A’shon…
I had just decided not to return back to college in person. I wanted to stay at Love City and finish my degree online. Shawn said he had the perfect role to make sure I could manage work and my homework. All I had to do was sit at the front desk and check in students for open gym. A week later, ballroom construction began and the checkout and open gym entrance moved to the back cafe. So now, instead of just checking kids in as they went into the gym, I also got to hang out with them as they took a break from basketball.
This eventually developed and the cafe became a spot where the kids who didn’t want to play in the gym, but who did still want a place to hang out after school, came. Kids would come in to chat, get a snack, play board games, do their homework. One day, a little kid wandered in. He was only 5 years old, he had just started Kindergarten. The couple that were in charge of open gym at the time told me he couldn’t come because he was too young. I couldn’t bring myself to kick him out to go back to an empty house, his mom didn’t get off work until later. So the compromise was that he could hang out in the cafe with me. So everyday, we hung out, talked, played board games, and if no one else was in the gym we would sneak in a few shots. This little boy was named A’shon.
A Young A’shon hanging out with me at Open Gym
As A’shon grew, so did our relationship. I would watch him ride his bike around the corner everyday to make sure he got home ok. One day, it was getting late into the evening and we had started sending people home. It was getting dark out. All of a sudden I saw A’shon still standing in the cafe crying. One of the older kids had stolen his bike. We called his mom and let her know the news. His mom walked over to the gym to pick him up. As Shawn was apologizing to her he remembered some bikes that we had leftover from our Christmas Party that year. He sent me downstairs to check, and lo and behold there were a couple of leftover bikes. I brought it up and we got it adjusted for him and all of a sudden the tears parted way to a smile. This relationship continued and when we opened up Mighty Oak A’shon came.
One of my favorite memories of A’shon is on a hot summer day, we were working on the building and A’shon and one of his friends kept riding their bikes up and down the hill of the school. They would stop and talk to us or ask for a popsicle every once and a while. The next day the head of school at the time came in and told us that the lock for the parking lot gate had gone missing. She didn’t know what she had done with it. A’shon and his friend came riding their bikes around again and Shawn asked them if they had maybe seen the lock. He explained the importance of the lock and that if they knew what happened to the lock they wouldn’t be in any trouble or anything. The boys were adamant that they did not know what had happened to the lock, they rode off. A few minutes later, A’shon rode his bike back up. He informed us that he had happened to find a lock, he claimed he didn’t know if it was ours or if it would work for us but we could have it; it was our lock.
If you met A’shon today you would encounter one of the most well mannered students at Mighty Oak. Always using Ma'am and Sir, Please and Thank You. He is possibly one of the most resilient student’s at Mighty Oak, facing whatever life throws at him head on. Through it all I have gotten to know and build a relationship with A’shon for longer than any other student at Mighty Oak. He holds a special place in my heart and I can already tell that he is going to be a leader among his generation. If you ever get the opportunity of meeting A’shon, cherish the moment.
Ethan
Merriment!!!
Merriment is open for business Thursday and Friday 11am-6pm and Saturday from 11am-4pm. Donations can be dropped off Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am-4pm. If you have any questions or to confirm a drop off time please call (502) 901-1105. We hope to see you soon!! To shop our higher end items online visit our Website or our eBay Page.
Fish Fry OPEN!!!
Stop by the Fish Fry to grab lunch, or bring the family for dinner, or just grab a bite while you check out the new windows!! Churched Up Tots or a Fried Fish Sandwich. However you do it, We’d love to see you!!!
If you are interested in volunteering or to find out more information about supplies needed please email: info@lovecityinc.org or call (502) 272-078.