her new dwelling and attempting to continue her painting for a living, both Sonya and Monty began to feel very much alone. Monty often spoke about the farm and what he would have been doing at certain times of the day. Here in the city life became uncomfortably sedentary.
The monotony broke when Juan called them on the phone.
“Hello Mr. Monty. Please forgive me for not having got in touch with you earlier,” said Juan.
“Hello Juan,” replied Monty with a great big smile on his face. “Where have you been?”
“The first couple of months have not been easy. I was looking out for work and finally found a job as a janitor in a School. The pay is small but I have to work shifts. Since Carlos is still small, Joanne stays at home to care for him. As soon as Carlos reaches school going age, Joanne will also look out for work so that she can bring in some extra money that we can save in order to have a down payment on a house which we hope we will be able to afford,” informed Juan.
“I am glad that things are looking up for you Juan. I must say that we miss you and your family. In fact we are beginning to miss the farm since there is so little to do here except watch television. I cannot wait to return to the farm. I am sure that I would have done it right away but since I’ve leased out the farm for two years, I will just have to be patient,” said Monty.
“Mr. Monty, we live in a basement apartment on Hope Street. We would like you and Mrs. Sonya to come and visit us and have dinner with us too. We will cook a typical South American meal for you and hope that you will like it. Why don’t you think about it and give me a date and time when you will be able to make it? I now have a second-hand car and will be happy to come and pick you up,” invited Juan.
“Thank you very much Juan. Let me talk it over with Sonya. I am sure that she would also love a South American spread,” said Monty. “We often talk about the tasty food that Joanne would cook for us when we were on the farm. I will get back to you Juan and thank you very much for keeping in touch,” offered Monty.
When Sonya was informed about Juan’s call, she was quite excited. She always thought of Juan with much fondness particularly at the time when Audrey was unable to walk and he would give her much confidence in herself. Above all, he would make her laugh and forget her problems. Juan was also a great help around the house at the farm, though he had so many of his own chores to perform. She missed Carlos who she came to regard as one of her own children. Of course, she told Monty to phone back and tell the Salazars that they would consider it a privilege to accept the invitation.
Juan told Monty that he would be at his apartment on Saturday at seven in the evening and that the entire family was very excited about meeting them after such a long time.
CHAPTER 23
Jed’s business began to pick up with the passage of time. His clientele grew and so did his Staff. Jed spent long hours at his workshop. He hired his father, Monty, to look after the books and to bring the accounts up to date. Every month Vincenti sent his man to examine the books and to collect what was due to him. On inquiry, Monty was told that the book-keeper who looked through the statement of accounts was from the government and that it concerned a loan that he had taken. Monty was satisfied with the explanation even though he privately felt that Jed was not bringing home enough of the profits relative to the amount of work that he put in and the time spent at work. However, he did not want to rock the boat by expressing his real concern about Jed’s take-home pay.
When Monty was not with the books, he was assisting the other mechanics. Carrying tools to them when they were needed, was his chief occupation. In a short time he learned the names of all the tools and this pleased him very much. Sometimes he engaged himself by bringing coffee or tea, as the case might be, to the mechanics. In a short time he earned the name “DAD” from most of the junior Staff. He also did the banking for his son and was given Jed’s car to do this. Being occupied as he was, he thought less about his desire to go back to the farm. He grew to enjoy his work, and with his salary, he was able to pay the rent and afford some little luxuries for Sonya without having to touch his savings.
Sonya took temporary jobs assigned to her by the Government Employment Centre where she had registered. She generally worked for two to three days of the week and that suited her very well. She was generally assigned jobs caring for seniors who could not help themselves particularly when it came to housekeeping and cleaning. Most of the seniors liked her very much because of her caring and winning ways, and more often than not, paid her a lot more than was due to her.
Audrey soon went into labor, and both Monty and Sonya were by her side at the hospital. Jason held her hand throughout her labor and when the baby was about to appear, he turned his head away since he did not have the courage to see the baby actually being born. It was a boy!! There were a whole lot of hugs and kisses and the doctor announced that the baby was very healthy. Audrey held her baby in her arms but soon fell asleep because of the hard work that she put in. The baby was gently lifted from her arms and taken away to be attended to. The grandparents assured Jason that if they needed a baby sitter Sonya would be very happy to oblige. Jason thanked them and assured them that he was very lucky to have grandparents who were so caring and ready to assist.
A few months later, Vincenti sent one of his men to tell Jed that he would like to have a meeting with him. Jed wondered what it was all about.
“My friend Jed, I have to tell you that the money that I have invested in your business is not paying as well as I thought it would. I would like to have my money back in a couple of months’ time,” said Vincenti. “It would be much wiser and profitable for me to put my money into a guaranteed investment Certificate at a bank,” he added.
“But I thought that we had a gentleman’s agreement that after five years I would attempt to pay back much of the loan and in ten years’ time the loan would be fully paid back,” said Jed.
“Well, you know that I would be stupid to continue to invest my money in a venture that does not pay well. Think of it this way. If it was your money, would you not want to invest your money in a business that profited you more than just keeping your money in a bank? I now declare our agreement null and void and in two months please have a check for eight hundred dollars waiting for me, “said Vincenti measuring each of his words.
“I really do not know what to say, Sir. Where will I get that kind of money? Even if I sell the business it is not likely that I will get back the money that has been invested,” said Jed in a pleading voice.
“If the check is not placed on my desk in two months’ time, you alone will be responsible for any accident that befalls you, “threatened Vincenti and left in his Limo promptly.
Jed could not get over the shock over the turn of events. He could not resort to a lawyer since there was no written agreement between him and Vincenti. He could not go to the Police because Vincenti had not broken any law. He found himself between a rock and a hard place. When he got back to the Auto Outlet, his father remarked that Jed did not look well. Jed passed it off by blaming the weather. Finally because he had suddenly become uncharacteristically ill tempered, Monty pulled him aside and said, “We must talk son.”
“What about?” asked Jed.
“There is something bothering you. You have not been yourself for a few days now,” said Monty.
“Dad, I am sorry if I behaved badly, but there are so many things on my mind,” stated Jed unapologetically
“Jed, I am your father. As a father one senses that all is not right with you. If there is anybody you can talk to about your problems without it going any further, it is your dad. Now, what seems to be your problem?” asked Monty sympathetically.
There was a pause as though Jed had to think seriously about what he was going to say.
“Well dad. Let’s take a walk outside. In this place even walls sometimes have ears,” coaxed Jed.
They walked out of the building and sat in Jed’s car.
“Dad, I think that I am in serious trouble. Where can I begin? You see Dad, the funds that I got to start up Jed’s Auto Service was not a bank loan. It was a private investor who came up with eight hundred thousand dollars to equip and pay the Staff. Banks would not loan me the money since I had no collateral to back the loan that I was applying for. Other private investors were asking for inflated rates of interest. Finally, a gentleman approached me and gave me the loan under very generous conditions. Unfortunately, my business has not been doing well enough to satisfy the investor so he has given me two months to pay back the money that he loaned to me,” said Jed.
“He cannot do that. Surely you can consult your lawyer to have things straightened out with him,” declared Monty as though it was a no brainer.
