First Class Menu Read Free Page B

Borsten?”
    The woman behind the desk typed something into the computer
and said he was in room 4352. David made his way to the elevator and again
questioned what he was doing, but he pushed the button and the doors closed and
he was quickly on the fourth floor looking for the room that hopefully held Lou
and her father.
    He knocked on the closed door and a female voice responded,
telling him to come in. He hesitantly opened the door to see blue hair and
relief washed over him.
    Lou turned around and her expression told him just how
surprised she was to see him.
    “What are you doing here?”
    David attempted a smile and took a couple of steps into the
room to see an old man lying in the bed, his eyes closed.
    “I’m sorry to intrude, but I’ve been calling you and then I
went to find you and they said you were here.”
    Lou turned back to her father. “I’ve been…busy,” she
whispered.
    “Is there something I can do?” David asked.
    Lou shook her head. “The diabetes has not been kind. He’s
just lost his right leg.”
    “Oh, I’m so sorry,” David replied, not knowing what else to
say.
    “Yeah, me too. Our apartment is on the third floor and our
building doesn’t have an elevator. Wait. That’s not true. It does have
an elevator. It just hasn’t worked for the last fifteen years.”
    David didn’t have any idea what to say to that.
    “I don’t know what we’re going to do.” Lou shook her head
and sighed.
    “Your mother?”
    “Mom died about ten years ago. It’s just been me and dad
since then.”
    “I’m sorry,” David said again. “Please, let me
help…somehow.”
    “I don’t think there’s anything you can do. Tomorrow I guess
I’ll be down at the VA trying to figure something out.”
    “The VA?” David asked. “Your dad’s a veteran?”
    “Two tours in Vietnam,” Lou said. “He was drafted when he
was eighteen.”
    “I’ll be right back.”
    David stepped in to the hallway and pulled out his phone.
His brother Paul would help. He had all the connections and he would get this
ball rolling.
    *****
    “I don’t understand,” frowned Lou. “It’s not that we aren’t
incredibly grateful…but…how?”
    David and Paul stood in the small hospital room were Mr.
Borsten looked as confused as his daughter.
    “Our non-profit organization has dozens and dozens of
connections through the city, and thousands throughout the country, to make
sure that veterans, like yourself, get the medical treatment they need, and in
your case, Mr. Borsten, also a change in living accommodations. I can assure
you that this new apartment is well equipped to take care of your needs,”
explained Paul.
    “But how will we pay the difference in rent?”
    “Don’t think about that Dad,” said Lou. “I’ll figure it out
and take care of it.”
    “Not necessary,” smiled Paul. “Your rent for the first six
months is taken care of, and after that, it is just the same as you were paying
before.”
    “That can’t be right!” exclaimed Lou. “It’s a bigger
apartment…a nicer apartment in a nice neighborhood. It can’t be the same rent.”
    David gently placed his hand on Lou’s arm. “That is what
this organization does. It takes care of our veterans. There are lots of people
who choose to, let’s say, subsidize your rent. Your father did a great service
for this country…one we cannot repay…but now at least let us try.”
    “We don’t need your charity and…”
    Paul interrupted her. “This isn’t charity. Not by a long
shot. This is allowing us to repay a debt we owe to your father. Please take
the apartment.”
    Mr. Borsten looked at his daughter. “There’s no way I can
walk up stairs, Poo. I need an elevator when I get out of here and I need
doorways wide enough for my wheelchair.”
    Lou nodded and smiled at her father. She turned to Paul and
David. “Thank you,” she conceded.
    Relief flooded David. He really had wanted to help Lou and
her father. That was genuine. But he