Page 1 of Once Upon a Rec Center Wish
Chapter One
Falco
I stood and stretched my arms above my head as a loud yawn escaped from deep within me. My bus stop was just ahead and I couldn’t wait to get home and sleep. I hadn’t gotten much rest the day before while my neighbors were moving out, banging furniture and boxes against the wall as they made their way down the hall. I should have been moving, too, but I hadn’t found a place yet. Sleep was my priority on that Saturday morning.
As I stepped off the bus a few minutes later, I spotted many moving vehicles again. Some parked in front of the building, while others were lined up in the small lot beside the apartment. Our building, along with others on the street, were set to be demolished as part of the neighborhood redevelopment plan. In other words, the city wanted to get rid of the working-class people in the area to build condos none of us would be able to afford. I’d been to many city council meetings, along with my neighbors, to object to the plan, citing that we would have no place to live, but the council members claimed there were plenty of vacant apartments within the city limits, and the owners of our buildings didn’t object to the buyout.
Ducking into the entrance foyer, I waved to Mrs. Barnaby, a kind older lady from the first floor who sometimes invited me down for a meal, claiming she’d made too much food and didn’t want all the leftovers. Her son was there to help her relocate, though I thought she’d told me she was moving in with him.
I climbed the stairs to the third floor, dodging and weaving past multiple people with boxes. We had one week left in the place, but it seemed no one but me had delayed finding a new home until the last minute. I had no vehicle and no one tohelp me move anyway. Though I didn’t have many belongings, I would have to abandon my mattress, but once I found a place, I could easily get everything else moved in a few trips using my duffle bag.
I unlocked my apartment door, and just as I pulled out the key, I heard my next-door neighbor open her door.
“Falco! Oh my gosh, I’m so glad I caught you.” Megan hurried toward me, her hands fluttering in the air.
She was about to ask me for help. I knew the signs. Yet, all I wanted to do was sleep.
“Can you do me a huge favor?” She folded her hands in front of herself and somehow managed to make her eyes appear glassy. “I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t so desperate.”
The same words she always used.
I sighed. “What is it?”
“It won’t take that long. I promise.” She squeezed my arm with a tentative smile. “I need someone to take my kids to the rec center. All you have to do is drop them off. Candy would take them in her truck, but it’s only a regular cab which won’t fit all of them, and I don’t have a booster seat for the younger two anyway.”
I was confused. Maybe because I was so tired. “Um, how am I supposed to get them there?”
She smacked my shoulder. “By bus, silly. You take the bus all the time, so I figured you’d know how to get them there. I’ll pick them up after. Our new place is just a few blocks away from there.”
She used to get her boyfriend to drive them to the rec center on Saturday mornings before he’d come back to the apartment, and they’d have sex all morning. I knew because her screams often woke me up. But the guy had dumped Megan when she’d suggested they all move in together since she had to find a new place to live.
I sighed and closed my eyes for a few moments. “I guess I could do that for you.” If she was moving out, it was the last favor I would ever do for her. I doubted I would find a place near wherever she was moving. And her kids were pretty cool. I babysat them quite often for her on Saturday nights, as I never had anything better to do.
“Okay, great!” She grabbed my shoulders and pulled me against her. “Thank you so much. They’re just eating breakfast now and their bags are packed with their lunches and everything they need.”
With my arms crossed, I nodded and gave her the best smile I could muster. “The next bus comes in twenty minutes. I’m just going to use the washroom and then I’ll be right back out to take them.”
“You are the greatest!” She smiled, her lip quivering a little. “You’ve helped me out so much while we lived here. I’m really going to miss you.”
I wanted to share the sentiment, but I was too tired. I just wanted to take the kids where they needed to be and get back home to sleep. Falling asleep on the bus was not a safe option.
By the time I returned to the hallway, Amelia, Noah, and Samantha waited for me, their adorable faces wide-eyed and their bodies buzzing with energy and excitement I wished I could absorb from them.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Yes!” They screamed with more enthusiasm than they should have for kids who were moving homes. Maybe they didn’t know. That was a conversation I was glad I didn’t have to have with them.
“Here’s money for the bus and a little bit extra as a thank-you.” Megan handed me two twenties and a ten, probably not knowing the bus didn’t give change. But it wasn’t my money.I had enough to get them there plus extra to buy myself some groceries.
“Okay, let’s go.” I picked up little Samantha and carried her. She always got distracted everywhere I took her, and we wouldn’t catch the bus if I let her walk. The other two followed along as we made our way down the stairs and outside to the bus stop.
Noah tugged on my hand as we waited. “Are you going to watch us during our swimming lessons?”
Guilt wrenched my heart. If he were my kid, I definitely would have stayed to watch him. “I need to get some sleep, but maybe another time.”
Amelia crossed her arms and pouted. “Don’t lie. We know we’re moving and probably won’t see you ever again.”
That hurt even more. “I’m really sorry. I worked all night, and I’m only staying awake just to get you to your lessons.”
