Their Double Blessing

Chapter 8

It was nearly three months since George had left for his trip. Which got extended when issues with a factory made him have to stay longer. They kept in touch via both phone and online chats. He preferred texting over calling but relented since Patricia was terrible at reading them, not able to translate his shorthand text speak. Both were excited for what was going to happen upon his return. Time away was becoming less of a burden. They couldn’t wait to have a reunion dinner and plan out the next course of action.

Patricia focused more than ever on her activism. Helping others was a calling she always answered. Knowing one day she might not be around as much. Deciding that moving away didn’t mean an end to helping her community. George had come in as an outsider to help. If that was possible then she had nothing to worry about. Helping from a distance would be different but that was better than just disappearing one day. Knowing this helped ease her fears of taking the next step with George. He wanted to help others like she did.

The mall was already reopened and looking better than ever. The renovations really emphasized what made the place special. A beautiful atmosphere to shop and hang out safely. There was added security for a year from a private company. Everyone had been put through special drills in case of a terrorist attack. All mall security took short courses in new tactics to help better protect themselves and others. It was all great additions to what was already in place. George had come through in making their community better without bragging. A few complained about the extra work but it was all for the best at the end of the day.

She was happy to be with someone who was helping to make things better for those around her. People spoke well of George. That he was one of the ‘good ones’. Not the typical rich bigwig who didn’t care about the common man. It was nice to have those with means use it to help those with less. Poverty shouldn’t be the only reason to offer a helping hand. Taking care of the working and lower middle class helped lessen the chances of more becoming poor. It was hard to stay afloat alone, any help was welcome to stay out of the red zone.

Work was a great distraction in not thinking about George still being abroad. She got to remember him in the ways that reminded her this trip was worth it. Seeing all the good his money had done brought the truth home. He needed to stay rich in order to help others like this. The mall was able to add a few stores and more people were getting employed: All because a white man in a limo decided that their community deserves a little sprucing up. She felt ashamed about her initial skepticism, but understood that was a way of survival.

“Patricia, I need you to keep an eye on the young man in the red beanie and green jacket by the new pizza joint. He looks to be up to no good but I’m stuck watching his friend in a babydoll dress and large bag by the baby store,” a fellow security spoke over the walkie talkie. She sighed, every few months they had a pregnant couple looking to rob the place. It was sad to see young people turning to crime because they were out of options. Perhaps their parents had kicked them out or they felt they didn’t have enough for the baby. Either way it was a blatant failure of society why they felt this was their best option in solving things.

“I’m on it, be kind to the girl. Unless she’s armed proceed with caution. We don’t need news about a pregnant girl miscarrying in the mall because we were too rough,” she responded. The male security on the other side was a take no nonsense kind of guy. So was she but he had a particular intolerance for the plight of young people. Seeing them all as lazy and stupid.

Patricia walked over to the pizza joint but stayed in the crowd. She’d eaten there twice and the food was amazing. It cost more than the other fast food places but that meant those who had more money had a place to shop locally. If they were going to invade their community the least they could do was spend all that extra cash in-house. Most of the customers were white with the air of being too good for a regular mall. But as long as they spent cash and then were on their way it was tolerable having them around for a while.

Patricia caught sight of the young man she was supposed to monitor. Her heart fell when she recognized him. Timothy Cornwell, a high school dropout who was weeks away from getting his GED. Why he got himself caught up in such a situation was beyond reason. This boy was on his way up, with a scholarship lined up from his sponsor to a black college once he graduated. It drove her crazy how teens found a way to mess up a good thing. All adults could do was point them on the right path and be there. No one could make their choices for them.

Then she noticed out of the corner of her eye a troubling sight. One of the temporary high security men that George hired was heading for the teen. She’d seen enough news reports to know when people were looking to start something. This neighborhood wasn’t infested by gangs and crime but outsiders liked to assume and multiple black teens got in the crosshairs as a result. If she didn’t get Timothy away from here he might be a statistic. Taking a shortcut she dragged the teen out of sight moments before the man made a fateful turn.

“I didn’t do anything.” Timothy immediately started struggling. Typical behavior for those caught in a crime. Denial while trying to away. The innocent usually tried to cooperate, limiting their words to a respectful greeting and asking if there were any issues.

“Other than almost getting yourself killed. Stop struggling it’s me, Miss P.”

Timothy looked up with wide eyes. “What’s going on? I was just walking. Why are people bugging?” He looked like any boy who was told at a young age to watch out for anyone in authority. Always fearful of being picked up or profiled.

“Walking to rob the new pizza place? I can’t believe that you would be so dumb. In the middle of high traffic? All the security are watching like hawks and that new team was almost on you like mosquitos,” Patricia explained to him with a hard glare.

“Miss P, I wasn’t going to rob anywhere. I just wanted to get an application to work part-time at one of the stores. Ramona said the pizza joint was hiring and she was going to check up on some baby clothes upstairs,” Timothy looked ready to cry. “I’m not a criminal, I swear.”

“Okay, just stay next to me so you’re not picked up.” Patricia took him out front. She soon got an update on her walkie. Turned out Ramona was trying to swipe baby clothes and got caught. Timothy wanted to go back but she ordered him to head home and wait for an update. His girlfriend got herself in trouble but he didn’t need to do down with her. At the end of the day everyone had choices. Timothy chose to stay on the straight and narrow. This Ramona chose to become a thief while pregnant. The owners of that store didn’t tolerate theft. No matter the excuse they were going to press charges on the foolish girl.

Patricia went back to her post. Soon she saw a young lady with a small belly being led out front. What surprised her most was this girl was a white blonde girl in a school uniform. Looked like she could afford the baby clothes. Perhaps the wanted to be independent or had no sense. Either way it looked like Timothy was going to be more trouble than she thought.

A sudden pain her side had Patricia head towards the nearest bench. It had been years since she had cramps this bad. Her periods came at random and only a few times a year. Perhaps this was one of the bad ones. But when another wave of pain came that was worse she knew that something was horribly wrong.

Using all the strength she could muster she called a fellow security to come check up on her. Then requested another to call an ambulance. If she died trying to save a stupid boy’s life she was going to haunt that kid for the rest of eternity.