The Golden Connection: Three men bond while working on the G. G. Bridge. Jeff's Dream: A man goes west during the gold rush and a raven changes his life. Hanno's Song: A boy's love and an elephant's courage overcome all obstacles. Nikos: A Greek family seeks refuge during the Greek-Turkish war in 1920. The Red Box: A red shoe shine box changes the life of a homeless man and his family. Stormy: A thoroughbred and a young man struggle together to reach their goals. April Fourteenth: Black Sunday affects people's lives and a child's future. Chapel on Wheels: A poor southern family experiences an eventful life in Chicago. Maska: A cattle rancher learns to understand and respect wolves. Kostas: A fisherman has to make a choice between wealth and doing what's right. A Crow and a Burglar: Jewelry fascinates a crow, a burglar and a ruthless woman. The Dream Painter: Magical paints help people fulfill their dreams. Qanuk: A polar bear survives global warming and wins the hearts of the country.

We Are All Connected

Historic & Inspirational Short StoriesBy George S. Evans

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 George S. Evans
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4567-4754-1

Contents

The Golden Connection.......................................1Jeff's Dream................................................31HANNO'S SONG................................................69e Nikos.....................................................105The Red Box.................................................143Stormy......................................................165April Fourteenth............................................189Chapel on Wheels............................................223Kostas......................................................265The Dream Painter...........................................295QanukA Polar Bear's Struggle to Survive.....................313Maska.......................................................343A Crow and a Burglar........................................365

Chapter One

The Golden Connection

By George S. Evans

The San Francisco Bay is swarming with crowded ferries during the prosperous 1920's. The heavy traffic creates congestion, dangerous situations and frequent delays. To alleviate these problems, several proposals to build bridges across the bay are repeatedly offered to the officials; but the highly profitable, influential ferry boat companies and other powerful groups vigorously oppose the ideas.

Joseph Strauss, a world-renowned bridge designer, dreams of building a bridge to span the mile-wide Golden Gate strait, the bay's entrance to the Pacific Ocean. The strait is known for its strong winds, treacherous waters with its heavy swells and white-capped tides, connecting San Francisco with Sausalito and the magnificent coastal redwoods.

Fifteen years of contentious debates cause years of delays just before the country enters into the era of the big depression. Legislators and the people think that the estimated cost of $35,000,000 for such an impossible undertaking during the depression is not prudent or realistic. Adding fuel to the hotly contested debate, Strauss sets aside the traditional bridge designs in favor of a suspension bridge that was not only functional but it would also be a structure of beauty. After countless meetings and presentations, Strauss finally convinces the authorities that the graceful bridge is feasible, safe and economical.

Finally, Joseph Strauss proudly stands with 200,000 people to witness the ground-breaking ceremony at Crissy Field on February 26, 1933. The Marin anchorage on the Marin headlands above Ft. Baker's Horseshoe Cove would be built at the same time as the San Francisco's southern anchorage. But Strauss's dream would become riddled with nightmares.

Besides the frequent occurrences of blinding fog banks hanging over the San Francisco that make it hazardous for traffic to maneuver on the Bay, the economic hardships also make it difficult for the people to navigate their lives. The poor, middle class as well as the wealthy are all treated equally with disdain during this time of high unemployment causing hunger and uncertainty.

One of many unemployed is Bob, normally gregarious and happy, walks alone as he sadly passes through the main gate for the last time after working there for fifteen years as a welder. His head is down and his shoulders are slumped as he heads for home located in a middle class neighborhood. Bob isn't in the mood to talk to his neighbors working in their yards. He is preoccupied with what to tell his wife, Joan. Bob pauses at the front door for a few moments, collecting his thoughts. As soon as he enters the house, Joan greets him with a kiss.

"How was your day, honey?"

His downcast eyes said it all.

Joan's smile fades as she senses that something is terribly wrong. He hands her his three months severance check without saying a word.

Joan becomes teary eyed and they embrace. Joan, wearing a mask of confidence, says, "Something will come up. We'll just have to watch our expenses and I'll look for work."

"No, honey, our two sons need you at home. Besides, once the factory closes its doors, the whole town will be in trouble."

"I'm afraid we'll lose our home when our savings run out," laments Joan.

"It worries me too. Maybe we should consider selling it before things get worse and rent a smaller place."

For months, Bob tries to find work but it's hopeless. They have no choice but to get out from under their mortgage and move into a low- rent basement apartment in a less desirable part of town. Most of their furniture is sold at bargain prices. The only place they can afford is a damp and depressing basement apartment. Two light bulbs suspended by a frayed cord barely shed enough light on their few pieces of furniture. They cancel their newspaper subscription and depend on their radio for the news and entertainment. Like many other families, they live in the shadows of poorness for the first time.

However, living on the edge of poverty is not new to Bob. He grew up on a small dairy farm. Bob's father, Jim, develops a heart condition and the burden of working the dairy farm falls on Bob's broad shoulders. In addition to milking twenty cows twice a day, Bob feed the herd, cleans the stalls and maintains the equipment. It is an all-consuming, difficult life. Coping with and surviving nature's erratic behavior was an on-going challenge. Even during a good year there is barely enough money left over to buy basic necessities after the mortgage is paid. The lingering drought during the early thirties and the widespread dust storms hamper milk production and eventually bury many families under mountains of debt. The majority of banks are reluctant to loan money to farmers and ranchers during these uncertain times.

