The End

          Graduation day had arrived and everyone was filled with excitement. It had been a long day as each student waited their turn to receive their hard earned diploma. Almost everyone in the senior class, including the teachers and staff were sad that Norton had not been able to finish his senior requirements on time.

         Even though Norton had accomplished bringing positive attention to the homeless plight there was a feeling of honest incompleteness without him on the stage. However, Norton had been named the first ever Wood Berry High School Senior Community Citizen for all of his good works.

         James and Si stood beside one another as their moms took another picture of them in their cap and gown. For both mothers this day seemed as though it would never come and yet, here they stood looking at both of their graduates. There was a great sense of pride at how James and Si had stepped up when something so important needed to be handled.

         Feeling the need to get out of his gown James finally held his hand up waving at his mom, "OK, OK, that's enough pictures for now. Mom, really? Take it easy it's just high school graduation." he grinned at her as he bumped Si in the shoulder continuing, "Hey, I could use a little help here."

          Si looked at James with that funny expression she always gave him, “Oh yea, right. Mom, James and I really have something important to do. We have plans, ya know?" She arched her right eyebrow as if to queue her mom to stop already.

         “Right, plans. Okay, but maybe we could make a couple more later on." Si's mom replied. Answering in unison, "James and Si both said, “No." They snickered as each looked at the other shaking their heads.

         Norton had been waiting for the ceremony to end so he could go find the few classmates that would be gathering with him for the senior’s farewell event this evening. He had hoped that his idea would be one that many of his friends would want to be a part of today.

          Moving through the crowd he found each person he was looking for and one by one they stood under the big oak tree huddled together waiting on the rest of their buddies. Norton made his way to James and Si nodding his head at them asking,

“You guys ready?" Not wanting to ignore the moms Norton spoke to them as well, “Hi, don't mean to steal the kids, but we do have plans. You mind if I borrow them for awhile?"

         “No, no, of course. You all go on and enjoy yourselves. Norton it's good to see you. Say hi to your mothers for me." Simone's mom replied.

         “Me too Norton." James mother spoke up as well. Turning to look at James and Si, Norton smiled only saying, "You know where to find us. See you there?"

         James bumped Si again looking at her with those baby blue eyes, “Guess we need to get going."

         "Yep. Mom, see you later. I won't be too late." Si moved closer to her mother and gave her kiss on her cheek. Then she turn and walked away heading for the other graduates.

         James leaned over hugged his mom saying, “We’re going with Norton to do good things. I promise we'll be home at a descent hour." With that he turned to follow Simone.

         James and Simone stood outside of the building three blocks down from the bank where Walter Gibbs was still the president of the First Trust and Banking Company. The building was quiet large with a huge amount of square footage. Outside the building were five very large ex-football players from Wood Berry High working on hanging a sign above the opening door.

         There was a special event that was being hosted by several churches and businesses along with many of the graduating seniors and other residents from all over town. This building had been donated by Mr. Gibbs and the bank as one of the first homeless shelters.

         It needed some work on the inside and out, but so many professional business owners had gladly donated time and supplies in order to get it ready for housing. Norton had asked several of the teachers and staff as well as many of his fellow classmates to lend a hand.

         James and Si stood looking at the sign that was being hung above the doorway. It simply read, "Welcoming Wood Berry's Brothers and Sisters with Love.” Both James and Si couldn't help but feel a great sense of pride. After all in many ways they helped to make this home for the needy become a reality.

         Norton opened the door waving them inside, "Hey, y'all coming? We could use a hand in here. We have opening day coming up and we have folks that need us."

         Si looked at James, shrugged her shoulders asking, “Well, we gonna do this thing?"

         James threw his arm around her shoulder, pulled her close to him and kissed the top of her head as he let out a slight snort, "Yeap, looks that way. You ready sweet girl? You with me?" he asked.

         Si grabbed James waist squeezing him tightly as she looked back at him smiling, “To the ends of the world and further if need be, forever and always."

         The summer would yield more housing accommodations for the homeless men and women and their children. The dream of one young man had not only allowed help for those in need of a place to find shelter, his dream open up channels that enable a whole community to build on...........

         One freaky night a young man risked so much in order to change his community for the better. A risk that yielded more than anyone could ever have thought possible.

