I’m Pink Lady Apple Yeggs and my friend, and brother-in-law, Deviled Yeggs suggested that I record each project that I set up in the hopes of reforming the people who continue to work for Lily the Pink Enterprises.  If for no other reason, it would show how God is at work.

When Thomas ver Waarloosd came to me a few weeks ago, I had no idea what he was doing, but I put him in touch with a company with a lot of trucks.  All he would say was, “The mayor is skeptical, but he stands behind me.  I may need a few more favors though.”

Okay, when you go to your CEO and that is all that you say, you might not have a job.  Before they do anything, they will want to have a detailed idea of what is going on.

But then, a few days ago, Thomas was back in my office.

Thomas smiled, “Mommie Pinkie, I cannot believe that I have gotten approval from everyone on this thing.”

I smiled, “You have been secretive for weeks.  What is ‘this thing.’”

“The Memorial Day Parade,” Thomas said, beaming.  I gestured that a few more words would be necessary.  He smiled. “I am entering a float for Feeding the Homeless At Tracy (FHAT).”  We are going to have a flatbed truck carrying as many ice-cold water bottles as we can have donated.  We have cases upon cases thus far.  We got special permission to have a small refrigerator truck follow the float with more cases of water.  The float and the truck will have banners that say that a lot of the homeless in Tracy are veterans, veterans that have lost friends in combat – the reason for this holiday.  In the middle of the float will be a group of veterans that will take a few pieces of plywood and framing.  I talked to some homeless guys, and they say with the right preparation, materials, and tools, they can build a TO structure while riding the parade route.  TO is ‘Theater of Operations.’  TO doesn’t meet building codes in civilian life, but it is a quick way to build buildings that are not meant to be there for a long time, military expedient.  Then, there will be other homeless people passing out water bottles to everyone along the route.  We have printed labels that talk about FHAT, how people are being fed, how people are learning about Jesus, and how they, the homeless, are being treated like people.  They are seen.  And the building that is being built along the parade route is proof that we can be productive members of the community.”

I looked at him questioningly.  “This was a major undertaking.  You have only had a few weeks.  Why didn’t you ask for help?”

Thomas shrugged, “You gave me a contact for the truck.  I told the trucking company that I worked at the bakery, and we needed a truck for the parade.  Then, I worked the catering for Jazz’s baby shower.  Honeycrisp asked me what I was up to, so I told her about the truck and she got on the phone immediately and she wanted his better truck.  There would be no breakdowns during the parade.  And she donated the refrigerator truck.  Virginia Apple, the one you called Molly, donated some people she knew who could do the decorating, I think mostly her grandchildren.  Then Amy G. Dala doubled down on the water bottle donations. …”

I interrupted, “Wait!  Thomas, you said ‘we’ but you never said who the ‘we’ was?”

Thomas turned red, “I said it honestly with the trucker.  Then I made sure the Orchard knew it was FHAT.  But your name got me through a lot of doors in a very short time.  Yes, you have already helped.  We have enough water.  We have the building materials and the tools for the building they are erecting.  We had a demonstration at the last FHAT dinner.  A floor, four walls, a roof, and lights inside.  Two panels have windows, a third has a door.”

I looked into his eyes, “Not telling the truth is a serious offense in the valley of the windmills.  Are you sure you did not use my name to get what you wanted?”

Thomas let out a deep breath, “Okay.  I went to a few people that I knew, people that were good customers, like Ms. Dala or is it Mrs. Newton?”

I smiled, “Either apply.  One is for business.  The other is for home.  Sometimes, I have to ask her which name I should use to introduce her.  So, Amy thought I was behind this?”

Thomas nodded, “I think she figured it out.  It wasn’t until I talked to Honeycrisp.  She stopped me.  She asked, ‘Who are we?’  That’s the first time that I realized it could be interpreted a different way, honest!”

I huffed, “I don’t know if I have an innocent young man in front of me or a con artist.”

Thomas turned even redder, “Honest, Mommie Pinkie!  I was doing this to promote the charity that Dev Yeggs started.  I would never do anything that would get one of his detectives upset with me.”

