Blessed by the Moon Goddess

Chapter 18

Janelle

Once I’m finished sorting through the paperwork, I carefully go over each file I put in the file cabinet with Abel. I don’t want to leave here and then have him not know how to locate something if needed. Once I’m finished, I leave him to shred the remainder of the paperwork and his bags of shredded garbage. I knock on Serge’s door ready for him to ask me to help sort through his paperwork. “Oh, you’re finished already?”

“He’s got a lot of shredding and reading to do, but I am finished. Yes.” I reply.

“Okay, come with me,” Serge instructs as he picks up an armful of files and walks out of his office. I follow not sure I want to know where we’re going. In the parking lot, we get into a car. He hands me the files he carried out. “Just take a quick look through these as I drive. I fear what we’re about to find.”

“What is it?” I ask opening the first folder.

“I have just discovered that we have a pack orphanage here, and if I read those files and requests correctly, Vinny did nothing to help,” Serge explains as he drives.

“I only see one out of 20 requests stamped as finished. What does that even mean?” I ask as I look. “The roof is leaking, the boiler is no longer turning on for heat? None of these appear to have been addressed by Vinny. The one thing that’s stamped as finished is a request for clothing.”

“I came to the same conclusion which is why I want to come see for myself.”

“But why bring me?”

“You’re trained in a little of everything. From the looks of those files, these children need someone of your skill to help. I want you to meet the director, and hopefully, she’ll allow you to help get things in order. You will work as her assistant, but also the direct liaison between the packhouse and the orphanage to ensure this pile doesn’t happen ever again. Does that sound like a job you’d be interested in?”

“It sounds perfect, but if you don’t mind me asking. Why send me to help her, and not use me to help you?”

“Because if I need to, I can borrow you and send Helga to help this director. What’s the name of the files? I don’t want to go there and look like a fool not knowing her name.”

I skim the request form. “It looks like Agatha.”

“Good, thank you.”

We pull up to a house that looks like it’s ready to collapse with a breeze. “Um.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Serge sighed.

“How many floors do you think are there?”

“Three from what I’m counting. Why?”

I pull out my phone and dial Abel. “Miss me already?”

“I need you to go to the file cabinet and pull out the file for vacant business buildings,” I instruct. “Can you find me one that is three stories or more tall, with bathrooms, and a kitchen?”

“I have two with a kitchen,” Abel replies. “One is three floors, bathrooms on the second floor. The other is five floors with a kitchen in the basement and bathrooms on all floors. Looks like it was an office building, and the company closed down or moved locations.”

“Can you send your dad the address to the second building? Also, we need moving trucks and at least two school buses for transportation. At least I hope two is enough.” I comment. Serge looks at me questioningly. “Your dad will send you the address where we are. Thanks, Abel.”

“Happy to be of service.”

“Take that listing out of the file and put it on your desk. That way you know it’s no longer a vacant listing.”

“Got it. Are we filing it somewhere else?”

“In a new folder, labeled orphanage. I’ll have more information later. Also, can you contact someone to get the blueprints for me and bring them home tonight?”

“I will add it to my to-do list, babe,” Abel replies.

“Thanks. I’ll see you tonight.”

“Bye, babe.” I hang up before he can profess his love to me. “I don’t like the looks of this building, and knowing it’s starting to get cold at night and they have no heat. We need to move them asap.”

“Sounded like you found something in a matter of minutes.”

“An old office building. Five floors, bathrooms on each floor, and a kitchen in the basement. Sounded perfect. At least it’s a stable building. I vaguely remember seeing the picture on the listing. If it’s the one I’m thinking of, it was listed about six months ago.” I admit. “Shall we go meet the director and become her heroes?”

“I underestimated you, Janelle,” Serge replied. “Maybe I’ll take you up on your offer of helping me in the office. But next week, let’s get them taken care of first.”

“Okay.”

I follow Serge over to the gate where an older lady with greying hair is standing watching a rather large group of kids run around in a dilapidated yard. “Can I help you?”

“Hello, I am Alpha Serge.”

“That’s right, I heard Vinny died. What can I do for you?” She snapped. Her grey eyes look like steal daggers. I get the sense she didn’t care for Vinny. I already like her.

“Are you Agatha?” Serge tried again.

“I am, what’s it to you?”

“Ma’am, I was going through the old files left by my predecessor, and I came across a rather alarming amount of unfulfilled request forms by you. I’m here to make amends. This here is Janelle, she’s… She’s here to help you. She has an abundance of knowledge and skills.” Serge explained. I’ve never seen Serge anxious, but this woman has him unnerved. I like her even more.

“You look like Vinny. Why would she want to help me?” The woman asked.

