My Mentor

There is poor, and then there was us. Abandoned by our father, we were in a government facility for women and their children. No toothpaste, no toilet paper. I was given someone else's clothes. I was embarrassed.

A man, who heard about our 'predicament' at his church sent some clothes and bathroom supplies. He sent each of us new shoes. He sent money for food. Everyone in the facility had to provide for themselves, the facility provided a roof. We were the chosen ones for this man, he never met us.

My mother got a job at the high school as a janitor or 'cleaning lady'. We were embarrassed. When we got old enough we got small after school jobs, until we were able to rent an apartment. Once we left the facility the man's money ended, went to some other woman still there.

I worked as a waitress in a Chili's and made decent tips. I finished high school and went to work at a business looking for a clerk. I was tested there, and was put into a development program. Eventually earning a college degree. With my salary our lives were better, but not good enough for my mother to quit her job.

As a professional I saw a different world. One day a woman there asked me if it was luck, or if I was Mr. T's special one. It was then that I learned my mother's job, the good luck of the apartment, the job, the scholarship, all of it was him.