{"submission_id":"1745653","keywords":[{"keyword_id":"123","keyword_name":"female","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"521056"},{"keyword_id":"33","keyword_name":"fox","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"135584"},{"keyword_id":"444419","keyword_name":"friction between people","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"1"},{"keyword_id":"1440","keyword_name":"human","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"47057"},{"keyword_id":"1452","keyword_name":"lynx","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"7391"},{"keyword_id":"165","keyword_name":"male","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"640684"},{"keyword_id":"19026","keyword_name":"problems","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"44"}],"hidden":"f","scraps":"f","favorite":"f","favorites_count":"0","create_datetime":"2018-11-18 10:12:29.525178+01","create_datetime_usertime":"18 Nov 2018 10:12 CET","last_file_update_datetime":"2018-11-18 10:07:59.052957+01","last_file_update_datetime_usertime":"18 Nov 2018 10:07 CET","username":"boyhaak","user_id":"130432","user_icon_file_name":null,"user_icon_url_large":null,"user_icon_url_medium":null,"user_icon_url_small":null,"file_name":"2499422_boyhaak_chapter_3a.doc","file_url_full":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/full/2499/2499422_boyhaak_chapter_3a.doc","file_url_screen":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/2499/2499422_boyhaak_chapter_3a.doc","file_url_preview":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/2499/2499422_boyhaak_chapter_3a.doc","files":[{"file_id":"2499422","file_name":"2499422_boyhaak_chapter_3a.doc","file_url_full":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/full/2499/2499422_boyhaak_chapter_3a.doc","file_url_screen":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/2499/2499422_boyhaak_chapter_3a.doc","file_url_preview":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/2499/2499422_boyhaak_chapter_3a.doc","mimetype":"application/msword","submission_id":"1745653","user_id":"130432","submission_file_order":"0","full_size_x":null,"full_size_y":null,"screen_size_x":null,"screen_size_y":null,"preview_size_x":null,"preview_size_y":null,"initial_file_md5":"7d3d9b64fbc0288c2da97083f9850980","full_file_md5":"7d3d9b64fbc0288c2da97083f9850980","large_file_md5":"","small_file_md5":"","thumbnail_md5":"","deleted":"f","create_datetime":"2018-11-18 10:07:59.052957+01","create_datetime_usertime":"18 Nov 2018 10:07 CET"}],"pools":[{"pool_id":"54076","name":"Ani","description":"a world where humans and anthromorphic beings live together.","count":"4","submission_left_submission_id":"1711213","submission_left_file_name":"2447707_boyhaak_chapter_2_v2.doc"}],"description":"","description_bbcode_parsed":"","writing":"Chapter 3.\n\nIt's a few days after Theresa left. It's still hard for all, but Dixie and Erik have it hard too. Since the day after Theresa left, they have been digging through the administrative paperwork. It's a mess. Just when they are about to finish, they have to recalculate their finances twice. They keep coming up with a loss of a few hundred for just this month. They have no idea what next month will bring.\n\n``I need coffee'' says Dixie tired.\n\n``We're out of coffee'' says Jade from the other side of the office.\n\nDixie looks up and sees Jade just walked in. She and Erik were busy with the Ani. They had their group therapy session. Dixie and Erik could be present too, but they wanted to have the paperwork in order. They will be there the next time.\n\n``Therapy done?'' asks Erik while rubbing his eyes.\n\n``About halfway. It might take a bit longer today'' answers Jade while grabbing a few supplies. ``They are very talkative today. Except for Pippa. She keeps her mouth shut again.''\n\n``No coffee?'' asks Dixie in disbelieve.\n\n``No. Jill couldn't make some. She was busy.''\n\n``Can she make some now?''\n\n``Way ahead of you. The coffee is dripping as we speak. You okay here?''\n\n``It's a mess.''\n\nJust before Dixie can say what they just discovered, someone knocks on the door. Jill walks in with a full pot of coffee.\n\n``Coffee? Anyone?'' asks Jill while holding the pot of coffee up in the air.\n\nDixie and Erik immediately say yes and holdup their mugs. While Jill fills them, they all are quiet, something that Jill finds suspicious. She doesn't say anything about it. Instead she says that Erik and Dixie don't look so good today, as if they haven't slept at all last night. Erik tells Jill that they are just tired from digging through the paperwork. When Jill wants to leave again, Dixie asks for a refill. Everybody is surprised. It was freshly made coffee and therefore hot. Dixie just gulped down her whole mug while it was still hot and immediately asks for a refill. Jill just gives it and leaves. She goes back to the kitchen to return the coffee pot. When in the kitchen, she gets an idea. She looks in the cabinets to find the thermos flask for the coffee. She knows they have one. After a bit of searching, she finds it. Because its clean, she immediately pours the remainder of the coffee in it and starts to make a new one. With the thermos flask, she walks back to the office. Before she is at the door, she overhears them talk about the financial problem Dixie and Erik have discovered. Jill walks a few steps back to the living-room and starts humming. In the office they hear the humming and are quiet again when Jill is at the door.\n\n``I thought you might need this'' says Jill while holding up the thermos flask.