         To the ends of the world and further, for the betterment of all mankind. This truly is humanity at its best.

FOR THOSE WHO NEED OUR HELP, WE ARE HUMANITY; WE NEED TO BE AT OUR BEST.

Part 30

         As each of the floats passed by the platform that held the most important town leaders, Norton, James and Si wondered if any of this had taken hold. Trying to make other people see the greater need just wasn’t that easy.

         For Norton, he had to make a choice about how to go about getting the attention drawn to those that really needed help. Once he found out about his birth mother and realized that as he grew into a wonderful life, her life had not been so great. He knew after he tried to write the play about the subject, that it just wasn't enough to shed light on homeless people’s circumstances.

         His search for his birth mother hadn't taken him very far from his own home. Just a few miles from his comfortable house, under that nice expensive bridge was where he would find her. It broke his heart to know that he had spent his own life in such great comfort and she was eating out of garbage cans.

         Norton knew from the moment he spotted her for the first time that his life could never be the same. What good did it do to be raised as a Good Samaritan and never actually do anything good, for anyone? Sometimes you have to sacrifice something of yourself in order to achieve greatness. This was what Norton had chosen to do by leaving his parents, his home and his friends behind. He too would live as a homeless person till he could figure out what to do about the problem and his mother.

         It was James that had helped to bring this all into play. If James hadn't found him that night standing in front of a barrel, none of this could have been possible. Now, Norton watched all of these wonderful people that had come together to support him in his efforts to bring this problem to light. How remarkable people can be when you ask the impossible of them.

         As the last float moved out of sight of the platform, Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs stood up and hugged each other. Even though Norton had gone to such great lengths to prove his point they were very happy that he was safe. Both of his parents felt a great sense of pride that he would be so bold as to do this incredible thing to bring awareness about the homeless.

         Now, there was much to be done in order for the town to come together and get a plan started for helping these residents. Everyone that matter stood in a circle talking among themselves about today's event. It was obvious that there was so much to do if things were going to change.

         An hour and a half after the start of the parade it had reached its conclusion. Norton, his birth mother, James, Simone and Mr. Johnson stood in a circle with Walter Gibbs and his wife. The mayor, several members of his staff, three or four business owners and some of the clergy found their way to where Norton was standing.

          Finally, it was time to get the ball rolling as Mayor George Henry spoke first, "Norton, I got to say young man you really got things shook up around here." he said as he extended his right hand to Norton. Continuing he said, “I’d like to thank you for being brave enough to scare the heck out of all of us, first of all. Well, and for being bold enough to do something so grand." Clearing his throat the mayor still holding Norton's hand went on, "I hear you, loud and clear. You're right young man. It's time we took care of our own."

         There had been so much to lose, yet Norton knew that he would have to risk a great deal to get what he needed from all of the residents in Wood Berry. As the day’s festivities drew to an end Norton found James and Si getting ready to head home. He wanted them to know how much their support meant to him, but especially their friendship. He waved at James hollering, "Yo, James, dude you got a minute?"

         James turned seeing Norton coming his way, "Hi ya. What's up?"

         "I just wanted to thank you and Simone for standing up with me. I know I ask a lot from you, you know, getting all involved in this stuff. But it means everything to me and my mother." Norton turned, looking over his shoulder at his birth mother, knowing that she was safe for the first time in many years.

         "Ah, man it's all good. You had something you had to do. That's cool. Look how great it turned out. All these people came here to witness a brand new beginning. Man, this is great." James replied giving Norton a shoulder bump.

         "Hey, look at it this way. We just invented a new theme for the up and coming seniors of our high school. Dude, we rock!" Si jumped in. "Norton, you scared the crap out of us, but you did a good thing. Be proud of yourself. You got courage."

         "You think things will work out, for real?" Norton asked. "You betcha." Both James and Si answered at the same time.

         All three stood in the road watching the people of their small, but growing town shaking hands with those that needed help. There was a flurry of activity in the town and along the streets that felt good.

         It was the feeling of humanity, changing for the better, becoming the best it could be.

This was humanity at its best.

Part 29

James and Si stood in front of the last float that was part of the Wood Berry High School Seniors Community Awareness Project. This was the float that everyone at the high school who had participated in helping to build, decorate, and gather the last of the homeless folks in the surrounding area would ride on.