“Sorry dad. It is not as simple as that. There was no written agreement made. The gentleman told me that it was a gentleman’s agreement and that there was no need to consult a lawyer since it would only make the lawyer richer,” said Jed.
“Yes, indeed Jed, you are in trouble,” said Monty under his breath. “You can of course refuse to pay back the money you borrowed since there is no proof that he lent it to you in the first place,” said Monty, but that would be playing hard ball with him, wouldn’t it?”
“Except that he told me that something serious would happen to me if the money was not returned in two months,” said Jed.
“You have obviously been dealing with the underworld dear son!” exclaimed Monty.
“Now you know why my temperament has changed Dad. I am scared,” said Jed honestly.
“We are going to have to put our heads together to beat this one,” said Monty. “Let it ride for a couple of days and we will think of some way of beating the odds,” encouraged Monty.
“Thanks for being so understanding Dad. Just talking it out with you has already lifted a great big burden from my mind,” assured Jed.
CHAPTER 24
Rather than return to his desk, Monty took the bus home. Sonya was surprised to see him home so early and inquired whether he was well.
“I had to leave work early because you and I have to discuss something that borders on life and death.”
“Then you are not well,” said Sonya in very concerned tones.
“It has nothing to do with my health. There has been an unforeseen development that needs to be addressed very quickly,”
“Why are you talking to me in riddles Honey? What is the matter?”
“Jed is in serious trouble.”
“Did he get hurt at work?”
Monty then went on to explain the problem confronting Jed and the business that he built.
“We have to come up with the money. I was thinking of selling the farm. I know that it will break our hearts but it appears to be the only way that Jed will be able to get out of the bind that he is in.”
“But Honey, you were so keen to return to the farm after the lease ran out with the present tenants,” said Sonya.
“We cannot risk Jed’s life. He has to come up with the money in less than two months or else these criminals will hurt him. We cannot let that happen,” said Monty.
“I am going to advertise the sale of the farm. I have already found out that I could sell it for close to seven thousand dollars. We can always pass the hat around to get the other hundred thousand. Before advertising the farm I will give the Chows a chance to buy it. If they do buy it, it will save us all the trouble of finding other buyers. Since it will be a private sale we will save on paying the Real Estate agent any commission,” said Monty.
Not wasting any time, he called the Chows who were very pleased to hear from him. Mr. Chow immediately proclaimed to Monty that he and his family loved life on the farm and that though their income was not very substantial, they were able to get by. Mr. Chow assured Monty that it seemed very possible that they would like to extend the lease.
“Mr. Chow, I am happy that you and your family are settling into farm life. I am calling you to tell you that I am now thinking of selling the farm. I need the money badly and so I am putting up the farm for sale for eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I will give you the first opportunity to buy the farm but your decision will have to be made within a week. You do understand that I have to advertise the sale of the farm if you are not interested, “baited Monty.
“Mr. Kennedy, I am very interested in this farm and I would like to buy it. However, I will have to investigate from my friends whether I could put up the kind of money that you are asking. I personally cannot afford to buy it, but I am sure some of my relatives and friends will assist me in raising the money. We will have to discuss the price that you are asking. But first, I have to determine how much money I can raise. I will phone you in a couple of days and let you know,” said Mr. Chow.
“Thank you Mr. Chow. If I do not hear from you in a couple of days, I will proceed to advertise the property,” said Monty.
And with that last comment, Monty placed the phone in the cradle and hoped that he did not appear too businesslike with Mr. Chow.
He then turned to Sonya and told her how the conversation went. He had raised the price of the property because the Chinese were known to be good bargainers and the quoted price would give Mr. Chow latitude to bargain him down and perhaps feel that he was getting a good bargain.
Now they just had to play the waiting game.
That very evening Mr. Chow got back to Monty.
“Mr. Monty, I have good news for you. I like buy your farm. I give you five hundred thousand dollars for it in cash. That is all that I can give you,” said Mr. Chow in apologetic tones.
“Mr. Chow, your offer is too low. Even at eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars, which is my asking price, I am already giving you a big deal. The farm is worth a lot more,” said Monty.
“I no have any more money,” said Mr. Chow.
“If that is the case, I will advertise the property and after two months when the lease is up, you will have to vacate the farm. I will bring the price down to eight hundred and forty thousand dollars and that will give you a ten thousand dollar break. Think seriously about this offer. I will wait for your call either way by tomorrow morning at ten,” said Monty in a serious tone.
He then hung up and in his heart he felt sure that Mr. Chow would meet his terms.
Shortly thereafter Monty called Jed.
“Hello Son, I hope that you are ok. I am calling to tell you that your mother and I have decided to sell the farm in order to raise the money that you need. As you probably know this course of action was not taken lightly. Both your mother and I love the farm very much but we love you even more. It would seem that we could sell the property for what you owe your renegade investor,” declared Monty.
There was silence for a few seconds.
“Dad, I really do not know what to say. I will make sure that I will pay back every penny that I owe you. This is one big sacrifice that you and Mom are making because of my delinquent deal with the underworld. It is a mistake that I will never make again, I can assure you. Furthermore, you will be paid interest on the money that I owe you and if business is good, I will slam as much as I can against the Principle owing. By the way, I will have this agreement made with a good lawyer and the money owing will be a lean on Jed Auto Shop,” said Jed penitently.
“First things first Jed. I am waiting for Mr. Chow to firm up the deal that I am attempting to make with him with regard to the sale of the farm. As soon as that has been done, and the loan has been paid, we can sit down and draw up the papers as you suggest. But please be reminded that the only reason I will insist on legal papers is that in case of our deaths, half of what you owe us will be given to your sister,” said Monty.
“I understand where you are coming from Dad and I will respect and honor everything that you say,” said Jed.
The following morning, Monty waited anxiously for Mr. Chow’s call. At ten there was no call. At eleven the phone was still silent. Monty felt that the deal had fallen through. Sonya reminded Monty that silence may be a good omen. Perhaps Mr. Chow was consulting his sources to determine whether he could obtain the funds needed. This sometimes took time, particularly when one was dealing with such a large sum of money. Monty thought that it was a strategy to keep the seller in suspense so that the next offer presented, no matter how low, would be accepted.
Late that night, when the Kennedys had given up all hope, the phone rang. It was Mr. Chow at the other end.
“Mr. Monty, Sir. I am sorry not phoning earlier. I buy farm for seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I have money here in my hands,” said Mr. Chow with a laugh.
“Mr. Chow, I have already placed an advertisement in the Edmonton Standard for the sale of the farm, since I did not hear from you at ten this morning as agreed. I have priced it at a million dollars. I will keep your offer in mind when I receive other offers and I will sell it to the best offer that I get,” said Monty.
“Ok then Mr. Monty, I give you eight hundred thousand dollars cash and this is my last offer,” said Mr. Chow. “I come tomorrow morning at ten and will hand you the money after we have seen a lawyer so that the deeds could be transferred to me,” added Mr. Chow.
“Thank you Mr. Chow. The farm is yours for eight hundred thousand dollars. Congratulations. I will phone a lawyer that I know and we will arrange to meet him so that we could make a legal transfer of the property. I guess that you will be bringing cash along,” invited Monty.
