What To Do

Posted on Tue Apr 25th, 2023 @ 12:49am by Hale Stratton

1,062 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Bangor or Bust
Location: Town Hall
Timeline: 25 August 2010 - 1300

Father Dominic Stephens, known to many of the townsfolk as Father Dominic, was waiting outside the Mayor's office. The Trail's End Festival was a momentous event for Millinocket, bringing in tourists from all over the region. That being said, the federal government issue of a global pandemic and the governor issuing a travel restriction on all interstates and state routes had left hundreds of visitors in the town stranded. A great majority of those visitors were day travelers and the town was now overburdened without sufficient lodging. An emergency town council meeting had been called to address the issue.

Franklin left the conference room, aide in tow, discussing the best way to implement the decisions made by the council. "We're going to need to start gathering data," he said as his aide made hurried notes. "People came for the day expecting to be able to go home and while we've made some resources available, I'm going to want to keep on top of it."

"Yes, of course," James answered. He pushed his glasses up and noticed the man standing outside of the mayor's office. "Sir," he said. "I think that's Father Dominic. I'll gather some information and brief you ... later."

"Thank you, James," Franklin said with a tired sigh. "Make sure you take a moment to check in with your own family, here?"

"I will, Sir," James answered. "Father," he said with a polite nod as he murmured his excuses and headed to his own office. The Mayor's and Visitors' Center staff would both need to know where they could send people. What resources were available. Figuring all that out would occupy them all for quite some time.

Franklin stopped in front of his visitor and offered a tired smile. "What can I do for you, Father," he asked.

Father Dominic shook hands with Franklin as he spoke. "Actually, I wanted to speak with you on what the congregation at St. Andrew's can do for you Mister Mayor." He released the Mayor's hand. "I have spoken to several of lay leaders and we are getting the word out to organize collection of clothes and blankets for the day visitors in town that don't have shelter for tonight. We are also going to try and get some food donations for a potluck of sorts. We will need about two hours to get something setup, but after that you can start sending folks our way."

"That's wonderful news, Father," Franklin said. "Wonderful indeed. Please, come on in for a minute." He opened the door to his office and gestured for the father to precede him in. "Just don't want to talk in the hallway, you understand. Listen I got a conference call with the Governor starting in a few minutes, so I hope you won't be offended when my aide comes tearing in here like his hair is on fire."

Father Dominic stepped inside the office. "I am only going to ask for five minutes of your time." He took a seat in the chair offset at 30 degrees to the front right of Franklin's desk. "I have spoken briefly with the other seven churches in and around town. They have all agreed to organize efforts to provide for the visitors to our town."

Franklin nodded. "First Congregational had already approached me about tonight. I had it on my list to talk to the others, yourself included, after the call with the governor." He dropped down into his seat with a tired sigh. "So, you've saved me some time."

He pulled a pad close and made a few notes. "Truth is, we don't really know yet what this all means. If this shelter in place order is for a day or two, weeks, or heaven forbid, months. We might be able to manage for a few days but, if this draws out, we're going to need help. Best would be to send them back home but so far, the governor has been against that plan. We're supposed to get more details in the next call."

Father Dominic took out a small note pad and flipped it open. "I spoke with some of the teachers who have led school field trips here today. It looks like we have about a hundred teens ranging from 13 to 17 years old that don't have parents here today. Saint Andrew can accommodate most or all of them and the adult leaders from these fields trips. I can have all the boys bunk down in the Main Hall of the administration building and the girls and teachers in the upstairs offices. I have a few volunteers from the congregation who have agreed to spend the night at the church tonight to help manage preventing...late night rendezvous some of the teenagers might try and have."

"If you can do that tonight, then that gives me a bit of time to find something a bit more long term if things don't go well with the governor," Franklin said as he made another note on the pad. "Please make sure that you give me contact information for everyone you have staying there. Names, phone numbers and the like and that all of the teens let their parents know where they are." He met the father's gaze with the worried gaze of a parent with a child far from home. "That will be very important."

Father Dominic jotted down the Mayor's instructions in his notepad before flipping it closed and rising out of the chair he had sat down in less than two minutes before. "I will get you the information as soon as I can. I know you're extremely busy and I won't take up any more of your time."

"Please thank everyone in your church for me. I'll let my aide know to expect your call," Franklin said as he rose to his feet and extended his hand.

Father Dominic shook hands and exited the office. He was glad to not be in the Mayor's shoes, though he knew he was going to be in a very difficult situation with over a hundred refugee teenagers staying at the church for at least tonight. He gave Franklin one final nod before leaving.

James passed him in the hall, almost at a run, and headed immediately into the mayor's office. As the door started to close, James was already speaking. "Mr. Mayor, the conference call ..."

 

RSS Feed