         Finally after a few weeks the subject matter that Norton had wanted to bring to light had all come together. His choice to disappear the night of the play had great significance. No one in the town, not even those young people that had gone to school with Norton had any clue that he was adopted. Everyone in town would know that his life had been a lie.

         The last float was much bigger than the first two with an assortment of signs, smaller banners and posters all indicating to the leaders of the town, business owners, clergy, and political leaders that something had to change.

         It was a whole new ball game being lead by a whole new team. This was the perfect time for all young people, their parents, each and every educator, and any other person who cared to get involved.

         This day, there were no excused accepted. Now, change was being demanded by any and everyone associated with Norton and this parade of people who had to have help.

         Today was a new beginning.

Part 28

A huge banner designed by the art department of Wood Berry High School hung above the platform that had been constructed especially for the town's most important leaders along with other special representatives.

         There were presidents, vice presidents, the CEO and managers of privately own companies sitting along with the high school principal, assistant principal, counselors, and clergy from seven different churches of Wood Berry.

         Then there were the guests of honor, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gibbs, Norton's parents, along with Mayor George Henry and his chief of staff and everyone associated with the city's council.

         At exactly nine am Mr. Johnson and the head of each department from the high school made their way to the platform. It would be Mr. Johnson's honor to kick this parade off. He had waited on this opportunity his whole life it felt like. Now he would put his own sense of honor into making this event this best that it could be.

         Standing in front of the microphone he took a deep breath and began his opening statement, "Ladies and gentlemen, your honor, Mr. Mayor and all fellow business owners and head of every department and our clergy: it is my honor to officially kick off the first ever Community Awareness Senior Parade. We are so proud and please to be able to start this event hosted by our very special guest."

         Turning to look down the long street he waved his right arm in order to signal the beginning of the parade. Speaking with his very loud and strong baritone voice he continued," May I present the homeless residents of Wood Berry, the lost, the forgotten and the lonely in need and their newly elected spokes person, our very own missing senior, Norton Gibbs."

         The gasping could be heard from one end of the platform to the other. Those that stood just below the platform tilted their heads towards the under pass of the highly expensive bridge that Mr. Gibbs' bank, First Trust and Banking Company, had helped to build.

         To date it was by far the most expensive project that the town had commission any contractor to build. It had cost the town and its residents nearly one and a half million dollars for construction. Every tax paying citizen would be shelling out hard earn tax dollars for this upscale bridge for nearly the next ten years to come.

         As the first float began to move down Mulberry Drive the honor guest on the platform along with those residents lining the street could begin to see the first of many homeless people from every corner of the city standing on the first parade float.

         It was decorated with flowers, ribbons, balloons and dried grass with a large banner hung from high atop of poles much like flag poles. The banner read in large letters, "Lost, But Not Forgotten". Atop the float were at least ten different homeless persons all dressed in their normal daily street wear.

         To every one's surprise there stood Norton Gibbs in the very middle of the float waving an American flag with a sign around his neck, "My Real Mother Lives under the Mulberry Drive Bridge". Not one person who had attended the parade had any idea that Norton had another mother or that she lived under the bridge, with the exception of Norton's parents.

         Was this what his entire message was about? Was this why he had disappeared in the first place? Had he been living on the streets for this whole time? What was Norton trying to tell everyone?

         The second float rounded the corner also heading down towards that very expensive bridge financed by Walter Gibbs' banking company. This floats' sign was painted in bright fluorescent colors with the signage of, "Lost our Homes in 2008, Still Homeless".

         It held about six families that were still feeling the pain of having become displaced. As of yet, no social service department or any other government branch had tried to find these families suitable housing. Their home was now located under the Mulberry Bridge.

         There wasn't much that could be said about the parade that was taking place. More than two hundred homeless persons would become part of the overwhelming statement that was taking place today.

         It was obvious that the graduating class of 2014 had found their special purpose. They had also found a leader in an unexpected classmate and he was whole heartily leading them into a new era of caring for one another.

         This was Norton’s commitment not only to the community that he called his home, but also to a lost mother that he had never known. It was a new beginning for all in this small town called Wood Berry.