“All cash, Mr. Monty. I will see you tomorrow then. You sure you won’t reduce price,” asked Mr. Chow in a last ditch effort to get a better deal.
“No. Mr. Chow. As it stands I am already losing lots of money,” said Monty.
“You very hard man, Mr. Monty, but I respect you,” said Mr. Chow.
“I await your arrival tomorrow. Good night and our regards to your wonderful family,” concluded Monty.
CHAPTER 25
Audrey and Jason kept in touch from time to time. Both of them were busy with their lives. Audrey felt an obligation to look after her son in the best possible way. They named him Lorne and his grandparents thought that it was a great name. Sonya often volunteered to care for Lorne especially when Audrey and Jason were invited to parties by their friends. Lorne loved to be with Sonya and made a great big fuss to return with his parents after their parties. But this was no reflection on the care, love and attention that he was receiving from his parents. Somehow, grandparents were considered special in the lives of their grandchildren.
But Sonya’s attention was drawn to the great setback in their lives. It was to salvage their son Jed from the tight and dangerous situation that he was in. She was torn by the proposition made by her husband that the farm had to be sold in order to pay their son’s debt. Even the argument made by her husband was not able to appease her. After all, the only source of income that they presently had, was the rent that they obtained from Mr. Chow. The sale of the farm would therefore cut off the life line for them to live and support themselves in their apartment. Monty assured her that Jed was doing well enough to be able to pay them a monthly income, but this did not ease the worry that beset her during her waking hours.
Mr. Chow kept his appointment and appeared at the Kennedy apartment well before the appointed time. Monty had set the appointment to see the lawyer at eleven o’clock that morning. Wasting no time, they set off in Mr. Chow’s van. By midday, the deal was made. The money was handed over to Monty. He took a taxi to Jed’s Auto Shop and handed the money to Jed. Jed took it and placed it in his safe after asking his father whether he checked the amount for its accuracy. Monty said that he did and that it was exactly eight hundred thousand dollars in cash.
Jed got on the telephone and called Vincinti. They were to meet at the same restaurant where the deal was first made around 4 p.m. Jed asked his father to supervise the operation at the workshop. On second thought, he felt that it would be wise proposition if he had someone with him to witness that the money was handed to Vincenti. His father, better than anyone, would make a good witness. Monty agreed to accompany his son.
At 4 p.m. sharp Vincenti appeared at the restaurant. He approached the table at which the duo sat.
“You are on time. I like people who do not keep me waiting,” said Vincenti.
Neither Jed nor Monty made any reply.
“I see that you have the money that you borrowed from me,” said Vincenti.
“It is exactly eight hundred thousand dollars,” said Jed handing the bag to him.
“That is the money you borrowed from me, but where is the interest? Asked Vincenti.
“That was not part of our verbal agreement,” said Jed.
“Nobody lends anybody money unless he is prepared to pay interest. At ten percent interest, you still owe me eighty thousand dollars,” said Vincenti with a snigger.
“Mr. Vincenti, I thought that we had a gentleman’s agreement. I spelled out to you the terms of our agreement and never once was there any mention of interest being paid on the loan,” declared Jed.
“I am giving you two months to pay me the interest. You do realize that if it is not paid there will be some serious repercussions,” threatened Vincenti.
“I’m sorry Mr. Vincenti, I will not pay the interest when it was not part of our agreement,” said Jed.
Vincenti got up from his chair, grabbed the bag full of money and left.
Half way to his Limo, he turned around and shouted, “Don’t play around with Vincenti. Nobody plays around with Vincenti.”
He got into his Limo and sped off.
Monty and Jed looked at each other but did not say a word.
CHAPTER 26
Jed’s business began to expand. Without having to share the profits with Vincenti he was now easily able to pay his father a living stipend. His take-home salary was modest but he knew that since he was saddled with a big debt, he had to tighten his belt until the debt was paid off. He also made sure that he opened an account into which he deposited all additional funds towards paying up his father. Monty continued to work with Jed and both of them forgot about Vincenti’s threat.
Two months later one of Vincenti’s henchmen approached Jed and demanded the eighty thousand dollars that he still owed. Jed told him that he had made it very clear to Vincenti that there was no money owing any more. Without saying a word, the man turned around and left the establishment. Monty began to have some misgivings about the payment of the interest. He was aware that if Jed paid Vincenti the money, his demand would continue for more money with underlying threats.
“Jed, I think that you and I must talk,” said Monty.
“If it is to pay Vincenti the money that he is demanding, I might as well pack up this business,” said Jed.
“I think it is time for us to report this matter to the Police. I doubt that they will be able to do anything about it, but at least they will have on record just what is transpiring,” said Monty.
“Do you think that it is the right way to go?” asked Jed.
“We have no other choice. The Police are there to serve and protect. We have no idea what Vincenti intends doing to you or the rest of the family. These underworld characters can be very brutal. Perhaps Vincenti is already known to the Police and they could warn him not to get anywhere close to us,” said Monty.
At the Police station, they were directed to Inspector Kelly. When the story was related to him, he made notes. As soon as Jed mentioned Vincenti, Kelly stopped writing and stared at him with his face drawn.
“My friend you are in more trouble than you probably think you are. Vincenti is one of the most vicious characters in the underworld. I am quite surprised that you are still alive. He is vindictive and brutal. He could strike at any time,” said Kelly.
Both Jed and Monty went pale.
“You understand that we cannot give you twenty-four hour protection, but you are sure going to need it.” “This criminal can strike at any time,” said Kelly.
Jed and Monty did not know what to say.
“We will alert our Police squad to keep an eye on your apartments. I would also suggest that you hire a security guard with a license to carry a weapon, to keep an eye on your workshop particularly at night. There is not much else that I can do until a crime has been committed,” said Kelly.
What Kelly did not tell Jed was that he would instruct his detectives to trace Vincenti, and warn him that if anything happened to the Kennedy’s or the Auto Shop, he would haul him in for questioning and would do everything in his power to throw the book at him.
Jed was able to hire an armed security guard who was to look after the Auto Shop at night. The guard came well recommended.
For the next month, there was peace and quiet and business went on as usual. Late one Saturday night, a black car pulled up at the Auto Shop. Two men emerged from the car. One of them opened the trunk and pulled out two containers. The security guard observed them walking to the back of the shop. He followed them at a safe distance without being noticed. The men began to pour whatever was in the containers on to the wall of the shop. The security guard got a strong smell of gas. He concluded that this was a case of attempted arson.
“Put your hands up!!!” he screamed, gun in hand.
Both the men pulled out their guns and fired in the direction of the voice.
The security guard also opened fire and hoped that it found its mark.
One of the bullets, however, hit the security guard in his chest and he fell to the ground.
The arsonists lit the gas and hurried back to their car and drove away.
The security guard was rapidly losing blood and made every effort to crawl towards the road. He could feel the heat of the Auto Shop which had developed into a regular inferno. Somehow the security guard was losing strength rapidly and he knew that he would not make it to the road where he hoped somebody would see him and call an ambulance. He therefore did the only thing that he thought might help. He threw his gun far enough and he hoped it got on the road. He then passed out.
