Tina and the other children enjoyed their visit to the library, as they didn’t get to go to the library often before they had moved onto the cruise ship. With their parents struggling to keep their heads above water and many of them not having transportation, the library was not a priority. The children were delighted to get their own library cards and then get to check out up to 5 books each. The books were carefully put in the children’s rooms and then it was time to swim! You have never seen such a happy bunch of kids, splashing and laughing! Their teacher had almost as much fun as the children and didn’t realize she had kept them an hour and a half overtime until the moms came to get them! “Bye, see you tomorrow, let’s do this every day!” were the comments the kids made as they left for the night.

  Tina laid down and read till she dropped off to sleep. Her mom gave her a kiss, took her glasses off gently, placing them on the side table and placed Tina’s book beside them. Watching her adorable little girl lying peacefully, asleep, filled her heart to overflowing with happiness! Just knowing she didn’t have to look for a place to sleep every night that was safe for her little daughter and herself was a huge relief. Doris, Tina’s mom, wondered if this could possibly continue or if it was just for a time.

  Danny found Sarah at the old grocery store parking lot after asking a few people who was in charge. He walked up to her and introduced himself. “Do you have any services for the mentally disabled? I have met a young lady who is not in good shape and it seems her best friend is a mouse named Stretch. She is not motivated to go to the cruise ship and is preventing her caretaker from going as well. Is there some way you can help her or direct me to someone who can?”

  Sarah looked at Danny and said, “You have come to the right place! She simply needs to go to one of the vans going to the clinic. They take care of the drug addicts and the mentally disabled there. Do you think you can get her to a van?”

  Danny said, “I honestly don’t know. I want to thank you for the information, though. How are you doing with this incredible responsibility, here?”

  Sarah said, “Pretty good, actually. It is a new challenge every day and the key is simply to be ready for whatever comes your way!” She smiled and wished him well.

  Trish was working on her fingernails, painting them a bright neon pink, while Carol was heating up chicken fingers in the air fryer. She was also making ranch dressing for dipping. Trish said, “I can already see a difference in the number of homeless people on the streets. It seems like this new solution for the homeless just might work.”

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Carol said, “Guess what? This morning, on the way to the university, I saw a van stopped beside the homeless man with the track marks, you know the man who never makes it into his tent, but hangs out onto the sidewalk?”

  “Yeah, I know who you mean,” Trish said. “What about it?”

  Carol said, “As I passed by, they opened the van door to put him in and it looked like druggies were laying down, stacked two people high! They must have all been wasted because no one was really moving or complaining. My dad said all of the drug addicts don’t have long for this world.”

  “Of course not,” Trish responded. “Those drugs will kill them pretty quick!”

  “I don’t think that’s what he meant!” Carol answered.

  Tim asked Wall Street Jim what he was writing in his notebook. Jim seemed not to hear and continued writing. Harold said, “Hey Jim! What’s up?” and he slapped him on the back.

  Jim looked up and said, “Ow! What was that for?”

  Harold said, “Just trying to get your attention. What are you writing? You have been working on that for at least an hour.”

  Jim said, “I remember things and I think it is time. They want to get rid of us. Where can we go? There’s nowhere to go! There’s nowhere to go! They come for this city and then the next one and the next one!” Jim started crying. “ The drugs didn’t erase it. “

  Tim said, “Calm down, Jim. Who is ‘they’? What are you talking about? Jim, let's get you a hit of weed to calm you down and then you can go to sleep, OK?”

  “No, no, no! I tried it and it didn’t work. We’ve gotta plan! Help me!” and Jim started crying again.

  Tim and Harold eventually got Jim calmed down. They smoked some weed and then took some meth, but Jim oddly enough declined both. Tim and Harold got drowsy and laid down. Jim nervously looked out the tent and saw a van at the far end of the street. It moved slowly and stopped. He watched as the men got out of the front and went around to the side door. They opened it up and went to a nearby tent, retrieving a sleeping man, obviously zonked out on drugs and carried him to the van, placing him on top of another person, asleep in the van. Then they both got back in and moved slowly down the street to the next tent, repeating the process over again. The van was getting closer and Jim couldn’t take it anymore. He grabbed the few possessions he owned and headed out in the opposite direction from the van with a worried look on his face.