Chapter 23
Jake
S aturday morning my body is telling me I could use another three or four hours of sleep, but I drag myself out of bed when the alarm goes off because I need to get over to the library. The first art class I’m teaching is today.
When I pull up to the old brick building, I notice Mrs. Caulfield’s memorial garden is looking a little overgrown, so I take a minute to pluck a handful of weeds before heading inside. Mike’s wrapping up his recovery meeting as I come in.
“I’ll be out of your way in a second, let me just grab our signs,” he says.
“It’s cool, no rush. My class doesn’t start until ten. But hey, while we’re here, can I ask you something?”
Mike nods the go-ahead while he folds a wooden easel.
“When do you know it’s time to step in and get involved if someone is self-destructing?”
He stops messing with the signs and straightens up to look at me. “Everything okay?”
You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but it still shakes me up when he does that. I’m not used to other guys being all direct with me about feelings. We certainly never talked about stuff like this in my house.
“Yeah, I’m good. I mean, things could be better with my parents, but that’s not why I’m asking. Just trying to help a friend.”
Mike nods. I’m sure he knows exactly who I’m talking about, but I don’t know how much Danielle has told him about Alice’s dad.
“I really wish I could tell you, man. It’s different for everybody. Some people are in a place to be able to accept help, others aren’t there yet. All you can do is listen and point them in the right direction. They have to start taking the steps themselves. The folks who come to my meetings need the same thing. We can give them information and help them find resources. After that, it’s up to them.”
“Okay.” I take a breath. “What resources are those?”
“I have to warn you, there aren’t a lot. It’s been the one downside I’ve found to living in North Bay. Access to any kind of mental health services is really limited.” Mike shakes his head. “If your friend was in the military, maybe try calling the Department of Veterans' Services? They might be able to help. But fair warning, if you find somewhere, it will probably be a ways away.”
“That’s a good idea. Thanks.”
He nods and pats my shoulder with his free hand as he walks out with the easel tucked under one arm. There are still twenty minutes before my animation class begins, so as I set markers and paper on the tables, I make a call.
As our start time approaches, footsteps in the doorway cause me to turn from the whiteboard where I’ve been sketching a welcome cartoon. I turn, expecting to see my first student, but instead, Alice is walking toward me.
“What are you doing here, Ace? I thought you needed to be back at the hospital this morning. How’s your dad?”
“I got to talk to him earlier. He’s doing much better, but they’re running more tests, so I can’t see him until the afternoon. I’m headed there next, but I needed to see this. You’re an art teacher now! That’s kind of a big deal.”
I scoff. “I’m volunteering at a library. Not exactly the same thing. I’m still the same dropout I was last week.”
“Don’t do that. This is great, Jake. Can I help? I can pass out papers or whatever. As a thank you for yesterday.”
“You can stay if you want, but you don’t owe me anything. I meant it when I said I’m glad I was there.”
She slides into a chair in the back of the room and watches as the teenagers start to file in. It’s actually a lot of fun to see how engaged they are while I show them how to draw a few of their favorite cartoon characters. Then I teach them how they can create different expressions by changing the shape of the eyebrows. I begin handing out dry-erase markers and laminated sheets of eyebrowless faces, and Alice stands to help, smiling as she takes the supplies from me.
“Is this your girlfriend?” The girl with braids asks. Next time, I need to bring nametags.
“This is Ms. Alice,” I announce to the class, not taking my eyes off her. “She came to help today.”
“I don’t need help with that expression,” the boy in the red shirt pipes up, pointing at me. “That’s for sure the ‘wants to bone her’ face.”
I turn to tell him that’s completely inappropriate, but one of the girls is already scolding, “Don’t talk to the teacher like that, Mason. He’s cool.” Another kid tosses a crumpled piece of paper at his head. “Besides, they’re adorable together,” the girl continues. “I totally ship this.” She motions between me and Alice.
"That's enough, back to work.” Alice smiles at them, and I think I see her give the girl a wink.
When our hour is up, Alice stays behind and giggles to herself as she helps me clean up. It doesn’t take us long to toss the markers and leftover paper into a box.
“What?” I ask when she laughs again.
“Oh, nothing. I just didn’t realize you’d be quite so popular. They really like you. Did you see the note they were passing around?”
“No. What did it say?”
“Well, one kid did call your shoes dumb. But otherwise, it was just a standard drool fest.”
I briefly glance down at my shoes and shrug, then I smile at her. “Hazard of the job. People can’t help falling in love with me.”
“You wish. It’s a pretty face, I’ll give you that. Too bad it’s hiding a complete lack of personality.” She pushes me playfully.
“All I heard was you think I’m pretty.” I laugh and hesitate before changing the subject. “So, I was talking to Mike a little bit before you got here. He pointed me in the direction of some services for veterans, and I made some calls.” I pause to gauge her reaction, but it’s unreadable. “I got a number for a therapist that accepts military insurance, if that’s what your dad has. I’m not sure how all that works.” I pull a torn scrap of paper from my pocket and hand her the information I jotted down. “I just wanted to help. If he decides to make an appointment, I can drive him. You don’t have to do this alone, Alice.”
Her hand comes up to cover her mouth. “Jake,” she whispers my name through her fingers while she looks down at the note. Then she reaches out to touch my forearm. “This might literally be the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”
“It’s really not a big deal.”
It was one phone call, and it probably only took five minutes. I was nervous to bring it up, but her soft, shining eyes tell me this was the right thing to do. She has no idea the lengths I’d go to in order to keep her looking at me that way.