One of the neighbors observed the fire and immediately called the 911. The fire brigade arrived in twenty minutes but by this time the entire Auto Shop was ablaze. While searching for a second water faucet, a fireman tripped over the security guard’s lifeless body. An alert was issued to have an ambulance brought in, and the paramedics lifted his body on a stretcher and carried it to the ambulance. Knowing the seriousness of the wound, they drove off in a hurry to the nearest hospital while performing the usual lifesaving procedures, including the infusion of badly needed blood, to save the security guard.
Jed’s phone rang. He was half asleep when it did. A voice at the other end reported to him, in a very controlled voice and not mentioning his name that his Auto Shop was ablaze. He rushed to the scene. The fire brigade was still hard at work trying to put out the flames. Drums of diesel oil stored in the back of the shop, had caught fire and blew up like bombs making the flames more intense. Jed looked
around for the security guard but there was no sign of him anywhere. He soon learned that his security guard was badly wounded and was transported to the hospital for treatment. The Police were also at the scene. The Police Inspector approached Jed and expressed his regret that the shop was destroyed. He told Jed that he would like him to accompany him to the Police Headquarters after he had written down a report on his observation of the scene, and had received a report from the Fire Brigade Inspector. Jed continued to hold his breath at the sight of his business going up in flames. He knew that he had observed all the safety rules for running an outfit like his. He could not understand how such a sturdy building could virtually melt right before his eyes. He thought of phoning his father to report the misfortune that he was experiencing, but he thought that his father would not be able to do much and that it would be more expedient on his part to let him sleep through the night.
It was a nasty fire. The monstrous flames were put out by the early hours of the morning. Several cars stopped to take in the destruction. All the while, Jed stood numb staring at his burning dream. Finally, the Police inspector asked him to sit in the police car. Jed did as he was instructed. At this time, he used his cell phone to call his father. It rang twice and Monty picked up the phone.
“Hello, this is Mr. Kennedy,” said Monty.
“Dad……..I have bad news for you,” said Jed like a wounded man.
“What’s the matter son?” asked Monty.
“I hate to break the news to you, but somebody burnt down our Auto Shop last night,” said Jed.
“What are you saying son? Am I hearing correctly? Did you say that someone burnt down the Auto Shop?” asked Monty.
“Yes dad. There is nothing left of it. And I do not have a clue how it happened,” said Jed.
“Where was the Security Guard Son? Wouldn’t he know how it happened?
“Dad, the Security Guard was found unconscious and has been transported to the General Hospital.”
Just then, the Police Inspector entered the car and Jed explained to his dad that he was on his way to the police station to give them a statement. He asked that he should come to the site and that he would join him as soon as he could.
At the station, Jed was subjected to rigorous questioning. He could not help thinking that the questions were intended to establish or reject the idea that he was in some way responsible for the fire. If he was, then this would be arson, and he would be charged. Since he was up all night, Jed was exhausted. What added to his exhaustion was the stress surrounding the entire incident.
It was finally agreed that there was no evidence that Jed was in any way responsible for setting the fire. Jed was, however, quick in reminding the Inspector about the Vincenti story, and he told him that the entire incident was reported to the police. There had to be a record of it. Jed pointed out to the threat made by Vincenti. He had threatened that if the interest on the loan was not paid in two months something would befall him. The Inspector told Jed that he could leave but that he should make himself available if they needed him. Jed assured the Inspector that he was going nowhere.
As Jed was about to leave, the Inspector’s phone rang.
“Hello Inspector. This is the General Hospital. Dr. Rutter speaking.”
“Hello Dr. Rutter, what can I do for you?”
“A patient was brought in this morning with a bullet wound to his abdomen. As you are aware there is a rule in this hospital that all bullet associated traumas have to be reported to the police. The patient is presently in surgery and I cannot tell you how serious the wound is. The patient stated that it was an accident while he was cleaning his gun. Our experience has been that patients with bullet injuries invariably give that as an excuse,” said Dr. Rutter.
“Thank you Dr. Rutter. I will have one of my officers there in a few minutes. Kindly instruct the surgeon to hold on to any evidence he may find especially items such as bullets, if any, that may be removed from the patient. Forensics is going to need it. We need all the evidence that is required to execute the case should there be one,” said the Inspector.
“This has always been a part of our procedure. Whatever we find with or in the patient, we hold in safe keeping for the police,” reinforced Dr. Rutter.
And with that, they hung up.
Shortly thereafter, the phone rang again.
“This is Dr. Rutter once again Inspector.
This is a busy day for all concerned. I am phoning to inform you that around two o’clock this morning, a patient was brought in with a bullet wound that severed a major artery in his heart. Unfortunately, we were not able to save him. He was dressed in a Security Service uniform. His body was found a few yards from a burning Auto Shop and it is our belief that he was probably the Security Guard there. As always, his possessions are in a safe place, including the bullet that the surgeon found in the body. The paramedics also found a gun not far from the body and it is being kept in a safe until it is collected. Please feel free to collect these items.”
“Thank you Dr. Rutter. My officers have been instructed to guard the patient who did not survive his bullet wound, until it can be established that there is no need for any protection. I also suggest that an autopsy be conducted on the Security Guard and that the report be submitted to me as soon as possible. I will be at the hospital to interrogate the survivor. The forensic department will send its representative to collect the evidence. I thank you for your help and cooperation,” said the Inspector.
CHAPTER 27
Jed hailed a taxi and returned promptly to the burned down Auto Shop. His father was there talking to a few onlookers. Jed noticed that the fire was completely out. He surveyed the damage and hoped that the owner carried insurance for the building. Jed was conscientious enough to have insured all his equipment in the building itself. However, it was going to take some time to rebuild and to bring their records up-to-date. Shortly thereafter, the owner of the building came to the site. He was quite distraught over what he was observing. The good news was that he carried insurance for the building. He told Jed that he would report the fire to his Insurance agent. Jed had already informed his agents and they offered full support after the police investigation was completed. With these assurances, both Jed and Monty felt a little comforted but deep in their hearts they knew that Vincenti was not quite through with them. If anything, they hoped that the police would somehow bring charges against him and have him put away. Jed was convinced that in view of the evidence that they had, that Vincenti must have had a hand in what had happened. It was now up to the police to determine whether this was the case.
When Jed’s workers arrived for work, they were shocked to see what had happened. Jed set them at ease and assured them that they would rebuild. However, in the meantime those who were working from cheque to cheque were persuaded to find work elsewhere. The workers pledged their support to Jed and told him that they would wait until his workshop was in operation once again. Jed admired their loyalty particularly at a time when he came close to depression.
Both Monty and Jed excused themselves and rushed off to the hospital. They were concerned about their Security Guard who had been shot. This information was conveyed to them by the Inspector who was investigating the fire.
When they got to the hospital they were directed to the mortuary. They were able to identify the body. Waiting to see the body was the security officer’s wife who Jed had met for the first time. He conveyed to her his condolences and assured her that the Police would track down his murderer. He also told her that he would be happy to assist her if she needed any help. She explained to Jed, amidst uncontrollable sobs, that she was disabled and that the only source of income was her deceased husband. Jed assured her that once the investigation had been conducted, there was a chance that she would receive restitution for the death of her husband.