\n\nEverybody looks at Jill, because they don't understand. Jill places the thermos flask on the desk in front of Dixie and Erik and leaves. When Jill is gone, Dixie opens the thermos flask and smells the coffee that is in it. She almost wants to drink it straight out of the thermos flask, but then she would be like a drug addict. While Dixie gets high on caffeine, they resume their talk about the problematic finances. A few minutes later, Jill is back again. She was humming again, to alert them. Standing at the door, she asks Jade and Erik to come back so that they can proceed with the therapy session. They are all waiting. When Erik and Jade are walking back into the living-room, Snow and Pippa are finishing bringing the drinks of everybody. Jill forced Pippa, with the help of Jade and Erik, to help out and show some form of progress with her development. The others are already sitting in their places, waiting to return to where they left off. Talking about their past and problems isn't easy for them. So, the sooner they can go back to their normal day to day life, the better. Some days, they are not really in the mood to talk and the staff almost has to pull the words out of their mouths. And some days are like today. Today they are in the mood to talk, except for Pippa who remained quiet the whole time. She just listened and by doing so, she learned a lot about the others. How people treated them like garbage. How they were beaten up to the point they still wear the physical scares underneath their fur. And most importantly, how they are still haunted by their past. It's almost daily that at least one of them has nightmares about it. Jill had one last night. She doesn't tell what happened in the nightmare, as there are minors present. She doesn't want to give them nightmares about it. She only tells it was very violent and that she could almost feel all the pain she ever felt in her life. This surprises Pippa a lot. The biggest and most normal Ani in the shelter has some of the worst nightmares possible. Compared with the others, Pippa has the most normal life. When it's her time to talk about her life, she is the last on the list, she keeps her mouth shut. Jade and Erik knew she would be problematic and keep pushing her to speak. Pippa never had any form of education, so the only words she knows are those she learned on the street. Very reluctantly, she tells she lived on the streets, in peace, but that men just pulled her away from it and forced her to live almost completely different. By the way she talks about it, it seems she just doesn't understands what is happening and why. Because she can't understand this situation, she wants to go back her old life, that she does understand. However, nobody wants her to do so. This left Pippa with only one option and that was violence. If she could succeed, she might be able to run away and live her old life again. This would mean that her problem isn't things like aggression, but simply the fact she doesn't understand what is going on. So instead of dealing with her problematic past, all they would have to do is educate Pippa, so she can understand it.\n\nRight after the therapy session, they have lunch. During lunch, most are silent. This often happens when they had therapy. They are still thinking about it. The only ones who are really talking, are the staff members. With lunch done, Jill goes outside. She has some work to do. In the back garden, there is a huge vegetable garden. It's so big, it can produce about a third of their vegetables for the whole year. Because the other Ani are not living long enough in the shelter to know how it works, they have almost no idea what to do. Only Jill knows, but she is doing this for the fifth year already. She knows almost everything. So while the others do some minor chores or just hang around, Jill gets on her knees in the dirt to make sure the garden stays at its best. She even puts on some older clothes that can be dirty. She has described it to Theresa once as her baby. During the years, she was basically the only one who took care of it and has seen it grow to the current size. Jill finds this work almost therapeutic. Just as almost always, she is alone with just her thoughts. While working, she has plenty of time to think about many things. It has happened several times, she totally forgot the time or didn't even noticed it started to rain. Today is no exception. After a few hours, the staff has run out of coffee again. They all can make it themselves, but when Jill isn't around and they run out of coffee, the first thing they do is look for her. And because nobody told Jill to work in the garden, they can't find her. However, Bob knows where she is. He takes them out back and shows them where Jill is. She is crawling on hands and knees between the plants with a hand rake to remove the weeds. She also pushes an old bucket around where she dumps them in. At the far end, a wheelbarrow waits for her to empty the bucket. She doesn't notice the people looking at her. She doesn't care for that. The only thing that goes through her mind right now is what she heard this morning. She hears someone whistle, but doesn't pay attention to it. Its only when she disappears behind the row of beanstalks, that she hears someone call her name. She sits up straight, looks through the beanstalks and sees Bob, Dixie and Erik looking at her. They signal her to come to them. While she gets up, Bob goes back indoors. Dixie and Erik stay behind and take a good look at the garden. Theresa showed it to them, but nobody told them who did what in it. Not even Jade and Bob told them. When Jill is with them, Erik asks if she needs help. Jill answers that she doesn't want any. The others might help, but she spends more time in explaining things to them, correcting them and cleaning up after them then she actually does work herself. By doing it all by herself, it takes longer, but it all goes as it should. Now they know this, Jill wants to know why they called her away from her work. Dixie, by now known to Jill as the coffee junky, says they ran out of coffee and that Jill might like to have a break as she might be working for a few hours straight. By looking at Erik?s watch, Jill sees she is indeed a few hours