The Service

By Kurt Lewis Allen

The Service addresses many of our Country's contemporary problems such as how to improve our Medical, Educational, Legal, and Electoral systems. The book is written as a compilation of short stories that graphically illustrate ideas and concepts that offer solutions to our Economic, Social, and Political difficulties. Following each short story are Authors notes that further explain the ideas and concepts.

The stories build on one another so that at the conclusion of this book the reader is left with a clear idea of how we can work together to make this Country a better place to live.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 29, 2010
• ISBN: 9781456713867

Kurt Lewis Allen

Kurt Allen grew up in the small town of Crockett, California, where he graduated from John Swett High School in 1970. He spent just over eight years on active duty in the Air Force before attending college at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma Washington where he graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration in 1984. Kurt retired in 2003 after thirty-two years of Federal Service.

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Contents

Section One – The Service

Preface

Why We Need the Service

A Birthday Party

Getting Started and Everyone Has Value

Elizabeth Gregory

In Home Helper

George Bentley

Helicopter Pilot

Kathryn Beale

Police

Benson Ripley

Uncontrollable Kids – Desert Farms

Patricia Garrett

Border Patrol

Vernon Scharlin

Grocery Boy – Mentally Challenged

Gina Bonovich

Secretary – Non-Combat Military Personnel

Jack Lollar

Recycle Centers

Jeanette Lawson

Nursing Homes

Jeremy Steele

Crop Pickers – Athletes – Disaster Preparedness

Joan Barber

Food Kitchens

Tito Moreno

Small Heavy Equipment Operator – Bicycle Roads

Gail Lang

Vehicle Mechanic – Service Motor Pool

Juan Cardoza

Electrician – US Citizenship – Flex City

Jim Boyle

Carpenter – Government Buildings

Diana Lollar

Day Care Centers – Married Service Members

Bill Forester

National Forests & Parks

Margaret Lloyd

Hazardous Material Spills

Neil Wyatt

Plumber – Service Barracks – Service Sport Stadiums

Olivia Padilla

Orphans

Dirk Beldi

Concrete Apprentice – Federal Help to Local Governments

Concepts

Section Two Civil Service

Premise

Jessica Adams

High School Councilor – Service Job Selection

Robert Harden

Paramedic – Prerequisites

Karen Poff

Postal Service - Disaster Preparedness

Charlie Paxton

Service Job Quantifier

Fred Caetano

HVAC Craftsman - Poor House

Betty McClure

Pilot – Service Aerial Transport / Fire Fighting

Gordon Day

School Teacher – Extended School Hours and Days

Connie Stillinger

Lawyer – Legal Services

Daniel Tuana

Architect – Planned Housing Developments

Cheryl Blackwood

IRS Agent

James Percy

Political Candidate Investigator

Becky Miller

Army Helicopter Pilot – Disaster Response

Richard Bracesco

Doctor – Putting Care into Medicine

Section Three Temporary Service

Full Employment

Noreen Duran

Job Coordinator – Temporary Service Office

Rodney Bills

Mason – Community Centers

Pucci Hunt

City Park Maintenance – Part Time Worker

Bob Jones

Drunk – Everyone needs an opportunity to work

Linda Simmons

IRS – Recurring Part Time Employment

Larry Ballard

Recycle Center Worker – Between High School and Service

Susan Chemyez

Cook – Continuing Job Search

Mike Nelson

Data Input – Alternative Work for the Temporarily Injured

Charise Evans

Heavy Equipment Operator – Building New Roads

Patrick Stefan

Steel Worker – Federal Buildings

Carol Brown

City Beautification – Create Work with Worthwhile Projects

Conclusion

The Service

Preface

Today’s young American adult grew up in a life of favor. Most have never worked and few understand responsibility. The transition from student to worker, whether college was attended or not, is difficult at best. In years past young adults transitioning into the workforce knew what was expected of them. They grew up with hard work and responsibility. Furthermore, as they grew to adulthood few of their wants and desires were satisfied. As adults they understood that hard work, on their part, was required to meet their needs, and that savings from the meager amounts left over from their labors was essential to realize their wants and desires. The transition for them, although not easy, was more a matter of course.

Today a young adult that leaves high school after graduation and joins one of the military services is guided through this transition and upon discharge is not only ready but fully capable of going out into the work place and giving a full days work for a days pay. However, there is no room in the military services for all young adults. Indeed, even if there was, the military is not the right place for everyone.