Both Monty and Jed left the hospital but there was very little conversation since both of them had been unnerved by the experience.
Jed told his father that he was very exhausted and that he needed some sleep. They parted company and Jed went to his apartment. As he entered, he found a note slipped under his door. It simply stated, “Payment made in full.” It did not take long for Jed to know who the author was. However, he kept the note and placed it in his pocket. He was so exhausted that on seeing his bed, he slump into it and was asleep in a flash.
CHAPTER 28
The Police Inspector pushed open the hospital door that was guarded by two Police Officers. He edged towards the patient who appeared to be conscious but in pain. The nurse was by his side, and made sure that he received pain killing solutions through his I.V.
“I am Inspector Williams. I would like to talk to the patient if I may.”
“The patient is in pain, so I wonder whether it would be an appropriate time for you to talk to him,” said the nurse.
“I understand. I will spend just a couple of minutes with him. What is his name?” asked Williams.
The nurse lifted the notes that were hanging at the side of the bed.
“His name is Antonio Matteo.”
“Thanks,” said Williams approaching the patient.
“I hope you are feeling better,” said Williams to Antonio.
Antonio did not answer.
“I am here to find out how this happened to you,” said Williams.
“Accident,” replied Antonio.
“Where is the gun,” asked Williams.
“I don’t know,” said Antonio.
“You shot yourself, and you don’t know where the gun is?”
“Yes Sir.”
“Did the accident take place at home?”
“Yes Sir.”
“Well, if it took place at home, then the gun must be at home.”
“I guess so.”
“Give me your home address please,”
“I cannot remember,” said Antonio.
The nurse intervened.
“Inspector, I must ask you to leave the patient alone and leave.”
“I understand and appreciate the time you allowed me with the patient.”
As Williams was about to leave, the nurse told him that she had an address given by the gentleman who brought Antonio to the hospital. She referred to the notes once again and gave Williams the address.
Williams thanked the nurse and assured her that she was a great help. He then promptly left.
When he got to his office, he ordered a couple of constables to accompany him to the address that he got from the nurse.
It was one of those modern houses which was kept impeccably clean outside and inside. It was like a veritable palace which made Williams wonder what Antonio did for a living. He approached the main entrance and rang the bell. Nobody came to the door. Just above the door, however, a camera moved to get the visitor in focus. Then came a voice on the intercom that was clear enough for Williams to hear.
“What do you want? I have no time for you just now. Please go away,” said the voice.
“Please open the door or else I will be forced to open it,” said Williams with authority.
There was silence.
Williams ordered the Constables to break open the door. They entered the premise, gun in hand.
Williams rushed up the stairway. There were several rooms with their doors shut. Williams ordered,
“This is the Police. Please walk out with your hands up.”
There was silence.
Finally, one of the doors opened and a man in his sixties walked out with his hands held above his head.
Williams ordered his Constables to check the other rooms to make absolutely sure that there was nobody else there. He also asked them to search the rooms for any guns or ammunition.
Williams walked up to the man and asked him to turn around and put his hands behind his back. He then cuffed the man and ordered him to move to the lower level.
The search revealed several guns that were placed in one of the closets and hundreds of rounds of bullets. Under the mattresses in every room, there were hundreds of dollar bills. Inspector Williams asked that the money be placed in a cardboard box.
“What is your name,” asked Williams.
“First of all, you have no right coming into my house without a warrant,” said the man.
“My name is Vincenti Persini. I am going to have you reported,” said Vincenti.
“You can do what you want. I am taking you in for resisting arrest,” said Williams.
“If you insist on becoming some kind of hero, have it your way. I am entitled to make one call. I would like to alert my lawyer to what is transpiring here,” said Vincenti.
Williams dialed the number and allowed Vincenti to talk to his lawyer. He then hung up and dragged Vincenti to the police car. All the evidence that had been found was also placed in the police car. Vincenti was then taken to the police station and booked. Williams reinforced the presence of the police at Vincenti’s house and asked that it be combed systematically for whatever they could find to serve as evidence. He also ordered them to systematically search the grounds and to dig up any area that showed signs that it had been dug up recently.
At the station, Vincenti threatened Williams that he was playing with fire. Williams booked him further for uttering threats to a police officer. The guns were sent to the forensic department where it was hoped that one of the variety of bullets would match up with the one that was found in the security guard’s body.
On arrival, Vincenti’s lawyer asked that his client be released immediately, since he posed no threat to anybody. The guns were legally acquired, and the money that was found was legitimately Vincenti’s. He preferred to keep cash with him since he had no confidence in the banking system. Vincenti was released pending further investigation. However, the money would be kept by the police in safe keeping. A receipt would be issued, and only after they were convinced that the money was not acquired illegally would it be returned to him. In the meantime, the charges that were already lodged against him would stand pending a court date when the judge would decide guilt or innocence.
The phone rang and Inspector Williams picked it up.
“Inspector Williams speaking.”
“Hello Sir. This is Constable Brian speaking. Just want to report that we dug up a Lugar in the suspect’s back yard. There was also a box of bullets which we will be bringing to you.”
“Good work Constable Brian. Please rush it up to me, but make sure that you do not handle the gun so that forensics could pick up finger prints,” said Williams.
“We have taken extra precautions not to handle it with our hands. We lifted it up with a stick and placed it in a bag gun, dirt and all,” said Constable Brian.
“Well done Brian. I guess your training was a good one,” said Williams.
“Thank you Sir.”
When the gun and bullets arrived, Inspector Williams took them personally to the forensic department. After a couple of hours a report was placed on his desk saying that the bullet from the Lugar matched the bullet found in the body of the deceased security guard. The finger prints that they were able to lift from the gun matched the finger prints of Antonio Matteo. It was evident that Antonio was the culprit who shot the security guard and therefore had something to do with setting Jed’s Auto Shop ablaze.
Inspector Williams promptly took two Police Constables and drove to the Hospital. He approached the bed on which Antonio was now sitting, and charged him with the murder of the security guard and read him his rights.
“Why did you do it?” asked Williams.
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” said Antonio.
“We have found the gun that you used badly hidden in Vincenti’s back yard,” said Williams.
“You have the wrong man,” said Antonio.
“Now you listen to me. We have enough evidence to make sure that you go to the chair. If you tell us the truth, we will try and ease the situation for you. Now perhaps you could tell us why you did it,” said Williams.
There was silence from Antonio who appeared to be in deep thought. Finally, knowing that he was already in deep trouble with the law, he spurted out,
“It was Vincenti who ordered us to go and burn down the Auto Shop,” said Antonio.
“You just said ‘us’. Where there others involved?”
Antonio paused to think.
“Was there somebody else with you?” Williams firmly insisted.
“Yes. It was my friend Wayne Givens. We were ordered to burn down the building by Vincenti. If we did not agree to do so, he threatened to kill us. We never intended to hurt anybody. We had no idea that a security guard was looking after the building. He shot at us first, so we shot back in self-defense,” said Antonio.
“Where will I find Wayne Givens?” Williams asked.