working in the garden already. She could use a break. While walking back to the backdoor, Erik and Dixie sees that Jill isn't herself like she used to be. As if something is bothering her. When Erik asks her about this, Jill reluctantly tells him about what her heard this morning. Dixie immediately tells Jill she shouldn't think about it, as its not her business. When Jill carefully tells her she might have ideas for it, she faces an angry Dixie. She doesn't want to hear those ideas. Jill must focus on her own problems and nothing else, as she is already five years trying to leave the shelter for another. The average is about two and a half years. To Jill, this sounds like Dixie wants her gone and preferably today and not tomorrow. After saying this, Dixie goes inside, followed by Erik. Jill stays behind for a moment. Then she turns around and walks back to the vegetable garden. She has no interest anymore in having a break. Back on her hands and knees, she keeps working until about half an hour before dinner. Then she is called again, but this time, by Jade. While walking back inside, they talk about the fact that Jill didn't come back inside for a break. Jill tells Jade what Erik and Dixie did and as a result, she didn't want to go back indoors. When Jade is curious about Jill?s ideas, she remains silent. She only tells it's not her business, until it's too late. This shocks Jade. What does Jill mean? Jill quickly explains that if Erik and Dixie can't get the finances right, they will be replaced, or the shelter is closed. Right now, Jill hopes that the first will happen. No matter what will happen, Dixie and Erik will only realize when it's over for them, that they might have listened to her, even if they didn't want to use her ideas, when it's too late. Without saying another word, Jill walks inside to change her clothes. When they start making dinner, she is back to help. During dinner, she doesn't say a word. Even after dinner, Jill remains silent and keeps away from others. Close to the dinner-table, there is a cozy reading-nook. As most Ani in the shelter can't read, it's almost never used. Jill can read and if she wants some peace and quiet, she could sit here. For the rest of the evening, she sits there.\n\nThe next morning, when Jade is back, Jill talks with her again and once again, it's in private. They talk about the problems Dixie and Erik are facing. When Jade, again, wants to know Jill?s ideas, Jill nods no. She keeps them to herself. She finds Erik and Dixie not worthy enough to tell them. Jill still doesn't like them and still refuses to give them respect. They won't give her respect, so she does the same. Jill simply says they have to earn it. She might have problems, but she still has her pride. No matter what Jade tries, she can't change Jill mind. After the talk, Jade goes back to the office. There she finds Dixie and Erik in a sad and even a bit mad mood. They had a talk with someone of the B.A.P. about the financial problem. It turns out that the B.A.P. doesn't help at all. It's not their problem. If Dixie and Erik fail to solve the problem, they are either replaced or the B.A.P. closes the shelter completely. To make things even worse, they only have about two weeks to do so. By then, the month is over and they must have it fixed, because the B.A.P. isn't going to give them money otherwise. Jade and Bob both know that Jill is smart enough to understand enough of their work to help them if needed. And right now, Jill has possible answers they need. If only Dixie and Erik were willing to see it too. They talk about it, but Erik and Dixie are stubborn. They do not believe that Jill can actually be this smart. They have seen her read old schoolbooks and do many things from them, but being this smart? The rest of the day, both Jade and Bob try to convince Jill to tell them her ideas, but Jill refuses. She wants to see Dixie and Erik sweat and struggle for a few days more. While they are indeed struggling in the office, Jill is taking it easy and working at her own pace in the garden. She even starts to sweep the driveway all the way to the gate. Like this, it goes on for the next two days.\n\nFriday, after lunch, Dixie and Erik want to speak with Jill. She is called to the office. Jade and Bob are there too. In the office, Jill is ordered a seat, but she prefers to keep standing. Dixie and Erik try to force Jill to talk about her ideas by saying she can be sent to prison if she keeps going like this. Jill just gives them a sarcastic look, but remains silent.\n\n``Talk damn it'' says Dixie mad.\n\n``Do you really think you can scare me with these threats? A shelter is a form of prison, so I don't care if I end up in a real prison. And with my APD, I basically have life anyway'' says Jill unimpressed. ``I don't care anymore.''\n\n``Just tell us about those ideas.''\n\n``No.''\n\n``Then what do you want us to do, so that you start talking?''\n\n``Maybe humble up a bit, perhaps? Stop being so arrogant? Show some respect to me?''\n\nDixie and Erik look with big eyes at Jill. Did she just really say that?\n\n``What!?'' asks Erik mad.\n\n``You heard me'' answers Jill emotionless. ``I see where this is going, so the conversation is over.''