By: cryptomuse01.near
Gabriel
“Get me a hammer, please!” MarmaJ shouted from the deck of the new building for the town’s new senior center.
“We’ve two days left to get this fixed and I’d like to have it done before then. Where is the hammer, please?” Stanley stood there wondering who MarmaJ really was; a relentless woman, fierce, and remarkably skillful. He imagined her cast as a super hero in an action comic, dashing out in fitted costume then flying off to go save the day. He stood there, lost in his thoughts, and for a moment, completely forgetting MarmaJ’s instructions.
“Don’t stand there, Stanley” MarmaJ said, looking Stanley in the eyes and wondering why exactly he wasn’t hurrying over with the hammer.
The town’s old senior center had been gutted by a mysterious fire. No one knew for sure what had started the fire. MarmaJ and her team offered to rebuild the center at no labor cost; they were a nonprofit team of builders. This was her own of giving back to the community, helping people who needed such services but had very little to no means of affording it. Also, building the senior center at no costwas a much needed relief to an already stressed town council. MarmaJ was happy to help.
“Here it is, ma’am. The hammer”, Stanley said as held out the hammer in his left hand. “I want to go set up the posts downstairs then I’ll come back up to join you”.
“Okay that’s good,” MarmaJ murmured. She was focused on setting up the roof that day.
MarmaJ looked up at the sky. “We need to get this done tomorrow, there is a family on Dawson’s avenue that needs help with renovations. I’d like for us to go there, Stanley” MarmaJ said. Stanley nodded his head in agreement as he turned to leave.
Dawson’s avenue was a fifteen minute drive from MarmaJ’s house. The night before, she’d told Stanley and Lawrence to stop at the workshop before coming to Dawson’s avenue; they would bring all the work tools along. The job was going to take the entire day and it was better to have tools that you don’t need than to need a tool and not have it.
MarmaJ pulled up at the entrance. The boys were already there with the truck and tools. She climbed out of the truck before going off to greet the family, before assessing the building and knowing what sort of work needed to be done.
The Johnson family were a little family of 4 and were consistent volunteers at the homeless shelter. MarmaJ knew them very well and she was happy to help out.
Mr. Johnson shook MarmaJ’s hand profusely, “Thank you for coming. We’ve had these leaks and I think it’s from the roof. We’ve not had it fixed in years, the rafters probably need reinforcements, and a section of the shingles are clearly broken.” Mr Johnson stood beside the carved wooden table as he explained what he believed the situation was to MarmaJ.
“The boys and I will go check the roof and assess it ourselves but thank you for the heads up” MarmaJ replied, with a smile on her face.
“Stanley, tell Lawrence to set up the ladder while you bring me the pry bar,” MarmaJ called as she walked towards the stairs. She was going up to see how bad the leak was from inside the house.
“You are right. Largely.” MarmaJ said to Mr Johnson.
“We’d need to go up there and see how much replacement we’d be doing. For both the beams and the shingles.”
They were now talking about the cost of getting the beams and shingles when Mrs. Johnson screamed for her husband.
Julian laid on the floor, heaving from the attack. He was without his inhaler. Mr Johnson rushed upstairs to get a spare inhaler that he kept in his bedroom.
MarmaJ moved into action, told the mom to go help look for the inhaler, and then took the boy from her. MarmaJ made him sit upright while she supported his back with her left hand.
“Slow down, Julian. Slow down, okay. We’ll get through this, just take long, deep breaths.” MarmaJ said to Julian. She had done some work with the local Red Cross team so she knew some important health tips.
“Where’s the inhaler!” MarmaJ was getting worried as the parents were taking time. She heard drawers opening and slamming upstairs.
Mr Johnson ran down stairs and said, “We can’t find the other inhaler.” He was already panicking.
“Stanley! Please come here,” MarmaJ called out really loud, expressing the need for urgency.
“Do you have tea bags here? Mr Johnson?” MarmaJ asked. “Yes. We do. It’s in the cabinet over there” Mr Johnson pointed at the kitchen.
“Please make tea. Make sure it’s just warm. And please be quick.”
MarmaJ picked the boy up and took him out. “He needs fresh air. There’s probably a trigger in here.”
She signalled for the father to open the door. The mother was down now, following after them as they took Julian outside.
Stanley rushed out with the cup of warm tea and handed it over to Mr Johnson. MarmaJ sat Julian up and asked him to take long deep breaths.
She collected the warm cup of tea from Mr Johnson and made Julian take some sips intermittently for the next forty seconds.
“Now take a few deep breaths. Julian”
He was looking much better now and the attack had stopped. So, MarmaJ handed him over to the father and asked that they take him to the hospital quickly for proper medical help.
“We’ll continue with the work here and make sure the roof is fixed before the end of the day. Please take Julian to the hospital now.” MarmaJ said as she got up to go get the tool box in the truck.
“Thank you so much, MarmaJ.” Mrs Johnson said, looking really relieved. The day was saved and they could go back to fixing the roof.