Chapter 12 - Page 163 - Village Goes To Work

   Jackie stepped back from the door and held his hands up in front of him. “No thank you, Rhasha! I’ve already had my shower. I think I’ll just go have breakfast by myself.”

   “We’ll be there in about an hour, Jackie,” Jim said. “That is, if I can get stinky here to take a shower.”

   “Jim,” Jackie said, “I have a feeling that’s how you got wet in the first place.”

   Rhasha nodded, grinning.

   By the time Jim and Rhasha reached the dining hall, Jackie had eaten his breakfast and left. The hall was almost full. Jim and Rhasha filled their bowls with boiled oatmeal. As they made their way to the last empty table, a family eating breakfast stopped Jim and thanked him for all he had done for them.

   “Is there anything we can do to repay you for the food, home, and clothes we’ve received?” one of them asked.

   Other people in the dining hall had overheard. The hall grew quiet as everyone waited for Jim’s answer.

   “I don’t ask for any kind of payment from anyone,” Jim said. “I require nothing from you, but I would ask each of you do one thing for me.”

   Several voices rose, all asking the same question: “What do you want us to do, Jim?” Those in the hall leaned forward, eager to hear Jim’s answer.

   “Share what you have with others,” he said.