We need a Service that is non-military to help our young people make the transition from pampered child to responsible adult. Every young adult, who chooses not to enter the military, should be required to fulfill three years of non-military service after graduation from high school. Those who quit high school before graduation can be placed in the non-military Service immediately and attend high school continuation classes in their off duty time. We don’t want to encourage our children to drop out of high school, so at the age of nineteen these high school dropouts can go into the military or begin their three years of obligatory non-military service.

Juvenile delinquents, rather than running the gambit of our juvenile detention system and causing trouble and concern to their parents and everyone else can leave school and their homes to live on a rural farm where all the work from plowing to harvest is done by hand. School continuation classes and time for studying will be accomplished during their non-work time. At the age of nineteen these, hopefully reformed, juvenile delinquents can start their three years of non-military service or join the military.

The first section of this book explores some potential jobs of the non-military Service.

A Birthday Party

Harvey your ride is here.

Thank you Mother I’ll be right out. Harvey finished using his mouth for talking, bit down on his joystick, and propelled his chair forward. As he rolled into the room the expression on his face was a mixture of concern, apprehension, and joy. He released his joystick and said, I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. I wasn’t sure what to pack.

Everything you need to bring is right there in your chair, Lisa explained without introduction.

With a tearful good-bye Harvey left home to attend his nineteenth birthday party.

Lisa escorted Harvey into the party, helped him sign in, and then showed him to a table where he could park his chair. Are you hungry? she asked.

Feeling self-conscious about having a stranger feed him Harvey said, No. He really wasn’t that hungry any way. The thought did, however, serve to bring out some of the fears he had been feeling for the past few days and even weeks.

"Ok, I’m going to leave you now. I have a few things to do around here, after all this is your party not mine. I’ll check back in a little while to see if you need anything. As she walked away Lisa quietly prayed a little prayer that Harvey would make some friends. She’d decided to sit him at an empty table hoping that people would choose to sit with him.

Harvey listened to the conversations around him.

I’m going to play football, he heard a boy behind him state proudly.

While he listened he watched the girls at the table in front of him. He hadn’t had much contact with girls his own age and he listened carefully to make out what they were saying.

Beth are you sure you want to be a nurse? asked one of the girls.

Yes Sally, with all my heart, replied Beth, In fact if I do well I might even go on to become a doctor.

I don’t think I could stand to fulfill the prerequisites, another girl chimed in.

Me either Cheryl, agreed Sally, I couldn’t stand spending all that time with old people, cleaning their house, doing their shopping, and who knows what else they might want from you.

Ooo, said Cheryl, I don’t even want to think of what else they might need you to do.

If that stuff bothers you, said a very pretty girl coming to Beth’s aide, Then I’m sure you wouldn’t make a very good nurse anyway.

One of the girls Harvey had been watching got up and walked over to his table, pulled a chair out, and sat down. She was close enough for Harvey to touch; that is if he’d been able to move either of his arms.

Hi my name is Gertrude.

I, I’m Harvey. It’s nice to meet you.

It’s nice to meet you too Harvey.

Gertrude and Harvey talked and Harvey not only ceased to hear the conversations around him he forgot the other people were even there. The conversation was going extremely well until a boy pulled out the chair across from Harvey and sat down. Mind if I sit here, he asked as if it made a difference. After all, he was already sitting.

Harvey did mind. He was sure the boy had sat down because he wanted to get to know Gertrude. To his surprise the boy spent more time talking with him than he did Gertrude. Harvey in fact was the center of the conversation. In time he forgot his irritation and was almost grateful the boy had chosen to join him. Soon they were joined by others. Harvey looked around sure the other tables must be full and his table was accumulating the overflow. To his surprise there were plenty of seats available at other tables.

Harvey was enjoying the conversations and soon knew everyone’s name. I’m going to get something to eat, said Gertrude as she pushed her chair back and walked away.

A short while later Gertrude returned carrying two plates. I wasn’t sure what you liked so I got a little bit of everything.

Thank you, said Harvey feeling quite apprehensive, I’ll eat pretty much anything.

Gertrude laughed and held a fork half full of potato salad up for Harvey to eat. After taking the food into his mouth Gertrude got a mouthful for herself from her plate using her own fork. Richard sitting across from Harvey watched the process carefully. Gertrude was right there with a napkin at the ready every time Harvey had a need for it.

You’re quite good at that, Richard commented.

I have some experience. My grandmother needs a great deal of help with everything she does.

I see are you planning to get into home care.

"Yes, I want to be a nurse.

I was thinking of that also but now that I’ve met Harvey I was thinking of asking to be his aide. If that’s ok with you Harvey.

Really? I’d be happy to have you as my aide, Harvey granted with relief. I can’t imagine what job they could have for me, he questioned with obvious apprehension and then speculated with a forced chuckle, maybe they’ll make me a door stop.

