Chapter 5 - PROFESSOR GOODIE

Goodren, a dignified woman, also a professor at the University, began to give me the organizational chart she had made with the rest of the group of volunteers. What a great job of planning she had done. They had set up a "buddy system" that would run next to the practical assignments, she explained to me. "For example, I will coordinate and liaison with all the educational facilities for the children, thus elementary, middle, and high schools, perhaps special ed. And I will be a buddy to Li, the mother. So in the beginning," she continued, "we will meet every week, talk, in general, get to know each other, and try to establish trust and friendship.

“We feel they will need that kind of love and support here. We hope it will keep anyone from falling through the cracks." "Oh! Goodie! what a wonderful idea!" I gushed Lorne, and the others stopped for a second what they were doing to turn and watch Professor Winther's expression. We didn't use titles, not Quakers, but no one was ever heard to call her "Goodie" before. Goodren, raised an eyebrow, but smiled, and went on to explain that she had asked for coordinators for health, dental, clothing, food, and food stamps, government forms, immigration, and other Social Services, and several people have shown interest.

" Amazing! Goodie! You are wonderful!" Goodrun nearly giggled.

"I think we will need help to find, ESL, for the non-Latin alphabet, the welfare worker is insisting they can go to the one downtown, she had not been able to find anything yet, and well employment, and housing of course."

Goodie's words were making me see just what a big project this would be, and I felt myself worry, what had I gotten us into? But, to my relief, Goodie was so well organized! She had made me a calendar of events for the first four weeks, and we hung it in the kitchen, she promised to come and keep it updated. This thought, that Goodie would be stopping by on a regular basis was very comforting.

I heard the squawking long before she reached the door, and in came Jean Marie, with poor Seng by the nape of his neck, crimson in color. "What is goin' awn up here?" This mornin' naked people runnin" under your hose, and now I catch this little feller peein' free an easy out in front of your forsythias, for the whole neighborhood to see!" Carol licking her lips, offered to bring in the pitcher of iced tea, and a plate of cookies, she hurried, didn't want to miss a word. Whiskey whined and nudged Carol, and she gave him a biscuit. Bert took pity on the boy, Seng, and pulled him under his arm.

"Hello, Carol. " Jean Marie quickly introduced herself to Goodren and Lorne, and then turned with a flourish." And what was all the screaming this mornin'? Tricia? You murderin' people over here? Yum these cookies are a treat! How do you do, Ahm Jean Marie Clemens, and you are?" Staring at poor Bert.

"How how d-do you do? I am Bert Jensen, g-good to meet you." Bert answered shyly, pushing his thick glasses back further on his rather large and oddly shaped nose. " I, I am caretaker of our meeting house, and assistant t- to Tricia on our C-Cambodian outreach project." He only stuttered when very nervous, but this much chaos had done it. He was hypoglycemic, OCD, 41 and never been married, never had a girlfriend, not gay, pants too high, wearing a pocket protector always, trying way too hard, fumbling and sincere, poor Bert. And I couldn't have found a better person to help me through this than him.

" Cambodian outreach, is that what this is called?" Jean Marie looked at me with a smirk.

" Bert, sit and make sure you eat something, Eat some of the nuts." I said, protectively.

" Jean Marie! Have some iced tea." I said, She sat down, eyed everyone at the table, and said " So what's all the commotion over here, y'all got a couple a visitors, Ah see?" She had a pair of large canvas shopping bags with her, which she thumped onto the floor." So, these are Refugees? How many did ya' git? And where is your husband?"

My dog whined loudly, and I gave him another biscuit. "Why are you actin' up now?" I whispered. I gulped and replied, " Fred is back in Houston, Jean Marie, and yes we have a large family visiting, the Ngeams, eleven people, and a young couple, Kan and Hung Li. Make it thirteen."

Her stern face kept staring, at me, and I kept talking. "We are going to assist them with settling in here in Virginia. Help them get on their feet, help with health problems first, then find housing, some kind of work"

" The widowah Rayburn four houses down." quipped Jean Marie.

" What?" I was puzzled

" He needs some help, the sooner the better. He can certainly afford to pay! You want me ta ask him, or you want to?" Jean Marie demanded.

" I uh, well, I - "

" Oh let me handle it, then you can be sure on a little work for one of the girls. I'll arrange two times a week, say three hours. That should do it. Make sure they do a good job. Charge him thirty dollars for the two mornings to start."

" Jean Marie, that's so kind of you, but let me get them through their medicals, first, then we can begin, besides a few words of English might help..."

" They don't speak English? Not any? Not a word? How are they gonna live in Virginia with no English? But Ah heard the boy talkin' just a minute ago? " nodding towards Bobby. " But Ah did hear 'em this mornin' and thought they were gonna need a hand in that department." She motioned to the two girls standing near the table.

" I am Mary," said Hoar proudly, Kan was right behind her, as usual, the two friends were inseparable. They walked cautiously closer to Jean Marie. Jean Marie grabbed several big books from the first canvas bag. All new Richard Scarry books for kids, The ABC book, the Best Word Book, several copies of each. Jean Marie grabbed Bobby by his arm and said" Come here an make yourself useful. Now, you tell 'em, my kids learned to read with these books, so maybe they will help you too. Don't you pay it no mind that it looks like it's for children, the words are words!" Bobby explained to the girls, and Jean Marie emptied the rest of the bag, notebooks, and pens. The girls looked excited, and bowed sweetly to Jean Marie, and went to the living room to show the others, and give out the books, notebooks and pens.

Jean Marie turned and caught me smiling at her, and nearly shouted, " What are you doin' sittin' there with that silly grin on your face, and all this work to do?" She stared at me with eyebrows raised, Here this bag is full of candy, enough to put the whole group into sugar shock, I will leave it to you when to give it out, handing me the second bag.

"Well, Ah'll be leavin' ya'all." She announced as she rose. " Ah'm supposin' you will ask them to refrain from showerin' in sight of mah windows? And You'll be explainin' to that one nodding towards poor Seng, not to pee in your forsythias? narrowing her eyes and looking straight into mine she asked, " And just when is your husband comin' home? And how is he gonna take all this? He already thinks your two girls make too much noise? Well good luck to you."

I fidgeted in my shoes, and tried to answer " It's only temporary, it won't take long, It will be ok." Knowing it wouldn't, knowing it would be a problem.