“Well, you see. Umm…” Serge is struggling to find the right words.

“First of all, I’m an orphan myself,” I interjected.

“I have no more room for orphans,” Agatha stated.

“I see. I also see that this place is beyond repair and that your last request to Alpha Vinny was for a roof repair and a new boiler. Which all went unanswered, along with many other requests. We’re going to start helping you by moving everyone and everything into a larger more structurally sound building today. I have movers and buses on their way. It has heat, and lots of space and bathrooms, plus a kitchen in the basement. We will take everything, and then tomorrow I will help you by creating lists of everything, and I mean everything that you and these children need from clothing to furniture and toys. Within a month, all these ignored requests will be fulfilled, and I will be there to help you in any other way you need. Plus, we will have our new Luna volunteering and helping with the children. As a mother of 9 herself, she can handle a large group.” I explain.

“You are going to do all that?” Agatha asked.

“Yes, and she will be reporting to me or Beta Abel anything you may need or require assistance with,” Serge replied. “There will be a few times in the future that I may need Janelle at the packhouse, but on those occasions, I will be sure to send you Luna Helga to assist.”

“I like you already, Alpha,” Agatha concluded. “Children, listen up! This is Miss Janelle, and our new Alpha, Alpha Serge. They have just given us all a big gift. We are moving today. Don’t worry, all our things are coming with us. What I want you all to do right now is go inside, get your pillows, and put your special things in your pillowcases to bring with us. We have a ride coming to bring us to our new home shortly, so be quick.” The children all cheer and disappear around back. “I have 35 children in my care all under the age of 15. 6 are infants. It’s been rough, rougher than it needs to be.”

“I’ll send Helga with you tomorrow to assist,” Serge replies.

“We need everything,” Agatha stresses.

“Serge, please bring the files home. I’ll look at them tonight before I go to bed,” I request. Serge nods as the school buses arrive. We should make the transportation quick, as I’m sure it’s close to school release.”

Serge looks at his watch and nods in agreement. “I will remain here to instruct the movers, then meet you over there.”

“Sounds good. Agatha, you take half the kids on one bus, I will travel with the other half. If you have 35 children, one of us will have 17 children and the other will have 18 children. Infants can sit on the laps of the oldest to make room. Two to a seat unless an infant is there, then three to the seat.” I instruct as Agatha gathers the children into the yard. She splits them as I instructed then opens the gate.

“Right side, go with Miss Janelle, left side follow me. We are all going to the same place. Remember your walking partner is your seat partner until I tell you to break.” Agatha commands the children as they exit the yard.

We get all the kids situated on the buses, do a double headcount, and nod to each other through the window. I tell my driver we are good to go, and we are off. The kids seem nervous and excited all at once. “I know this new place will not look like much, but I promise we’ll have it looking like a home in a couple of weeks.” I tell the kids. “I’m sorry the former Alpha forgot about you, but I won’t let them forget about you ever again.” None of the children spoke, mainly they looked out the windows or just sat quietly as we traveled through the pack to the building I chose. I hope it’s the one I think it is, I probably should have asked Abel to send me pictures to ensure it’s what I’m thinking about. My phone begins to ring, and I pull it out of my purse. “Hello?”

“Dad said the furniture looks unsafe and told me to order them new beds. How many kids are there?” Abel asks.

“35, but 6 are babies. Plus, the director needs a bed. I can only imagine how everything looks.” I reply. “Abel, it was bad. They need everything.”

“I will order 40 beds, plus 10 cribs, and a full-size bed for the director.”

“Why so much?”

“Better to have more than they need than not enough when the need arises.”

“In that case, can you look through those files and see if you have any contacts for contractors or building laborers? The more of those we have, the faster we can transform that office building into a home for these kids.”

“I will have a list for you when you get home.”

“Thank you.” I hang up the phone as we pull into the parking lot of the building. All the kids on the bus gasped in surprise when they saw the building. It certainly is not a house, but there will be more than enough space for them to live comfortably. I step off the bus and meet Agatha in the parking lot. “I say we bring them all in, enlist the older ones to help move anything that is not safe, and allow them to relax until the movers arrive with the stuff,” I suggest, as Agatha takes the outside of the building in.

“There’s no yard.”

“I will make sure there is a yard for them by the weekend.”

“You’re moving them further out of the pack to forget about them. I’ve been running this orphanage since I turned 18 and my predecessor died. I know the patterns.”

“I’m not supposed to be alive,” I reply. “I am only alive because Alpha Serge risked his own life to save me against orders. He chose to send me here, to ensure you are never forgotten about again.”

“How long before his son takes office?”

