Page 53 of Desperate Needs

All three of them came for lunch, which was awesome since they’d just started winter break.

“How’s school?” I asked immediately, and all three of them went into gross detail about end of term exams and roommate problems all at the same time.

But that was the thing about family. We all still managed to listen as we shared shrimp tempura and yellowtail jalapeno rolls, along with heaps of delectable tuna and salmon sashimi.

“So, it’s just a month away now. Is everything ready for Drew’s?” Lucy asked, and I nodded.

The truth was, I was completely astounded by the support I’d gotten. Not from my family, because they supported everything that we all did. But from the community.

I’d expected some pushback from politicians and residents. Maybe it was the money my father poured into the city and into political campaigns. In fact, I was certain that was it.

But also, maybe people were tired of the status quo. The news was full of tragic stories that didn’t have to end the way they did, if only someone cared enough to listen and to do something.

It was time for an awakening. For a collective understanding that real progress wasn’t just about advancing technology or amassing wealth.

It was about the well-being of every individual, about creating systems that supported everyone, not just the privileged few.

My mother taught me that.

“Do you have your mission statement for us to go over? That’s why we’re here, right?” Andrea asked, getting down to it.

I almost forgot, but not quite.

“Okay, I am emailing it to you all right now.”

I started clearing the table while they all read individually. Nerves assailed me, but at the same time, I felt very confident about this project.

Drew’s Place wasn’t some pet project. It was everything to me. I wanted their approval and support. But I was only human, so yeah, I was nervous.

“Ooooh, I love this part!” Lucy squealed, then started reading out loud. “‘With Drew’s Place it is my hope for people to recognize that life can only get better, that civilization can only move forward, if we begin to take care of everyone, leaving nobody behind.’ I mean, cuz! Wow!”

“I like this part,” Coral added. “‘I envision of a world where opportunities are accessible to all, where basic needs are met, and where compassion guides our actions.’ Clem, you make it seem less impossible. This is great!”

I grinned, proud of myself. In fact, I felt so good I wanted to share their reactions with Connor. Then I realized I hadn’t even talked to him about this. Actually, it felt like there was a lot we hadn’t discussed.

But in my defense, we were always so desperate to do other things, talking about work hardly seemed important. But if I wanted this thing to be real, then I supposed I should tell him about it.

Tonight. At dinner.

“Okay, so now that we discussed that, let’s talk about your new man!” Lucy interrupted my train of thought.

“Oh my God!”

“Sis, you’ve been holding out on me?” Coral wailed dramatically.

“What? Who said I have a new man?” I gasped, shocked.

But Lucy was standing in front of the basket of clean clothes I’d yet to fold and held up several pairs of underwear.

“Oooh! Busted,” Jade, my youngest sis, said and shook her head.

“Oh my God. Put my underwear down! And so what, you all wear underwear,” I said, grabbing my panties from my cousin’s hand and stuffing them in the bottom of the basket.

“Uh, yeah, we all do. But not you. Those are clearly not ‘Clementine cotton’,” Andrea stated, her eyes wide.

It was true.

Out of all the girls, I was usually the most boring with my underwear collection.

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