DEARTH OF DUTY

       Joey called tonight (it's Saturday) to say that he has THREE "volunteers" coming in tomorrow to work off their "service hours." He had three today, too, and he said the kitchen was crowded. I could hear the angst in his voice. He was trying to imagine how to incorporate five people into such a tiny kitchen. It's just not feasible and probably not safe on a number of levels.
     I was happy to ease his mind and promise to stay home. He has his plan for mac 'n cheese casserole, and he's comfortable with that. Besides, he'll have three people to direct, and they will accomplish much of the work that he generally must do alone on Sunday afternoons. I'm happy for him!
       Of surprise too, for Joey at least, is that there are so many "volunteers" here in the dead of winter—during these extra-bitter-cold days. The truth is: crime and punishment don't have a season (that I know of), and these folks just happen to be piling in at the same time. Another possibility is that "the word" may have gotten out that our kitchen is a cool place to work off those punishment hours. I, personally, would prefer working in the kitchen to hanging garments at the Goodwill store or scrubbing graffiti off of buildings.
       Anyway… I'll be resting tomorrow, and sending happy thoughts out toward my people at the shelter. As always, I hope they don't miss me; I hope the children have better places to be at lunchtime on Sunday; and I will miss all of them—whoever they are on that day.