Eventually, Bob's family is forced to sell the farm, equipment and cows for pennies on the dollar at an auction. They pack what little they have and move to a small apartment in the city. Long lines of the unemployed compete for a limited number of jobs and the fortunate few who are hired have no choice but to work for sub-standard wages. Jim works as a handy man, does minor repairs for home owners and he also works as a dishwasher in a restaurant. Mary, Bob's mother, bakes and sells pies. Bob, now twenty-seven years old, finds a part-time job as a welder; which eventually becomes full time. He had learned to weld and repair their old farm equipment since they always had to make do with what they had. In time, Bob had saved enough money to live on his own and he rented a room from an Irish, Catholic family that lived in a large, old house located in a well-established neighborhood.

Within a week, Bob is convinced that he chose the right place to live when he met Joan, the eldest of three daughters. It isn't long before Bob takes a strong liking to Joan who often sits on the front porch swing to take in the cool breezes after a hot summer day. Joan, 25, is a waitress at one of the local restaurants. After a few weeks, Bob puts aside his shy nature and he joins Joan on the swing. They talk and laugh late into the night. It becomes a nightly ritual and their happy moments together make it easier to bear the hard economic times.

After a few months of courting, Bob, to no surprise to anyone, asks Joan's father for permission to marry his daughter. On the following evening while Bob and Joan are on the porch swing, Bob proposes to her. She happily accepts the ring without any hesitation. The parents are very pleased and relieved that their oldest daughter is finally engaged. Shortly afterwards, they are married in the church and the reception for a few friends and relatives is held at the house. The honeymoon is postponed until they can afford it.

Bob and Joan live in Joan's parent's home parents they find a suitable apartment nearby. Bob and Joan work hard and live a frugal life with one major goal in mind. Within a year they save enough money to make a down payment on a small home. Shortly afterwards, they have a son Michael and Joan quits her job to take care of him. Two years later James is born. It's difficult to support a family of four on Bob's wages, but they manage well enough until the depression changes everything.

Chapter Two

A small radiator in the basement apartment and the heat radiating from the furnace through the open door fail to adequately warm the apartment during the freezing winter days. As part of the rental agreement, Bob keeps the coal furnace fired up to heat the apartments above them. Joan does the best she can to create a home atmosphere out of less than next to nothing.

On every Saturday night, five-year old Michael and his three-year old brother James take turns sitting in a large metal tub on the kitchen floor filled with warm water Joan carried from the kitchen sink, bucket by bucket. Joan scrubs her sons clean and then she vigorously dries them off with a large towel. After the boys put on their flannel pajamas, they go straight to bed and soon fall asleep under several layers of blankets.

Shoemakers are very common; however, many families can't even afford to have their shoes resoled. Makeshift cardboard inserts serve as a temporary measure. Nothing is wasted or thrown away. Bob straightens out crooked nails and saves scraps of wood. Also, they only go to the dentist if a toothache becomes unbearable. Out of economic necessity, home remedies are commonly practiced before going to a doctor as a last resort.

Since many families can't afford meat their daily diet is limited to potatoes, pasta and greens. Only the fortunate few have chicken, fish or ground beef once a week. Dinner plates are always left clean. Since they can't afford to buy a car, the family either walks or relies on the bus and streetcar. Joan buys clothes for the family at the used clothing store and the children wear hand-me-downs. Bob always plants a vegetable garden in an adjoining empty lot and he works it after spending most of the day looking for a job. Joan learns the art of canning fruits and vegetables to sustain them during the long winter months.

The family adjusts to their living conditions and life is tolerable until Michael's cold gets worse. After the boys fall asleep, a deeply concerned mother confronts Bob, sitting at the kitchen table, with a painful reality, "I'm worried about Michael and our bills are piling up. I'm afraid we have no choice but for us to move in with my parents until you find work."

Bob, a proud man, sadly looks at Joan, "I worry about it too. Please wait another week."

Joan understands his agony and says nothing. She gets up from her chair and goes over to Michael and James, kisses their foreheads, and tucks in their blankets.

After dinner, it's customary to listen to the radio for the evening news. It's the usual reminder of the poor state of the economy except for one unusual announcement. A bridge is to be built in San Francisco and hundreds of workers are needed. Bob looks up, smiles broadly, "Honey, they'll need welders and since there'll be a lot of men applying for those jobs, I'd better take the first bus to the city tomorrow morning."

Joan, smiles with a glimmer of hope in her eyes and says, "Great! I'll pack your lunch tonight and you can get an early start."

Chapter Three

"Good morning, Mr. Swartz," said Dan, a short, young elevator operator in a twenty-story office building in San Francisco. Dan has worn his crisp, burgundy and black trim uniform for longer than he wanted.