Don’t worry, laughed Gertrude, I’m sure there are plenty of jobs that you can do.

Lisa stopped by to check on Harvey. She was pleased to see he was no longer alone. He was talking to people and someone was helping him eat his meal. She didn’t want to intrude but wanted him to know she had stopped by as promised. As she passed by she softly brushed his cheek and smiled. Harvey returned the smile and watched her for a second as she passed.

Harvey finished his lunch, thanked Gertrude for her help and turned to the boy next to him to continue his earlier conversation, So Benson, you said you spent three years on a service farm. What happened, did you get into trouble?

No I just didn’t like living with my father’s stupid rules and I thought high school was a waste of time. Boy was I a dummy.

What are you going to do now, asked Jeremy?

I like working with my hands, I think I’ll be a carpenter.

Looking around the room Director Stuart observed, for a few moments, all the nineteen year olds seated around the many tables deep in conversation. Slowly he raised his gavel and let it drop on the block of shiny carved wood setting on his podium for just this purpose. After several taps, each more insistent than the previous, the room began to quiet until his voice could be heard throughout the room. With each successive word the room grew quieter until Director Stuart’s was the only voice in use. After his brief introduction he shouted, Let’s get this birthday party started! Please join me in singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to all of you. Very good, he commented when the singing ended. "Now let’s get to work. The helpers are passing out a stack of forms for each of you. The top form is self-explanatory and should present you with no problems. Please don’t start on the other forms; we’ll go over those together.

As the Director spoke Lisa made her way back to Harvey so that she was on hand to help him when his stack of forms arrived in front of him.

Author’s Notes

The main character in this chapter is a quadriplegic. Everyone at the age of nineteen should be inducted into The Service. There should be no deference’s. Everyone has value, and the best way to help them realize that value is to put them to work. The parents of a disabled child have, in many cases, been giving care to that child at a level generally only given to a non-disabled child at the most until age three. Given a choice many parents would be reluctant at best to release a disabled child from their care. They feel they are the only ones who are concerned enough to give the child the care they need and deserve.

Making The Service mandatory will prevent these parents from further handicapping their child by refusing to allow them to go out into the world. True in the case of a quadriplegic it will most likely be a full time job for another Service member to help this person in their day-to-day living. The first purpose of The Service is to help children become adults. What better way to help make this transition than to teach them to care for another person, especially if that caregiver is planning to become a nurse?

I chose the age of nineteen for young adults to be inducted into The Service because this gives them time to finish high school prior to beginning their mandatory service commitment. Beginning this commitment on their birthday gives a clear date for the beginning and the added bonus of completing their service commitment on their twenty-second birthday. Guess which birthday celebration will be the real party?

There will be inductees that have not yet completed high school. No matter the reason, sickness, poor performance in school, or a late start, there should be no deference’s. High school can and should be completed while serving.

Elizabeth Gregory

Wake em up dorm guard came the disembodied voice across the intercom by the exit. The dorm guard moved to do her bidding; Beth woke from a restless sleep. The scenes of the previous day came flooding back to remind her of where she was. It wasn’t much of a party as birthdays go. In fact it was no party at all just a lot of paper work followed by getting settled in, after a fashion.

Beth threw back the covers and moved her feet to the cold vinyl floor. With an involuntary start she withdrew her feet for just a second before replacing them with determination to make the best of what the day held in store for her, realizing full well that cold feet were to be the least of her tribulations. The other girls, in the large room filled with beds that were aligned in two neat rows, were also getting up. Beth decided she had better get moving if she didn’t want to stand in line to use the bathroom.

Rainbow, Rainbow, don’t be blue although it’s tough you’ll make it through, sang a formation of girls in uniform as they marched in perfect rank and file.

What’s a Rainbow? Beth whispered to no one in particular as the formation she was in walked along in somewhat less of a proper formation.

We are, replied one of the more knowledgeable girls also in a whisper. Look at us; we’re all wearing different colors.

Not for long, whispered another girl.

Quiet in the ranks, ordered the trainer marching next to the formation, and close up those ranks, at least try to look like you know what you’re doing.

Beth’s feet were feeling quite sore and she was questioning her choice of footwear as they stopped outside a large single story windowless building. Time for some new clothes, the trainer addressed the formation, The good news is you won’t have to pay for a thing. As for the bad news you have no choice in what you’ll be wearing. Just be sure that what you get fits and don’t spend a lot of time in the process. We’ll start with the girl on the far right of the first rank. As the last girl in the file passes the first girl in the next file will follow until everyone has entered the building. Move!

