I proposed the idea to Worth and he generously agreed. We began setting up the legalities with my friend, Brandon.
Brandon wasn’t quite as enthusiastic as I about the concept. “Auggie, are you two sure this is really what you want to do? You know, it’s a big responsibility. Many of these kids are troubled. They’ve lived with inner city life and know the way of the streets. They’re really not going to be very happy in a Kentucky farm environment.”
“We’ve thought about all that, Brandon,” I reassured him. He and I were sitting in a park. I’ve brought a picnic and we watched the ducks as we discussed our plans. Brandon still had a holdout hope that Worth and I would break up. He had not yet married and I brought this up now. “Brandon, you and I have always had a special relationship,” I began. He looked hopeful at the turn in the conversation and nodded. “You know I’m fond of you — always have been. But if you’ve been holding on to some idea that maybe there’s a future for us, well I wish you wouldn’t. My marriage is stronger than ever and I don’t want you to be alone.”
His face fell and I felt bad, but I knew the words had to be said.
“I won’t deny there were times I was cheering against Worth,” he admitted. “I’ve always loved you, Auggie. I just missed the boat.” He reached out and patted my hand and I grabbed him, throwing my arms around his neck.
“For what it’s worth, Brandon,” I spoke softly into his ear. “If it weren’t for Worth, you and I would have been together long ago.”
He lingered in my embrace a moment longer than necessary and then broke away. “I’m not sure if that makes me feel better, or worse,” he chuckled, trying to lighten the moment.
“Isn’t there some nice gal you’ve had your eye on?” I prompted him.
“Oh, I’ve not been a monk, don’t worry,” he grinned. His eyes sparkled as he looked out over the small pond. “There have been a few lights in my gloomy past.”
“I’m glad, Brandon. I’d hate to think that you were holding out on my account,” I teased.
We sat comfortably silent for a bit and Brandon pulled another sandwich from the picnic basket. “You know Auggie, there’s more to this than you might think. What happens to these kids when you treat them like royalty for the summer and then send them back to an impoverished world? Is that really the kindest thing you can do for them?”
“Oh, I’ve thought about that. I really have. The way I look at it, though, is that one summer of freedom might be enough to show them another way of living; that they have options. I can’t see that as a negative. The only thing worse would be not giving them a way out.”
“But are you two truly ready for the responsibility? These kids will be used to living a certain way. They’re not going to simply slide into the role of a genteel old money family without looking for ways to apply what comes naturally for them.”
“We get that. Don’t forget, Brandon, Worth may have wasted most of his education on spoiled socialites, but he does know his stuff. He sees it as a chance to really use the tools he’s been given. I really can only see it as a win-win all the way around.”
“Okay,” he said, wiping the crumbs off his pant leg. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’ll start the paperwork for the foundation right away.”
“Thank you, Brandon. By the way, I’ll expect you to stop in from time to time and maybe give a few talks about the advantages of becoming a lawyer. Who knows, you might actually have something valuable to contribute yourself,” I teased him.
He rolled his eyes. “Let’s not get carried away, shall we?”
“Brandon, you’re such a snob!” I accused him and I had to give him credit. He did stop to consider the possibility, if even for just a moment.
***
Worth and I stood at the side of the Steeplechase course and tried to look at the grounds with a new perspective. No longer was this going to be a diversion for the idle rich, but a learning ground for underprivileged kids who needed to see a bridge between where they were and what it was possible for them to become. We had to be very sensitive in their needs and not look like we were being condescending in any way. These were two totally diverse worlds that needed to be combined into one that made sense.
“You know, this is as much for us as it is for them,” he pointed out.
“Yes, the same thing occurred to me. We’ve grown up having before we even asked. These kids, many of them, will never have, no matter how much they might ask. They don’t even know what to ask for. Worth, are you comfortable building the right environment, or would you like to bring in some other colleagues? How about Tyler Peterson?”
“Exactly what I was thinking, as a matter of fact.” He grinned and pulled out his cell phone. A few minutes later he said, “Tyler’s off today and is on his way over.”
“Wonderful. I’ll take that as a positive sign.”
Tyler showed up a short time later and had the good sense to wear boots. While there was no snow on the ground at the time, it was definitely not ground suited for dress shoes. Tyler was a tall man with a grandfatherly appearance, despite the fact that he was just about Worth’s age. Prematurely gray, he walked with a bit of a hunch and was very unassuming. I could see how he would be great with kids.
We took pictures, walked the grounds, measured things and ended up back at the estate. Worth lit a fire and we sat down in the family room to go over ideas and concepts.
“This will be a completely different world for these kids, Worth,” Tyler brought up, knowing that we were well aware of it, but using it as a preamble to our continuing conversation.
“So, the primary question is whether we try to make the atmosphere more reminiscent of what their homes look like, or do we keep it a little more special, sort of like a trip to Disney World?” I asked.
Tyler smiled. “Have you ever been to Disney World?”
I nodded.
“Have you ever thought you could live like that — or even wanted to?”
“I see what you’re saying. So the atmosphere has to be reachable but inspirational?”
He nodded with approval. “That’s an excellent way to look at it.”