Page 15 - ThreeGiftsForFlipBook

room with a small office and a smaller bathroom. In one section of the room a few chairs sat around a low table with magazines on it. The other section, where two children were, was a play area with a throw rug, a box of toys, a small play kitchen, a few lounge chairs, a little shelf of books, and a playpen. An old oak desk sat at the curve of the room. Judge Jensen was sitting at the desk. She was the first person the young men saw when they came into the Center. That didn’t make them anymore excited about their sentence. She looked up and scowled at them over her glasses. “It’s about time. You’re late. I expect you to be punctual. You can sit down here and sign up for your shifts.” “Ma’am,” Sam said, “do you mind if I go first? If it’s all right, I would like to work late evenings and Saturdays so I can still play basketball.” “I have no problem with that. I suppose if you’re busy you can’t get into trouble.” Then she got up from her desk and grabbed Justin and Tom each by an arm. They reluctantly followed her into the children’s play area. “While Mr. Johnson is signing up for some hours let me introduce you to a couple of the young people who are here. Mr. Jackson, Mr. Howard, I would like you to meet Emily and her little brother, Timmy. I will 10