\n\nBoth look at each other, but remain quiet. Jill turns around and walks out of the office. She goes outside to get some sun. In the backyard, she sits down on the grass. After about a minute, she lays down and closes her eyes. She isn't going to sleep, but the sun shines in her eyes. It doesn't take long however, before someone blocks the sun. Jill pretends to have fallen asleep. After a few seconds, the person leaves again, without saying a thing. Jill doesn't know who it was and doesn't really care. An hour later, they still talk in the office about Jill?s actions. Then, Jade had enough of it. She lashes out to Dixie and Erik and even throws Jill?s file on their desk with the message to look at it closely before they do anything. They underestimate Jill big time. All they have to do is cooperate with Jill and submit to her on this. Then, Jade jells at them by saying that if she loses her job, she will drag Erik and Dixie with her. With that said, she walks out of the office. When Erik and Dixie are alone, Jade and Bob are working with the Ani, they look at Jill?s file. What they read is shocking. They didn't read any of the files closely, as they wanted to have all the administrative work done first. They only know some details about the Ani, but not much. Jill?s file shocks them. They didn't know the full history Jill had and what she is capable of. By reading about Jill, thanks to Theresa?s notes, they get a fairly good idea how smart Jill actually is and how she can help with the day to day operations. Its Jill who does almost all the work in the whole garden and not just the vegetable garden. She also keeps the inventory list of all the groceries and what they might have to order next time. Theresa even gave Jill some other responsibilities like helping Theresa with the late night checks, driving the tractor around if needed, answering phone calls and assisting with guests and new Ani. Then, they look at each other in disbelieve. Jill can drive a tractor? Does the shelter really have a tractor? Nobody showed them a tractor, or told them there was one. When Bob enters the office for a moment, Erik immediately asks for the tractor. Bob quickly explains where it is and leaves. Dixie takes a closer look at the key lockbox behind the desk and finds several car keys. As they are the same, they take one and follows Bob?s directions to find the tractor. Hidden under a plastic tarp in the shed is indeed a dirty white mini-tractor. They take a close look at it. Erik comes up with the idea to sell it. A tractor like this might bring enough money for not only this month, but also the next. Especially when they would sell all the stuff that is used with it as well, including a lawnmower and a wagon. However, Dixie isn't so sure. The garden is huge and dragging all the tools around isn't pretty. Next to that, the tractor is older and dirty. It might not bring as much as Erik is thinking. They are back to square one. With no other option, they seek help. They go to Jade for a more understandable answer. Jade, still mad and frustrated, explains something Dixie and Erik once again overlooked. She points out that Jill is a Taoistic Zen Buddhist. All Dixie and Erik have to do is perform a simple tea ceremony for Jill to say they are sorry, to show their respect for her and to ask her for help. With that said, Jade goes back to work. Dixie and Erik go back to the office. They look at Jill?s file again. Jade was right. Jill?s favorite tea is also listed, thanks to Theresa. This gives them an idea. If they can do this now, they might be able to solve everything before dinner. While Dixie looks for everything they need, Erik looks for Jill. He finds Jill still outside on the grass. She is doing what appears to be yoga. Knowing where she is, he goes back inside to help Dixie. A few minutes later, they take all the stuff they need outside. This attracts the attention of Jade and Bob. They watch from a distance to see what happens. Bob is happy that Dixie and Erik finally listened. They know Jill isn't easy to work with. Jill accepts Jade, but only because Theresa is gone and she needs someone she can trust. Jill only tolerates Bob. They had a small fight in the very beginning and since then, Jill refuses to work with Bob. Even their talks are short. Outside, on the grass, Jill looks skeptical at Dixie and Erik. They tell her they are sorry for what they have done and that they should have shown respect for her. While Jill drinks her cup of tea, she thinks about an answer. When she places her empty cup back on the serving tray, she accepts the apology. Before doing a thing, Jill pours the rest of the little amount of tea in the cup and drinks it in one sip. With it gone she gets up and walks back inside. On the way to the office, she calls Jade to the office too. Jill needs her help with this. In the office, Jill directs the conversation more to Jade and only explains a handful of things to Dixie and Erik. It turns out that the shelter sometimes helps a local company that handles in secondhand clothing, those that come from those containers in shopping malls and such. Jill knows that if they can get some work, they might earn a few hundred, like they always have. Next to this idea, Jill knows that there are boxes in the attic with stuff from before the shelter became a shelter. Many years ago, a rich business man lived here, who collected a lot. After his death and a bankruptcy, lots of stuff was boxed up and placed in the attic. It should have been removed and possible sold, but it never happened. When Theresa started the shelter, some boxes were already sold, the other boxes are still there. All they have to do now, is get those boxes and sell it. If the previous owner was rich when he got the stuff, it might be expensive. With everything explained, Jade complains that she was stupid for not thinking of this herself. She immediately starts calling Kevin from the secondhand clothing company and gives Jill the order to find all the boxes on the attic so that they can look if it's good to sell. When Jill starts digging around on the attic, Jade doesn't really have good news. Kevin doesn't have any work for them right now, but he is going to call back in a day or two. Then he might have something. When it's time for dinner, Jill has found about twelve big boxes already and placed them in the office. She believes that there are even more boxes to be found, so after dinner she goes back for more searching, while Erik and Dixie can look at the boxes already in the office. They have a big task ahead of them.\n\n","writing_bbcode_parsed":"Chapter 3.