“He usually hangs around Sam’s bar in the evenings,” said Antonio.
“I am going to have this entire conversation typed out and I want you to sign it,” said Williams.
“What if I refuse to sign it?” asked Antonio.
Williams put his hand inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a tape recorder.
“I have it all here my friend, so you had better sign your statement,” insisted Williams.
Williams promptly left the hospital, but before he did, he ordered those on guard not to allow anybody into Antonio’s ward except the hospital staff who were also to be closely monitored.
Following Antonio’s directions, he ordered two squad cars to meet him at Sam’s bar. Wayne Givens was at the bar, and though it was early in the evening, he was already inebriated. He was placed under arrest without any resistance, cuffed and placed in the police cruiser. He made some futile attempts to enquire why he was being arrested, but he slurred so badly that the police made no sense of it.
At the police station he was locked up in a cell to dry out, and hopefully to get control of his senses.
The following morning, he was brought before two officers and made to sit so that he could be questioned. After much persuasion, he owned up that he was with Antonio, and that he helped him to set fire to the Auto Shop under orders by his boss Vincenti. He also corroborated Antonio’s story that it was Vincenti who ordered them to set fire to the establishment.
With two witnesses pointing a finger at Vincenti, the police were ordered to pick him up at his mansion and to bring him in. They searched all over for him, but there was no sign of him. There was some evidence that he may have taken flight, so an alert was issued to the entire city to keep an eye out for him. The United States border control was also alerted and so were the airports both International and Private. Now all that they had to do was to play the waiting game.
CHAPTER 29
Audrey and Jason were the last in the family to learn about the events that took place a couple of days earlier.
Audrey was particularly upset that she was not informed when it occurred. Monty explained to her that there would be very little that she or they could do to alter the situation. He assured her that things were now under control, but that the whole incident was troubling to say the least.
Monty explained to her that the Police were now involved in what they suspect was arson. There were some very bad people involved in this incident, and the quicker that they were brought to justice the better it would be for all concerned.
Sonya took the phone and continued conversing with Audrey. She enquired about her grandson and Jason. She told her that they were free to visit whenever they wanted to. She assured Audrey that the fire that brought down Jed’s workshop was quite disturbing but that the Police were now handling it and that she was not to worry.
Audrey also reported to her mother that she had received a mysterious letter from an unknown source. She did not know what to make of it. Jason told her that such letters were from cranks and the best place for it was in the dustbin. I did, however, keep the letter and thought that I would show it to Dad. Perhaps he could make something of it.
Monty was alerted to this, so he asked her whether she could read out the letter to him. Audrey reached out for the letter and read.
“You may not know this, but your family is at great risk. Your brother has incurred a great big debt that he refuses to pay. This is going to cause the family a lot of pain. I am therefore asking you to persuade your brother to pay up the debt or else something dreadful will happen to him. I am sure that you love your son very much. If the debt is not paid up in a month’s time, you will find your son missing.”
“The letter had no signature and was written by hand,” said Audrey sounding very concerned.
“I’m glad that you held on to the note,” said Monty. “Please keep it in a safe place. I will collect it from you this evening,” said Monty.
This extortion note was typical of the underworld, and Monty decided to hand it over to Inspector Williams as soon as possible.
The alert for Vincenti did not bring any reports of any sightings.
Inspector Williams brought Antonio and Warrell for further questioning. He questioned each of them in turns.
The first one to be questioned was Antonio.
“Where did your boss go to,” asked Williams.
“Sorry Sir. I don’t know,” said Antonio.
“You do realize that you are already in a whole lot of trouble. If you do know where he is, you had better tell me, or else you are going to be in bigger trouble,” threatened Williams.
“I am sorry Sir. My boss could be in a hundred different places. He has friends all over Canada, the United States and in Europe. He could be anywhere,” insisted Antonio.
“What places does he frequently visits in Canada?”
“I think he has a house in Toronto. He also has a lot of friends there,” said Antonio.
Williams then ordered the Constable who was with him to take Antonio back to his cell.
Worrell was then brought in for questioning. His story appeared to match Antonio’s. Williams immediately phoned the Chief of Police in Toronto and gave him all the details to enable him to find Vincenti. Williams was assured by the Chief that his men would be on the alert immediately. Vincenti was known to the Police in Toronto and his criminal activity was suspected for a long time. Yet they were not able to pin anything on him. He was an elusive character and most of his criminal activities were assigned to thugs who worked for him and were well compensated.
The Toronto Police Chief assigned a police officer to keep an eye on one of his properties where Vincenti was believed to reside. After three days of surveillance, a car drove up to the front of the house around eleven in the evening. A man walked out of the house in a hurry with his face covered. He entered the car, and it sped away. The police officer followed the car until it made a very sharp turn to the right. It was obvious that the car ahead knew that it was being followed. The Police Inspector turned on his alarm and the cruiser’s emergency lights, but the car sped ahead hoping to elude the police car. The police inspector got on the emergency phone, giving his location, and alerted headquarters that he was following a car that refused to stop. He called for backup and quickly gave his position. In two minutes time, two police cruisers parked their cars across the road ahead of the renegade car to obstruct its passage. The pursued car came to a sudden stop after spinning around to avoid hitting the cruisers. The police ordered the occupants to get out of their car and to place their hands behind their heads. Three individuals got out. The police officers, guns in hand approached with great caution. They then ordered them to lie on their stomachs, and place their hands behind their backs. They complied. After having all three occupants handcuffed, they were lifted to their feet, and taken to the cruisers where they were charged with reckless and dangerous driving. Their rights were also read to them. None of the arrested men uttered a word.
One of the men who was arrested appeared to be in his seventies. The pursuing officer was sure that he had captured Vincenti but could not be positive about his identity. He placed Vincenti by himself in one of the police cruisers and instructed the officer to cuff his feet too, before placing him in the back of the cruiser. The other two were also frisked and their weapons ceased.
It did not take the Inspector long to get the men accompanying Vincenti to identify who they were with.
Vincenti wanted to phone his lawyer. He refused to answer any questions, without this lawyer present.
A phone call was made to the Police Chief in Edmonton to report to him that they had his man. Inspector Williams thanked the Chief of Police in Toronto for the excellent job he and his men did. He also informed Toronto that he was sending two of his Police Officers to bring Vincenti back to Edmonton to face charges, and to stand trial for his involvement in the murder of the Security Officer.
CHAPTER 30
Monty handed Audrey’s note to Police Inspector Williams who promptly sent it to forensics to determine whether the author of the note was Vincenti. If this could be established, it would be another strike against him and a nail in his coffin.
Monty explained to Inspector Williams that his daughter was worried about the threat implicit in the note. Inspector Williams explained to Monty that Audrey would have to be very careful where she went. The underworld has now being challenged and though Vincenti is under arrest, it is just possible that his underground brotherhood has been informed. Our worry from now on is not Vincenti but his colleagues who may or may not pursue the restitution that Vincenti demanded from Jed.
As a rule, the brotherhood did not want to have anything to do with the Police. Once Vincenti was put away, chances are that the brotherhood would view it as a bad debt and write it off. Only time would tell.