“I’m not sure, but when that happens, he will pay even more attention to the orphanage. He’s the one who found this building, he’s currently ordering all new furniture, and finding contractors to come to renovate and remodel this building to anything you need. I give you my word, Agatha, you will no longer be ignored.” I assure her. “I will not allow you to be ignored.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” Agatha says. “Let’s get the kids.”

She calls all the kids off the buses and has them line up in two lines to follow her into the building. Once in the building they are instructed to line up along the walls while we, with the help of the oldest kids, move tables out of the way. “When the movers arrive, we’ll have them bring these tables to the basement for the meals,” I suggest.

“Could I perhaps view the whole building while we wait for the movers and Alpha Serge to arrive?” Agatha asks.

“Can the older ones watch the children?”

“Yes.”

“We’ll start in the kitchen, then make our way upstairs. As we go, please let me know what you need in terms of rooms and living arrangements. I have a yard for them to play already on the list as a top priority.” I reply. She leaves three kids in charge and one to be in charge of finding us when the movers arrive or if there is a problem. We see the kitchen with a stove and a sink and several counters. “This looks like a restaurant kitchen.”

“I feed an army of 35, this is what we’ve been needing.” Agatha sighs. She spots the walk in fridge and freezer standing side by side on the far wall and opens both. “I’ll never fill these. Never mind the shelves. The budget for food just isn’t there.” I added a note for me to check the budget the pack awards her each month to my list. “Are they bringing everything? Nothing will be left behind?”

“Everything will come, and we’ll sort through it as the days move on.” I assure her.

“Good, then we will have dinner before bed tonight. We will need at least 3 of those tables upstairs brought down here to add to the ones already here. We will also need chairs for everyone down here.” Agatha commented as she figured out what this dining area will look like. “I’m ready to see the rest of the building.”

“Let’s go. There’s even an elevator to make moving things easier.”

“I’ll have to put strict rules on who can use the elevator.”

“This is your building, run it how you see fit. I’m only going to be here to help you where you need help the most. Luna Helga will come and help watch the children to give you a slight break on occasion. I can do paperwork, phone calls, orders, whatever you need for office work, as well as help out with the children as needed.”

“Thank you. Could we perhaps get more volunteers around here? I try to teach the children as much as I can, but my knowledge is limited compared to the education every child in the schools gets.”

“They don’t attend school?”

“Alpha Vinny did not allow it. Once they turn fifteen the girls are sent to work in households as hired help. At 18, the boys enlist to boot camp, and the girls are forced to leave if they haven’t already by that point.”

“That’s terrible.”

“It’s for the best. The other non-orphaned kids used to walk by while the children were outside and mock them while yelling how no one wanted them and other awful things. I wrote several letters to the packhouse and the school asking them to address the needless insults, but nothing was finally done about it.” Agatha sighed.

We inspected each floor one by one, and I began to see all the potential in the place. “What main rooms would you need?” I ask. She gives me a list of the rooms she needs, specifically separate rooms for the girls and boys more so for the older ones, but still an understandable idea. These floors are so large, that I have an idea for each item on her list. We make our way back to the main floor just as I see three moving trucks enter the parking lot behind Serge’s car. “Looks like your belongings have arrived.”

“Yay. I can get the kids to help bring things in.” She replied.

“No, no. We hired movers for a reason. I do want them to put everything except the kitchen items here on the main floor. Just for this week until we get everything upstairs organized and remodeled into the space you need.”

“That sounds like a plan. What should I do with the children? I can’t have them underfoot, and I don’t want them running a muck upstairs.”

“We can bring them outside and create a few games to entertain them while everything is brought in.” I suggest. “I know some games.”

“Great, then you will be in charge of the rules. I will gather the children.” Agatha replied. She seems so tired, and I don’t blame her. Running this orphanage with no outside help for who knows how long is ridiculous.

Serge enters the building and comes straight to me. “Tell me where to put everything and I will direct the movers. We will need the children out of the way.”

“All the beds will go over there where we made room. All the kitchen things will go downstairs to be unpacked and sorted. Everything else, in these two offices until I can sort through everything.” I reply.

“Got it. Also, would you mind staying here a bit longer? I have a food delivery coming. Janelle, there were only scraps of food in the kitchen.”

“She mentioned having a small budget from the packhouse for supplies,” I comment. Serge looks so angry about how mistreated these children were. “Alpha, you made the right call. Us coming out today, is going to make a big difference for these children.”

“Thank you, I needed to hear that.” He patted my shoulder. “About these kids for now?”

“We’re taking them outside until you are finished. I will remain here until the food is delivered. I can call Abel for a ride home.”

“Great, I’ll let you get to it.”