It's a few days after Theresa left. It's still hard for all, but Dixie and Erik have it hard too. Since the day after Theresa left, they have been digging through the administrative paperwork. It's a mess. Just when they are about to finish, they have to recalculate their finances twice. They keep coming up with a loss of a few hundred for just this month. They have no idea what next month will bring.
``I need coffee'' says Dixie tired.
``We're out of coffee'' says Jade from the other side of the office.
Dixie looks up and sees Jade just walked in. She and Erik were busy with the Ani. They had their group therapy session. Dixie and Erik could be present too, but they wanted to have the paperwork in order. They will be there the next time.
``Therapy done?'' asks Erik while rubbing his eyes.
``About halfway. It might take a bit longer today'' answers Jade while grabbing a few supplies. ``They are very talkative today. Except for Pippa. She keeps her mouth shut again.''
``No coffee?'' asks Dixie in disbelieve.
``No. Jill couldn't make some. She was busy.''
``Can she make some now?''
``Way ahead of you. The coffee is dripping as we speak. You okay here?''
``It's a mess.''
Just before Dixie can say what they just discovered, someone knocks on the door. Jill walks in with a full pot of coffee.
``Coffee? Anyone?'' asks Jill while holding the pot of coffee up in the air.
Dixie and Erik immediately say yes and holdup their mugs. While Jill fills them, they all are quiet, something that Jill finds suspicious. She doesn't say anything about it. Instead she says that Erik and Dixie don't look so good today, as if they haven't slept at all last night. Erik tells Jill that they are just tired from digging through the paperwork. When Jill wants to leave again, Dixie asks for a refill. Everybody is surprised. It was freshly made coffee and therefore hot. Dixie just gulped down her whole mug while it was still hot and immediately asks for a refill. Jill just gives it and leaves. She goes back to the kitchen to return the coffee pot. When in the kitchen, she gets an idea. She looks in the cabinets to find the thermos flask for the coffee. She knows they have one. After a bit of searching, she finds it. Because its clean, she immediately pours the remainder of the coffee in it and starts to make a new one. With the thermos flask, she walks back to the office. Before she is at the door, she overhears them talk about the financial problem Dixie and Erik have discovered. Jill walks a few steps back to the living-room and starts humming. In the office they hear the humming and are quiet again when Jill is at the door.
``I thought you might need this'' says Jill while holding up the thermos flask.