Beth was handed a duffle bag as she passed through the door. The room she entered was quite large with a counter toward the front. Footprints, with a sequential number between them, were painted evenly on the floor. The girls who entered ahead of Beth occupied the first two rows of footprints and part of the third. Without instruction, Beth took her place on the next available pair. Strip to your bra and panties, came an order in a feminine voice from the front of the room. Place all your clothes in your duffle bag as you remove them.

I see some of you young ladies don’t wear a bra and others don’t wear panties, observed the trainer from the side of the formation. I’m sure you won’t mind being topless, or bottomless, as the case may be until we’re done here, but from this day forward, for the rest of your service career, you will get in the habit of wearing a bra and panties. Is that clear?

Ma’am. Yes Ma’am! came the reply loud and in unison.

The voice from the front again took over, Above the counter are signs with sizes. Starting with the first girl in formation get in line under the sign for your panties size. If you are not sure what size you wear, then guess. Take the panties you are given, return to your spot number, remove your civilian panties and replace them with one of your new Government Issue panties. If they fit, place your old panties and all the extra new ones in your duffle bag. If they do not fit, proceed to the line you should have been in, in the first place and trade for the correct size. Let’s get moving ladies we don’t have all day.

Beth was glad she had decided to wear her bra. She noticed some girls wore no under wear and were standing naked waiting for their turn to get some panties. The bras took a little more time for everyone to get fitted but eventually all the girls were standing in their new Government Issue bra and panties.

The trainer was standing at a door on the opposite side of the room from where they had entered. Time to move on girls, stay in order. As you approach the counter in the next room call out your size for the item labeled above the counter. Take the items given to you, move to the bench, dress yourself in one of the items, place the rest in your duffle bag, and move to the next counter. Try to get your size right the first time; we have a lot to get done today. We can’t spend the whole day getting you girls dressed.

Beth dumped the contents of her duffle bag on her bed, as instructed, then stood at ease at the head of her bed waiting for the trainer to get to her row of lockers. While waiting she tried to see as much as possible of what was going on while the trainer instructed other girls on how their locker was to be arranged. The next step, after all the girls had been instructed on the proper way to keep their locker in inspection order, was to pack up everything that wasn’t Government Issue and stow it away in a small locked storeroom. With that accomplished the trainer showed them how to make their beds properly, in order to pass inspection.

Now you all know how to keep your locker and your bunk in inspection order. Follow me around the dorm and I’ll explain how to keep the rest of your area in inspection order. Let’s start with the latrine. But first! The trainer bent, reached under the bed in front of her, and picked up a ball of wool. This is a wooly booger, it’s formed from pieces of wool off your blankets. Starting tomorrow morning until the day you leave here I don’t expect to find another one of these occupying my dormitory, do you all understand?

Yes Ma’am, whispered some of the girls close enough to be heard.

What! the trainer exclaimed?

Ma’am, Yes Ma’am! shouted all the girls in unison.

That’s better, said the trainer looking very serious.

One thing I can say for this place, Beth commented to the girls at her lunch table, the meals are good.

Yes, they have quite a variety too, added the girl to her left.

I guess its good they run us half to death and make us do calisthenics every day or we would all be fat as pigs, professed the girl to Beth’s right.

Speak for yourself, argued the girl across the table, just because they offer the food and it’s good doesn’t mean you have to gorge yourself.

Beth, wanting to redirected the conversation, said, I think it’s good we exercise every day. It breaks up the monotony of sitting in class for hours learning what The Service is all about, how we fit in, and what is expected of us.

That’s all very important to know, argued the girl across the table.

Yes, soothed Beth, but it’s hard sitting in class as much as we do.

Why do they waste our time telling us about every job in the Service? added the girl to Beth’s right.

Yes, agreed the girl to Beth’s left, I’ve known what I wanted to do in the Service since I was twelve!

Not everyone here knows what they want to do, explained the girl across the table, they need to know what’s available.

True, Beth agreed, and it’s kind of interesting to hear about all the jobs.

I’ll be glad to get out of here and into trade school, commented the girl to Beth’s right.

Four weeks down and two to go, smiled the girl across the table.

Where are we going now? whispered the girl next to Beth as they marched in perfect formation.

Beth stayed in step as she quietly answered, I’m not sure but I think this is the longest march we’ve been on since we got here.

Yes, agreed the girl behind her, I thought it was a long way to the clinic where we got our shots but this is much further.

Are those gun shots? asked a girl ahead.

Yes, Beth replied, and we seem to be getting closer.