Jacob Swartz, preoccupied, looks straight ahead at the fast-moving pointer as the floors quickly pass by, says nothing. He doesn't even crack a smile.

Jacob usually acknowledges only the people who are in a position to enhance his wealth. As the president of an investment firm, he's respected for his uncanny ability to make millions during the years of unbridled wealth. In spite of his success in the financial world, his colleagues do not completely trust him. Jacob's penchant for wealth pushes the limits of business ethics to the point of practicing cruel business tactics, with little regard for the consequences suffered by others.

Since Jacob's life is deeply immersed in the company, his family life is virtually non-existent. But he does make time for his daily morning workouts - lifting weights and swimming laps in the country club's pool. He also achieved a black belt status in karate. Jacob, like many other investors, leverages his investments at a dangerous ratio believing that the stock market will continue breaking historic highs.

His fourteen year old daughter, Ann, hardly knows her father. Jacob's marriage has become strained to the breaking point as he chases the brass ring. His attractive wife, Helen, is lonely and resorts to drinking to pass the day and to submerge her frustrations. No one can ever please her. She often takes out her resentments out on the gardener and maid. The maid manages to tolerate her and remains loyal in spite of Helen's unreasonable demands and caustic remarks. Worst of all, Ann doesn't receive the parental love she longs for during her formative years.

One morning during breakfast, Jacob looks up from the newspaper and asks, "Helen, why is there a different gardener every month?"

She replies, "It's hard to find someone who can do a good job."

"The garden looks okay to me," responds Jacob.

"It can be better and I want someone who'll do what's expected of him without constantly being reminded."

"Well, it's your domain and you should run the household as you see fit."

Angry, Helen stares at him and complains, "I wish you shared some of the responsibilities; but you're hardly ever home. And when you're home, you're always at your desk. Everything is always up to me. Our daughter and I don't really know you anymore. Ann needs your attention and love."

Angry, Jacob says, "I need to work long hours to support your high society and glitzy life style."

Frustrated, she turns and while walking away cries out, "You just don't get it!"

Jacob shrugs his shoulders as if not to care. He isn't surprised at another one of his wife's outbursts. He slams the door and returns to his desk.

"Black Friday," a day of reckoning, put an end to easy money and catches Wall Street off guard. Jacob and other investors are suddenly faced with an out-of-control downward spiral of the stock market. The "Crash" swallows billions of dollars, leaving in its wake widespread, financial disasters and despair. The market that once gave generously suddenly takes it all back without mercy. No one is spared the agony of a change in their life style. Bogus investments become worthless. Financial institution's unregulated greed instigates a deep depression, causing untold suffering among millions.

Like many others, Jacob has no choice but to file for bankruptcy. His investments plunge in value overnight and his debts far exceed his assets. Jacob has no choice but to sell their mansion, which often accommodated lavish parties, release the maid, the cook, the gardener and sell their two luxury sedans. The family has to be content with living in a small apartment. They can no longer afford to send their daughter to an upscale private school and enroll her at a neighborhood public school. All trips are cancelled, beauty parlor appointments are less frequent, purchase of stylish clothes cease and eating at home instead of eating out becomes the norm. Forced to downsize, most of their furniture and "stuff" are sold at bargain prices. Their baby grand piano is also sold, forgoing Ann's private piano lessons. She relearns the art of grocery shopping and prepares meals. In time, Helen feels more worthwhile by making a contribution to her family's welfare and these change help end her drinking habit. Also, Jacob finally realizes that there're other important things in life besides accumulating wealth. The fortune that Jacob inherited from his grandfather, who made millions from investing in railroads, is nearly gone.

Ann complains, "Mom, I don't want to go to that school. I don't care for the kids who go there and I bet they have low standards. Also, I hear that it's not safe."

Mother responds, "Ann, I understand your feelings and I don't relish the idea of you mingling with those kids; but we have no other choice. I'm sure that it's only temporary. Your father will find a way to get us out of this dingy neighborhood."

Ann asked, "Did you ask grandpa for help?"

"He also lost a great deal of money in the crash and they need to be careful with what's left for their old age. I'm afraid that we're on our own."

Ann experiences a different world, a school with students of different nationalities and color. She keeps to herself and she avoids any close contact with students. Ann chooses to sit alone in the cafeteria. After eating sparingly she goes out to the playground. A tall, slender yard supervisor with short red hair, wearing a broad-brim hat and a whistle around her neck, sits next to her, smiles and says, "Hi Ann, I'm Jane Hill. How's it going for you?"

Ann hesitates to answer and finally asks, "How did you know my name?"

"It's a standard practice here to know each student by name. The principal asked me to look out for you."

Ann is impressed and she finally smiles, "I'll only be here for a short time so I sort of keep to myself."

"I understand. But is there any harm in making new friends while you're here?"

"I guess not. But I'm not sure how to go about it."

"Maybe if you make an effort, you'll be surprised as to how easy it is. Were you involved in sports at your other school?"

"I was on the swim team."

"Great! Did you know try outs for the swim team are this coming Monday?"

(Continues...)

Excerpted from We Are All Connectedby George S. Evans Copyright © 2011 by George S. Evans. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.