Everybody looks at Jill, because they don't understand. Jill places the thermos flask on the desk in front of Dixie and Erik and leaves. When Jill is gone, Dixie opens the thermos flask and smells the coffee that is in it. She almost wants to drink it straight out of the thermos flask, but then she would be like a drug addict. While Dixie gets high on caffeine, they resume their talk about the problematic finances. A few minutes later, Jill is back again. She was humming again, to alert them. Standing at the door, she asks Jade and Erik to come back so that they can proceed with the therapy session. They are all waiting. When Erik and Jade are walking back into the living-room, Snow and Pippa are finishing bringing the drinks of everybody. Jill forced Pippa, with the help of Jade and Erik, to help out and show some form of progress with her development. The others are already sitting in their places, waiting to return to where they left off. Talking about their past and problems isn't easy for them. So, the sooner they can go back to their normal day to day life, the better. Some days, they are not really in the mood to talk and the staff almost has to pull the words out of their mouths. And some days are like today. Today they are in the mood to talk, except for Pippa who remained quiet the whole time. She just listened and by doing so, she learned a lot about the others. How people treated them like garbage. How they were beaten up to the point they still wear the physical scares underneath their fur. And most importantly, how they are still haunted by their past. It's almost daily that at least one of them has nightmares about it. Jill had one last night. She doesn't tell what happened in the nightmare, as there are minors present. She doesn't want to give them nightmares about it. She only tells it was very violent and that she could almost feel all the pain she ever felt in her life. This surprises Pippa a lot. The biggest and most normal Ani in the shelter has some of the worst nightmares possible. Compared with the others, Pippa has the most normal life. When it's her time to talk about her life, she is the last on the list, she keeps her mouth shut. Jade and Erik knew she would be problematic and keep pushing her to speak. Pippa never had any form of education, so the only words she knows are those she learned on the street. Very reluctantly, she tells she lived on the streets, in peace, but that men just pulled her away from it and forced her to live almost completely different. By the way she talks about it, it seems she just doesn't understands what is happening and why. Because she can't understand this situation, she wants to go back her old life, that she does understand. However, nobody wants her to do so. This left Pippa with only one option and that was violence. If she could succeed, she might be able to run away and live her old life again. This would mean that her problem isn't things like aggression, but simply the fact she doesn't understand what is going on. So instead of dealing with her problematic past, all they would have to do is educate Pippa, so she can understand it.
Right after the therapy session, they have lunch. During lunch, most are silent. This often happens when they had therapy. They are still thinking about it. The only ones who are really talking, are the staff members. With lunch done, Jill goes outside. She has some work to do. In the back garden, there is a huge vegetable garden. It's so big, it can produce about a third of their vegetables for the whole year. Because the other Ani are not living long enough in the shelter to know how it works, they have almost no idea what to do. Only Jill knows, but she is doing this for the fifth year already. She knows almost everything. So while the others do some minor chores or just hang around, Jill gets on her knees in the dirt to make sure the garden stays at its best. She even puts on some older clothes that can be dirty. She has described it to Theresa once as her baby. During the years, she was basically the only one who took care of it and has seen it grow to the current size. Jill finds this work almost therapeutic. Just as almost always, she is alone with just her thoughts. While working, she has plenty of time to think about many things. It has happened several times, she totally forgot the time or didn't even noticed it started to rain. Today is no exception. After a few hours, the staff has run out of coffee again. They all can make it themselves, but when Jill isn't around and they run out of coffee, the first thing they do is look for her. And because nobody told Jill to work in the garden, they can't find her. However, Bob knows where she is. He takes them out back and shows them where Jill is. She is crawling on hands and knees between the plants with a hand rake to remove the weeds. She also pushes an old bucket around where she dumps them in. At the far end, a wheelbarrow waits for her to empty the bucket. She doesn't notice the people looking at her. She doesn't care for that. The only thing that goes through her mind right now is what she heard this morning. She hears someone whistle, but doesn't pay attention to it. Its only when she disappears behind the row of beanstalks, that she hears someone call her name. She sits up straight, looks through the beanstalks and sees Bob, Dixie and Erik looking at her. They signal her to come to them. While she gets up, Bob goes back indoors. Dixie and Erik stay behind and take a good look at the garden. Theresa showed it to them, but nobody told them who did what in it. Not even Jade and Bob told them. When Jill is with them, Erik asks if she needs help. Jill answers that she doesn't want any. The others might help, but she spends more time in explaining things to them, correcting them and cleaning up after them then she actually does work herself. By doing it all by herself, it takes longer, but it all goes as it should. Now they know this, Jill wants to know why they called her away from her work. Dixie, by now known to Jill as the coffee junky, says they ran out of coffee and that Jill might like to have a break as she might be working for a few hours straight. By looking at Erik?s watch, Jill sees she is indeed a few hours working in the garden already. She could use a break. While walking back to the backdoor, Erik and Dixie sees that Jill isn't herself like she used to be. As if something is bothering her. When Erik asks her about this, Jill reluctantly tells him about what her heard this morning. Dixie immediately tells Jill she shouldn't think about it, as its not her business. When Jill carefully tells her she might have ideas for it, she faces an angry Dixie. She doesn't want to hear those ideas. Jill must focus on her own problems and nothing else, as she is already five years trying to leave the shelter for another. The average is about two and a half years. To Jill, this sounds like Dixie wants her gone and preferably today and not tomorrow. After saying this, Dixie goes inside, followed by Erik. Jill stays behind for a moment. Then she turns around and walks back to the vegetable garden. She has no interest anymore in having a break. Back on her hands and knees, she keeps working until about half an hour before dinner. Then she is called again, but this time, by Jade. While walking back inside, they talk about the fact that Jill didn't come back inside for a break. Jill tells Jade what Erik and Dixie did and as a result, she didn't want to go back indoors. When Jade is curious about Jill?s ideas, she remains silent. She only tells it's not her business, until it's too late. This shocks Jade. What does Jill mean? Jill quickly explains that if Erik and Dixie can't get the finances right, they will be replaced, or the shelter is closed. Right now, Jill hopes that the first will happen. No matter what will happen, Dixie and Erik will only realize when it's over for them, that they might have listened to her, even if they didn't want to use her ideas, when it's too late. Without saying another word, Jill walks inside to change her clothes. When they start making dinner, she is back to help. During dinner, she doesn't say a word. Even after dinner, Jill remains silent and keeps away from others. Close to the dinner-table, there is a cozy reading-nook. As most Ani in the shelter can't read, it's almost never used. Jill can read and if she wants some peace and quiet, she could sit here. For the rest of the evening, she sits there.