The weapon sitting on the table in front of you is an M-16, said the instructor from the front of the classroom. Do not touch this weapon until you are told to do so and be assured I will not tell you to do so until we have thoroughly covered fire arm safety. In addition to firearm safety you will learn to disassemble, reassemble, and clean your weapon before you go out to the range later today. The first rule is to treat every weapon as if it were loaded.

That was very interesting, declared the girl next to Beth as they marched back to their dorm.

Yes, replied Beth, In citizenship class, when the instructor talked about every citizen having the need to understand and be proficient in the use of firearms, I never expected that they actually intended to teach us how to use them.

This is only the beginning, the girl behind her commented, The instructor made it sound like we’ll be going to the shooting range every month while we’re in trade school.

I hope we learn to shoot other weapons, said Beth, I think I would have more use for a pistol than I would an M-16.

I think I’m going to need to learn how to shoot a shotgun, came a comment from behind, I don’t seem to have a very good aim.

You’ll get better with practice, Beth assured her without looking back.

Welcome to trade school, said a girl not much older than Beth. I’m a student leader. Here at trade school, students carry out most of the supervision. You can identify a student leader by the rope on their left shoulder. Red ropes are the highest, next are yellow ropes, and then green ropes. You are all assigned to work detail until a slot becomes available for you to attend class. This could take anywhere from one day to three weeks. While on work detail you’ll be assigned to a two-person room in the work detail dormitory.

Beth left formation as soon as she was dismissed and went in pursuit of her new dormitory. Hi, my name is Beth, she greeted as she entered her new room.

Glad to meet you, replied the tall blond occupant, my name is Shirley, I guess we’re going to be room mates. I took the bed by the window. I hope you don’t mind?

I don’t mind, Beth smiled, this bed’s closer to the bathroom. Beth dropped her duffle on the floor at the foot of her new bed and asked, Which locker is yours?"

The locker on the right, Shirley replied. What trade are you going into?

Nursing, Beth answered as she opened her new locker and began emptying her duffle.

Me too, Shirley smiled, funny they call it the nursing trade but we’re only here to learn a job that will fulfill our prerequisite to be a nurse.

Yes but everyone in the trade is planning to be a nurse eventually.

True, Shirley agreed, so which school are you attending?

Service provider. I thought about being an orderly but I think being a service provider will be much more rewarding.

I’m going to be a service provider as well, Shirley announced as she pulled a chair out from one of the two desks and sat down, I guess that’s why they put us together. I bet we’ll be in the same class.

Probably, Beth agreed as she turned from hanging a slightly wrinkled uniform in her locker. How long have you been here?

I got here yesterday, Shirley answered as she watched Beth unpack.

So you’re my elder, Beth stated with a smile.

Yes, Shirley laughed, I’m a whole day older. I was just getting ready to go to the dining hall. I’ll wait for you to get your things squared away and then you can come with me.

That sounds good to me, Beth said as she dumped the half empty duffle bag on her bed. With everything in plain site Beth’s gear was soon stored in her locker.

Boys, Beth commented as they drew near the dining hall. I haven’t seen a boy up close since my birthday party.

There are a lot of them around here, Shirley informed her. I’ve heard the ratio of boys to girls in the nursing trade is about even."

I’m not surprised, said Beth, since it’s a requirement to be a nurse before you can be a doctor.

How about you, Shirley asked, are you planning to go on to medical school once you finish nursing school?

One thing at a time, Beth replied feeling her insecurity, I’m not sure I can even make it through nursing school. I may be a career service provider for helpless little old ladies.

I don’t think that would be so bad, Shirley admitted. I’m looking forward to being a service provider. I think it was a good idea to make it a requirement to be a service provider before being eligible to become a nurse.

Me too, Beth agreed, after all if you don’t like being a service provider you probably won’t like being a nurse and you can avoid doing all that schooling for nothing.

With an effort Beth pulled her attention from the various boys seated throughout the large dining room and for the first time really looked at the room itself, This is a nice place, she commented as much to herself as to Shirley.

Yes, Shirley agreed, it is a nice place, wait till you see the kitchen.

They’ll let us go back and check out the kitchen? Beth asked looking a little surprised.

Shirley smiled, Tomorrow morning at four o’clock they’ll not only let you check it out they’ll insist on it. They’ll even let you wash dishes, mop floors, peel potatoes and all sorts of other fun things. If you’re lucky they might even let you work on the serving line.

So this is where we’re assigned to work tomorrow, said Beth, catching on quickly.

Yep, Shirley assured her, I saw our names on the duty roster. Of course I didn’t know you when I saw your name but our room number is next to our names. I spent eight hours here today. I woke up from my nap shortly before you arrived.

I guess we want to get to bed early then, Beth suggested, "since we have to be here ready