In the meantime, however, the entire Kennedy family would have to exercise great caution. The underworld could be very unpredictable.
“Do you think that we should be armed,” asked Monty.
“I do not think that carrying a gun is going to make you any safer,” said Williams.
“My advice to you and the family is to avoid crowded places such as malls and shopping centers until this whole incident dies down. If you suspect that you are being targeted, report the matter to the Police pronto and let them handle it for you,” assured Williams.
“How about my son Jed? Can he rebuild? And what assurance do we have that his newly built outfit will not be burned down again?” asked Monty.
“There are no guarantees in life Mr. Kennedy. However, the Police are now handling this whole fiasco. Leave it in their hands and your son can go about his business building his outfit,” said Williams.
With these assurances, Monty contacted Jed and informed him about the conversation that he had with the Police Inspector. Jed assured his father that he was already in touch with his insurance company to persuade them to settle so that he could rebuild his auto outlet. He assured his father that he would have his building up and going in a couple of months. The owner of the building already had bulldozers at the site, and working in tandem with Ted’s plans and design, it was hoped that the building would be ready in a little over a month. Monty admired his son’s initiative and drive and hoped that all would go well with him.
Sonya, on the other hand, was not at all comfortable with all the intrigue that they had inherited. She even suggested to Monty that perhaps they should move to another Province. Monty was understanding of her concerns, but he had to remind her that they did not have the resources to move. Furthermore, moving to another Province would not take the worry out of their lives since they would continue to worry about the welfare of their children. Monty assured Sonya that before long all their problems and concerns would be behind them. He was not sure that Sonya was convinced about the advice that she was receiving.
CHAPTER 31
The Trial of Vincenti and his hired hands Antonio and Worell ended up with Vincenti being sentenced to prison for fifteen years without any possibility of parole, since he was the main perpetrator of the crime. Antonio and Worell were sentenced to ten years each for their participation in the crime itself. In addition to this, Vincenti was ordered to pay the Security Guard’s wife three hundred thousand dollars in punitive damages. The cash that was found in Vincenti’s house amounted to six hundred thousand dollars. This money was to be transferred to Jed as restitution to enable him to pay for the loss in his business. Furthermore, after Vincenti served his sentence, he would be on probation for five years.
Jed was pleased with the outcome of the court decision. As soon as he received his check from the court, he gratefully handed it over to his father and told him that the balance would be paid to him as soon as his business was in operation.
There were few hitches in Jed’s way in building his workshop. He was also very pleased with the outcome since the building was built to his specifications which allowed for much better room for each of the operations that went on in his workshop.
His clientele grew with each passing month and almost all the Staff that worked for him before the fire, returned to their jobs in Jed’s outfit. Monty had his own office where he could work on accounts but he never remained idle. As always, when he had little to do in the office, he was out in the workshop assisting other mechanics and also taking much interest in the method being used by the mechanics in diagnostics and the solutions applied. In a few months, he was able to advise newly trained mechanics, how to go about repairing cars and this was appreciated very much.
A year later, Jed paid his father all that he owed him. It was a day for celebration. The whole family was entertained at one of the exclusive restaurants. A lavish dinner was thrown by Monty and Sonya. Jed invited his girlfriend Brenda to the dinner and hinted to the rest of the family that before long they could be looking forward to a wedding. Brenda blushed when everybody present rushed towards her to give her a hug.
It would seem that things were looking up for the Kennedy family. Audrey and Jason appeared to be happy and their happiness was enhanced by their growing son Lorne who was the center of their lives. Monty and Sonya had become accustomed to city life and were less critical about it. They had also made a few friends and this made life interesting for them. Jed continued to work hard in order to save money to get married and start up a family. One would have thought that this would be a fitting end to the story. But this, unfortunately, was not to be the case.
A telephone call was made to Jason one afternoon that both his wife and son were abducted. He was warned that the only way he could have them back is if he came up with five hundred thousand dollars. This payment was to be made in cash. Further information would be conveyed to him shortly as to the drop off. The telephone went dead. Jason began to sweat and he found that he was visibly shaking. He phoned the house to determine whether Audrey and Carlos were there. The phone rang but nobody answered it. Jason promptly phoned Monty, but Sonya picked up the phone.
“Mrs. Kennedy…….Audrey and Lorne have been abducted,” said Jason in a loud voice.
“What did you say? Did I hear that Audrey and Carlos are abducted?” shouted Sonya.
“There has been a demand for five hundred thousand dollars for their release,” said Jason.
Sonya alerted Monty immediately.
“Hello Jason. I just heard the bad news. Have you informed the Police?” asked Monty.
“No. I haven’t. I was not sure what to do,” said Jason.
“Please call the Police right away. I am on my way to your house. Are you sure that this is not a prank? Perhaps Audrey and Carlos have gone out for a stroll on such a fine day,” said Monty.
“I think that is when it happened. Audrey did tell me that she would be taking Lorne to the park for a short while. Perhaps she was abducted when on her way to the park,” speculated Jason.
“I am on my way Jason. Make sure that you make that call to the Police. If possible, report the matter to Inspector Williams,” said Monty.
They both hung up. Monty rushed to his car, and drove across to meet Jason at his house. When he got there, a Police cruiser was already parked at the entrance to the house. Monty entered the house and introduced himself to Constable Douglas as Jason’s father-in-law.
By this time, the Constable had already recorded the details given to him by Jason. Monty explained to the Constable about the run-in that they had with Vincenti a little over a year ago, and wondered whether Vincenti’s criminal cartel had anything to do with the abduction. Constable Douglas explained to Monty that he would discuss the matter with Inspector Williams and if there was any need for him to contact Jason he would do so.
When Monty got home, a very worried and distraught man, he called Inspector Williams. Williams assured Monty that the entire Police force had been alerted to the abduction and that notices had been posted on the traffic signs of all the major roads around the city to be on the lookout for the abducted individuals. He assured Monty that neither his daughter nor his granddaughter would be touched since the abductors were waiting to be paid off. He assured Monty that the Police would do everything in its power to bring back the abductees. In the meantime, he requested that Jason and the other members of the family stay put in their houses.
Three days later there was no sign of any progress being made. Jason, however, received a telephone call, which was cautiously being taped by the Police. Jason was encouraged to try and keep the caller as long as he could on the line, to enable them to trace the call.
“Hello,” said the caller.
“Hello,” said Jason. “Please hold the line while I reduce the volume of the T.V.,” continued Jason;
Jason took six seconds to answer the phone again.
“Hello, Hello, Hello,” screamed the caller.
“Hello,” said Jason.
“Do you have the money for the pick-up,” asked the caller.
“I’m sorry, I cannot quite hear you. Is your battery low or something?” asked Jason trying to waste more time.
“Hello. Hello. Hello, “repeated the caller.
Finally, Jason said, “I can now hear you a little better. What can I do for you,” asked Jason.
“Do you have the cash for the pick-up?” asked the caller.
“How do I know that my wife and child are with you?” asked Jason.
“Here is your wife,” said the caller.
“Hello Honey, we are both well. Please pay the money or else they have threatened to kill us,” said Audrey her voice shaking.
The caller grabbed the telephone and blurted out.