The next morning, when Jade is back, Jill talks with her again and once again, it's in private. They talk about the problems Dixie and Erik are facing. When Jade, again, wants to know Jill?s ideas, Jill nods no. She keeps them to herself. She finds Erik and Dixie not worthy enough to tell them. Jill still doesn't like them and still refuses to give them respect. They won't give her respect, so she does the same. Jill simply says they have to earn it. She might have problems, but she still has her pride. No matter what Jade tries, she can't change Jill mind. After the talk, Jade goes back to the office. There she finds Dixie and Erik in a sad and even a bit mad mood. They had a talk with someone of the B.A.P. about the financial problem. It turns out that the B.A.P. doesn't help at all. It's not their problem. If Dixie and Erik fail to solve the problem, they are either replaced or the B.A.P. closes the shelter completely. To make things even worse, they only have about two weeks to do so. By then, the month is over and they must have it fixed, because the B.A.P. isn't going to give them money otherwise. Jade and Bob both know that Jill is smart enough to understand enough of their work to help them if needed. And right now, Jill has possible answers they need. If only Dixie and Erik were willing to see it too. They talk about it, but Erik and Dixie are stubborn. They do not believe that Jill can actually be this smart. They have seen her read old schoolbooks and do many things from them, but being this smart? The rest of the day, both Jade and Bob try to convince Jill to tell them her ideas, but Jill refuses. She wants to see Dixie and Erik sweat and struggle for a few days more. While they are indeed struggling in the office, Jill is taking it easy and working at her own pace in the garden. She even starts to sweep the driveway all the way to the gate. Like this, it goes on for the next two days.
Friday, after lunch, Dixie and Erik want to speak with Jill. She is called to the office. Jade and Bob are there too. In the office, Jill is ordered a seat, but she prefers to keep standing. Dixie and Erik try to force Jill to talk about her ideas by saying she can be sent to prison if she keeps going like this. Jill just gives them a sarcastic look, but remains silent.
``Talk damn it'' says Dixie mad.
``Do you really think you can scare me with these threats? A shelter is a form of prison, so I don't care if I end up in a real prison. And with my APD, I basically have life anyway'' says Jill unimpressed. ``I don't care anymore.''
``Just tell us about those ideas.''
``No.''
``Then what do you want us to do, so that you start talking?''
``Maybe humble up a bit, perhaps? Stop being so arrogant? Show some respect to me?''
Dixie and Erik look with big eyes at Jill. Did she just really say that?
``What!?'' asks Erik mad.
``You heard me'' answers Jill emotionless. ``I see where this is going, so the conversation is over.''
