Free Meeting Mr Write: Mr Write Trilogy Book One by Cassandra P Lewis

smiles at me.
    We drive for about forty minutes and then pull into a long bumpy driveway. In front of us is a building that looks like it has seen better days, its painted blue and green. There are rubber trees at the front and two dogs lazing in the sun.
    “Jackson, we’ve missed you.” A small English lady walks out of the building towards us, arms stretched out, calling Jackson in for a hug as he climbs out of the car.
    “Jean, it’s great to be back. These are my friends, Steve you’ve met. This gorgeous creature is Pippa, and this…” He pauses and smiles, “This is Rosie.”
    Jean hugs us all in turn. I’d say she’s in her early fifties, she seems very nice but I still don’t know why we’re here. There’s a sign on the building but it’s in Thai.
    “It’s lovely to have you all here. Come on in then, they’re waiting.”
    Jean looks excited to have visitors. Jackson smiles and retrieves a duffle bag from the boot of the car.
    “Come on in then, they’re waiting.” He repeats Jean’s words with a smile as he walks backwards towards the building before turning around and heading in, and we follow.
    As we get closer to the door I hear the noise from inside, singing and children laughing. Jackson is smiling the most genuinely happy smile that I have seen from him and as we walk through the door, he laughs and sweeps the little girl running towards him up into his arms. Jean comes over to where Pippa and I are standing slightly confused.
    “It’s a nursery. We take care of children whose parents are too poor to feed, clothe and educate them. Jackson is a great supporter.”
    I’m shocked. I watch as Jackson goes to sit cross legged on the floor with more children, they seem to know him very well and he looks really happy.  Pippa is inspired and heads in to take some photos. Jackson beckons me to join him.
    “They’re great aren’t they?” He smiles while a little girl sits in his lap with a book.
    “They’re lovely Jackson. I have to say I’m surprised. You don’t strike me as the paternal type.” He looks at me confused, I regret that comment immediately.
    “I love kids, and I’m in a position to help.”
    “Do they live here?” I look around. There are maybe fifty children here, from babies up to about thirteen.
    “Some do, mostly it’s just a place where their parents know they’ll get a good meal and be well cared for while they work.” He lifts the small girl from his lap and stands. “They have a few kids here who don’t have homes, mostly the babies.”
    We walk over towards a door at the back of the room and out into a garden. There are more children out here and I am stunned. I’m saddened that so many families are so poor, that they have to send their children here, just so that they can eat. I feel tears prick my eyes and Jackson notices.
    “Hey, Rosie, don’t. Look how happy they are.” He smiles.
    “Yeah but Jackson, they have nothing. It just doesn’t seem fair.” I manage to hold back the tears but the lump in my throat is going nowhere.
    “They have food and water, great families, and the staff here are brilliant. They have clothes and shoes and toys, and smiles on their faces. Where we’re born is the luck of the draw Rosie, but it’s down to people like us to do our bit and try to even it out.”
    A boy of about five calls Jackson by name. He’s holding a football and obviously wants to play. Jackson walks over and takes the ball from the boy. He says something and points at me, the boy then runs and takes my hand, pulling me over to the grassed area where Jackson is already showing off his ball skills.
    “You ready to play Alvez?” He throws me the ball like he’s throwing down the gauntlet.
    “Ahh! You may regret that James!”
    I happen to love a kick around. I just hope everything Rafe taught me is still in there somewhere.
    “Oh, have some skills do we?” He winks and grins that grin.
    “Of course…I’m Spanish!”
    I shrug my shoulders