“You got the message. If you want your family back, have the money with you tomorrow at 4 p.m. You will place the money in a bag, and leave it in the garbage drum just outside McDonald’s on Queen Street and Drummond Street. Is that clear?” and the line went dead.
No sooner had Jason put the phone down, the phone rang again. Jason was afraid to pick it up. After it rang for the third time, he reluctantly picked up the telephone.
“Well done Jason,” said a voice at the other end. “This is Constable Godfrey.”
“Glad you called Constable Godfrey. I was just about to report a telephone call that I just got from my wife and child’s abductors,” said Jason.
“No need to repeat it. We heard every word he said to you. You need kudos for keeping him long enough on the line for us to get a fix on where your wife might be,” said Constable Godfrey. “We have dispatched some heavily armed sharp shooters to the address. This is going to be a delicate operation so you must not answer any phone calls until we tell you that you could. Furthermore, this is to be our secret, so you are not to breathe a word to anybody…..not even to your parents or your in-laws.”
“What do we do about the money that I am to deliver tomorrow?”
“Please wait for my telephone call and do not budge from your house. I will dispatch an officer to keep an eye on you over night for added security,” said Godfrey.”
“Thank you Officer,” said Jason and hung up. Jason was more worried than ever. If a sharp-shooting detail was dispatched to rescue his family, it meant that there was going to be shooting. He hoped and prayed that his family would not be hurt while that was happening.
He conveyed his concern to the Officer who drove in to protect him. The Officer assured him that the safety of his family was the Police’s chief concern and that the Special Forces assigned to this task were so well trained that the outcome would be positive.
Jason knew that he now had to wait and pray.
CHAPTER 32
Jason counted the minutes as they ticked by. He developed a cold sweat and wondered whether Audrey and Lorne were alright. He imagined all kinds of cruel things that were happening to them, and this made him even more miserable.
Without Jason’s knowledge the Special Forces traveled in an unmarked car. They deliberately did not wear their uniforms. Their plan included an element of surprise. In their informal outfits they looked more like salesmen. Using their G.P.S. they had no difficulty approaching the targeted house. They stopped about fifty meters from the house. Two constables crossed the road. Their guns were well hidden from sight. They started walking towards the house. They observed no movement. The other two constables approached the house on this side of the road. When they were within twenty yards of the house, one Officer approached the main entrance and knocked. There was no response. The Officer knocked harder the second time. After a minute or so, the door opened very slightly. A voice came from inside.
“Get out of here, if you know what is good for you!”
Without any warning, the Officer banged open the door with such force that the man behind the door fell backwards to the ground The other three Officers dashed into the house. The man on the floor reached for his gun but before he could reach it, he was shot in the head. One Officer ran up the stairs and two shots could be heard. Two men were lying on the floor dead. One officer ran towards a bedroom that appeared to be latched from the outside. They dashed into the room shouting, “Police.”
They heard a slight moan, as from a child, from under the bed. The Officers looked at each other with smiles on their faces. One Officer fell on his stomach, set Audrey at ease and reached out his hand to help the duo out.
“This is the Police. Please come out of there. You are now in safe hands. You do not have to be afraid of anything. Please come out of there.”
Both Audrey and Lorne crawled out from under the bed still looking petrified. One of the Officers carried Lorne and the other Officer put his arm around Audrey who was shaking like a leaf in a storm. He assured her that all was well and that she was going home.
Jason was informed that his family had been rescued. He broke down and cried like a baby. When he gained his composure, he phoned Monty and Sonya with the good news. Monty and Sonya said that they were on their way to be with the family.
When Audrey and Lorne got home, Jason and Audrey ran into each other’s arms. Lorne could see the emotion being expressed and burst out into a shrill cry. Monty grabbed Lorne and walked away with him, giving him all the assurances that all was alright.
That Night, Monty invited Jason and Audrey to spend the night with them. Jason thought that it would be a good idea to do that since both Audrey and Lorne needed reassurances that what they went through was like a bad dream and should be treated as such.
The constable who was looking after Jason was informed about their plan, and he assured them that if there was any need for a further statement, the Police would know where to get in touch with them.
Jed was asked to come over to Monty and Sonya’s apartment that very evening. It was important to have the family together so that they could brainstorm about their future in Edmonton. Monty thought that perhaps residing in Edmonton was a danger to the entire Kennedy family. A move to another city would perhaps be the sane and right thing to do, since they were apparently being targeted by the underworld.
“I don’t think that our quality of life is any good, if we live under the constant threat that we will be targeted,” suggested Monty.
“I couldn’t agree more with you Dad, said Audrey. “I am still shaking at the thought of my recent experience. Furthermore, poor Lorne was also scared stiff as a result of the threats that we received from those criminals. I have no idea how it is going to affect Lorne as he gets older,” added Audrey.
“I’m really very sorry that something like this had happened to you Audrey. Thank God you are safe. There are, however, several things that we must consider. Running away to another Province is not the answer to our dilemma. These criminals are spread all over the country and work together like a corporation. Wherever you move in Canada, or even the United States for that matter, they will find us. Some people have even taken the trouble of changing their names, yet they were located and the punishment started all over again,” said Jed. “My advice is that we remain exactly where we are. The Police now has this organization in its sights, and these criminals will be very careful in trying to harass us anymore,” added Jed.
“Are you sure you are not saying this because you have a successful business here, and would therefore not like to start all over again in another Province? If that is the case, it would be mighty selfish of you,” said Jason with his tongue in his cheek.
“I don’t like your insinuation Jason and I even resent it. I am giving you my unbiased view on the subject. If my opinion is suspect, I would like to suggest that we pass this plan by Inspector Williams, and obtain an unbiased opinion from him,” said Jed staring hard at Jason.
Monty volunteered to call Inspector Williams to seek an appointment to consult him.
Inspector Williams explained to Monty that he was not a counsellor. However, he thought that Jed’s suggestion had its merits.
“There are no guarantees in life for anybody. However, the Underworld has already tried to extort money from you twice and failed to do so. In fact, they have also experienced the demise of several of their men. In addition, we also have one of their bosses in custody and we can always twist his arm in case something like your daughter’s recent experience ever occurs again,” said Inspector Williams.
Inspector Williams continued: ”You must also remember that once an incident such as an abduction takes place, the Police conduct follow-up investigation before the case is declared closed. During this investigation, information is obtained that often leads to further arrests. This narrows the chances of the victims ever being the targets again. “
“Thank you for your advice,” said Monty.
“Mr. Kennedy, my suggestion to you and your family is that you live normal lives. As with all our citizens it is our suggestion, that if you suspect something untoward happening, you should report it immediately to the Police,” stressed Inspector Williams.
With that assurance, Monty left the Police Station far more relieved than when he got there.
Jed married Brenda Garson and within ten months Brenda gave birth to a baby boy. Both Monty and Sonya were delighted with this addition to the family as were Audrey and Jason.
Six months later, Monty picked up the morning newspaper and stared horrified at the headlines in bold letters.
“JUAN SALAZAR: MAFIA CAPO SHOT DEAD.”
The entire family wondered whether it was the same Juan that they had come to love!!!!!
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