I laughed, “No, Thomas, I doubt if you had any ill intentions.  But I will be praying for you and this endeavor.  How are the homeless taking this idea?”

Thomas shrugged, “Most of them are not part of it.  But those that have volunteered are excited.  They are tired of people averting their eyes.  They want to be seen, and they want to contribute to the community.  A couple of them have talked about how just a little bit of land and a lot of tiny houses could make a community.  I think some of them have heard that people are trying that in other places.”

I shook my head.  “A year ago, Thomas, you arrived with Catherine and three children.  You had nothing because someone had stolen all the money out of your college fund.  The only life that you had known was a horse and wagon life in a valley known for its windmills, otherwise, no other power.  But here you are taking on a project that requires a great deal of coordination.  I am so proud of you.”

Thomas shrugged, “Mommie Pinkie, you stop everything when any of us has a problem.  You are the great fixer at Lily the Pink, but if I am to be the legitimate head of FHAT, then I must be a fixer too.  I am sorry if you feel bad that I did not tell you everything up front.  Until I had the permit to have a float, I did not need to go further.  Until I had agreement with at least some people from the homeless community, having a permit was worthless.  Then, you helped point me in the right direction with a trucking company.  And by the time that the ice chests and cases upon cases of water bottles came in, it became a project in full swing.  I’ve been too busy to let you know until now.  But I have one request, do you think you and Aunt Gwen can come up with new clothing for the homeless volunteers, and maybe a bus to gather them, take them to the YMCA where I have arranged for showers.”

Tears came to my eyes.  This man, just 20-years-old, had grown up so much in this past year.  “Gwen will need an idea on sizes.  Are you meeting with these people beforehand?”

Thomas smiled and nodded, “Tomorrow morning.  We are going to work out a plan with the truck driver.  The parade route is long enough that some people may become exhausted.  We are going to have a signal between the reserves on the float to hop off and swap stations with those handing out the water.  But to do that, the truck needs to stop.  But I thank you for your help in advance.  We are trying to show the community that these homeless people are real people who for slightly different circumstances might be your next door neighbor.  We want them to look the part.”

“But will you have veterans and non-veterans?” I asked.

Thomas nodded, “We thought of that.  We ordered a baseball cap for each veteran.  It will have their branch of the service and the war in which they were involved.”

I started to wonder if I should retire.  Thomas was a full-time baker.  He was a full-time college student.  He was a full-time father of there stairstep children.  And he was learning how to run a charity that fed 1500 meals each month.  And he dreamed up this means of promoting the charity on his own and followed through with each hurdle he came to.  Do I mind that he used my name, whether on purpose or accidentally?  Heavens, no.  I need to learn how to back off so that these kids can blossom.

Gwen and I met with the homeless volunteers and by the end of the day, we had all the necessary clothing.  We would meet them at the YMCA so that they could dress in their new clothing when they got out of the showers.

As expected, few people noticed the special labels on the water bottles, but the phone number rang constantly for several hours.  The phone number was one of the lines for the mission downtown, with an overflow line going to volunteers at Dala Enterprises.  Amy said they would be there tinkering with computer code anyway.  The phone calls would be a break for them.  With automatic transfers, the callers did not get an answering machine.  Some people wanted more information, but some wanted to know how they could donate and/or serve.

Thomas has just finished his freshman year at the university, but he was on the dean’s list both semesters and he has proven that he has the leadership qualities Dev wants for FHAT.

Credits

Theater of Operations structures have been erected in some locations and used for decades.  The studs in the walls are further apart, maybe less electrical outlets, etc.  The wooden structures are usually made with prefab panels, panels that the engineers build beforehand.  My platoon won the competition in our battalion, shortest time, but not due to my leadership.  I was called away to evaluate something else that was being done that day.  It seemed the Canadian sergeant in the platoon had done that kind of thing before, as well as my platoon sergeant.  Everyone else followed orders.

And usually these floats have entire teams working on them for a year, but Thomas had never even seen a Memorial Day parade before.  How was he to know?

May you be Blessed this Memorial Day.