Strength and Mercy

Saving Grace

The click of Ava's heels echoed throughout the broad corridor. Her brisk walk to the main office forced the binders to shuffle about and some of the papers fell out. She sighed heavily while squatting down to collect the falling papers. After she gathered everything together she continued her quest to the office trying to figure out how she was going to break the news. She paused in front of the door and took a deep breath before knocking. 

"Enter," a voice called.

Ava took another deep breath, smoothed down her knee-length skirt, and entered the Senior Manager's office. He was a stout, middle-aged Black man who often wore black, thick-framed glasses and dressed casually in a button-up and khakis. The moment Ava stepped through the threshold the man's face instantly relaxed. 

"Thank goodness it's you, I was nervous it was the State again," he said rubbing his bald head.

Ava put on a nervous expression, "I'm afraid it's just as bad, Dan." 

She placed the folder on his desk and pushed it to him but he was reluctant to accept it. Ava motioned for him to open it and as he scanned the documents his face slowly dropped. He looked at Ava and back at the documents and seemed as though he fighting back tears. He ran a hand over his  head and sat back in the chair staring out into the distance.

Ava cleared her throat, "The Department of Social Services believes that because of the spike in break-ins, stalking, and assaults, the shelter isn't safe and is more of a liability. They also found that we are over our capacity which makes us understaffed and means we aren't meeting everyone's needs. And until we find to update our security measures, become better staffed, and update the building to accommodate the crowd they'll cut down our funding in the next fiscal period or shut us down."  

As Ava was speaking Daniel stood up and paced the floor. The more she explained the more agitated he became.

"Who's fault is it that we're understaffed? It was because of the pay cuts that other shelters moved some of their people here! THEY CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!" he shouted as he slammed his hand on the table.

Ava flinched at the sound but was otherwise calm. When Dan looked at her he couldn't understand why she was so relaxed but before he could ask she leaned over his desk and spoke in a hushed tone,

 "I wrote letters to the heads of DSS as well as to our state representative about our predicament weeks ago. Our representative gave me the run around but I know some people in his office from my college days that'll have some influence on him. I also wrote a grant proposal to the Region VII of South Carolina's Domestic Violence Program a couple of months ago and they are willing to give us the funds so long as we adhere to the terms of Solicitation. "

Dan became wide-eyed and sat in his chair astonished. The twenty-six year old never ceased to amaze him and was the reason why he trusted her so. She was amused by his expression and waited for him to say something.

"But...what about the gangs and the safety issue? We can barely afford the staff we have let alone a security force," he stated.

Ava moved her bang from her dark eyes and continued, "I have a solution for that, too, but you may not like it."

Dan unknowingly pulled up his chair and motioned her to go on.

"I'm sure you're familiar with Re-Entry programs," she started but before she could finish Dan snatched off his glasses and stood up.

"No, no. Absolutely not!"

"But it's a community service meaning you won't have to pay them and they can readjust back into society. I've already written to the Southern Regional Office and---"