Both look at each other, but remain quiet. Jill turns around and walks out of the office. She goes outside to get some sun. In the backyard, she sits down on the grass. After about a minute, she lays down and closes her eyes. She isn't going to sleep, but the sun shines in her eyes. It doesn't take long however, before someone blocks the sun. Jill pretends to have fallen asleep. After a few seconds, the person leaves again, without saying a thing. Jill doesn't know who it was and doesn't really care. An hour later, they still talk in the office about Jill?s actions. Then, Jade had enough of it. She lashes out to Dixie and Erik and even throws Jill?s file on their desk with the message to look at it closely before they do anything. They underestimate Jill big time. All they have to do is cooperate with Jill and submit to her on this. Then, Jade jells at them by saying that if she loses her job, she will drag Erik and Dixie with her. With that said, she walks out of the office. When Erik and Dixie are alone, Jade and Bob are working with the Ani, they look at Jill?s file. What they read is shocking. They didn't read any of the files closely, as they wanted to have all the administrative work done first. They only know some details about the Ani, but not much. Jill?s file shocks them. They didn't know the full history Jill had and what she is capable of. By reading about Jill, thanks to Theresa?s notes, they get a fairly good idea how smart Jill actually is and how she can help with the day to day operations. Its Jill who does almost all the work in the whole garden and not just the vegetable garden. She also keeps the inventory list of all the groceries and what they might have to order next time. Theresa even gave Jill some other responsibilities like helping Theresa with the late night checks, driving the tractor around if needed, answering phone calls and assisting with guests and new Ani. Then, they look at each other in disbelieve. Jill can drive a tractor? Does the shelter really have a tractor? Nobody showed them a tractor, or told them there was one. When Bob enters the office for a moment, Erik immediately asks for the tractor. Bob quickly explains where it is and leaves. Dixie takes a closer look at the key lockbox behind the desk and finds several car keys. As they are the same, they take one and follows Bob?s directions to find the tractor. Hidden under a plastic tarp in the shed is indeed a dirty white mini-tractor. They take a close look at it. Erik comes up with the idea to sell it. A tractor like this might bring enough money for not only this month, but also the next. Especially when they would sell all the stuff that is used with it as well, including a lawnmower and a wagon. However, Dixie isn't so sure. The garden is huge and dragging all the tools around isn't pretty. Next to that, the tractor is older and dirty. It might not bring as much as Erik is thinking. They are back to square one. With no other option, they seek help. They go to Jade for a more understandable answer. Jade, still mad and frustrated, explains something Dixie and Erik once again overlooked. She points out that Jill is a Taoistic Zen Buddhist. All Dixie and Erik have to do is perform a simple tea ceremony for Jill to say they are sorry, to show their respect for her and to ask her for help. With that said, Jade goes back to work. Dixie and Erik go back to the office. They look at Jill?s file again. Jade was right. Jill?s favorite tea is also listed, thanks to Theresa. This gives them an idea. If they can do this now, they might be able to solve everything before dinner. While Dixie looks for everything they need, Erik looks for Jill. He finds Jill still outside on the grass. She is doing what appears to be yoga. Knowing where she is, he goes back inside to help Dixie. A few minutes later, they take all the stuff they need outside. This attracts the attention of Jade and Bob. They watch from a distance to see what happens. Bob is happy that Dixie and Erik finally listened. They know Jill isn't easy to work with. Jill accepts Jade, but only because Theresa is gone and she needs someone she can trust. Jill only tolerates Bob. They had a small fight in the very beginning and since then, Jill refuses to work with Bob. Even their talks are short. Outside, on the grass, Jill looks skeptical at Dixie and Erik. They tell her they are sorry for what they have done and that they should have shown respect for her. While Jill drinks her cup of tea, she thinks about an answer. When she places her empty cup back on the serving tray, she accepts the apology. Before doing a thing, Jill pours the rest of the little amount of tea in the cup and drinks it in one sip. With it gone she gets up and walks back inside. On the way to the office, she calls Jade to the office too. Jill needs her help with this. In the office, Jill directs the conversation more to Jade and only explains a handful of things to Dixie and Erik. It turns out that the shelter sometimes helps a local company that handles in secondhand clothing, those that come from those containers in shopping malls and such. Jill knows that if they can get some work, they might earn a few hundred, like they always have. Next to this idea, Jill knows that there are boxes in the attic with stuff from before the shelter became a shelter. Many years ago, a rich business man lived here, who collected a lot. After his death and a bankruptcy, lots of stuff was boxed up and placed in the attic. It should have been removed and possible sold, but it never happened. When Theresa started the shelter, some boxes were already sold, the other boxes are still there. All they have to do now, is get those boxes and sell it. If the previous owner was rich when he got the stuff, it might be expensive. With everything explained, Jade complains that she was stupid for not thinking of this herself. She immediately starts calling Kevin from the secondhand clothing company and gives Jill the order to find all the boxes on the attic so that they can look if it's good to sell. When Jill starts digging around on the attic, Jade doesn't really have good news. Kevin doesn't have any work for them right now, but he is going to call back in a day or two. Then he might have something. When it's time for dinner, Jill has found about twelve big boxes already and placed them in the office. She believes that there are even more boxes to be found, so after dinner she goes back for more searching, while Erik and Dixie can look at the boxes already in the office. They have a big task ahead of them.
","pools_count":1,"title":"Ani chapter 3","deleted":"f","public":"t","mimetype":"application/msword","pagecount":"1","rating_id":"0","rating_name":"General","ratings":[],"submission_type_id":"12","type_name":"Writing - Document","guest_block":"t","friends_only":"f","comments_count":"0","views":"14","sales_description":null,"forsale":"f","digitalsales":"f","printsales":"f","digital_price":""}