part one
CHAPTER 1
major
What an amazing day. We’d celebrated the dual grand openings of the Meeting House—the place where my buddy Beckett ran his alternative, largely agnostic ministry—and my new plumbing and bathroom renovation business. Those two things didn’t seem at all related unless you knew the details, but my business and the Meeting House had a shared history that made today especially poignant.
Before I could reflect on any of it, however, my apprentice, Leo, followed me into my office. I was used to being the tallest guy in the room, but Leo had at least two inches on my six-two frame, and his broad, strong build had been a boon for my more physically challenging projects.
“Did you like the people I recommended?” he asked, his nerves on display.
Today wasn’t just about the grand openings; I’d also opened up a few apprentice spots and had held interviews with candidates throughout the day. Leo had chatted up the program with his classmates, and I’d been shocked by the number of high schoolers and college-age kids who’d expressed interest.
The thing about Leo was that, while he’d been working his tail off for the last year, plowing through a chunk of the requirements to get his plumber’s license, he was also the human equivalent of a Great Dane puppy: too strong for his own good and a little mouthier than you’d like. I loved him like a little brother, but his lack of maturity or any kind of filter didn’t usually incline me to take his opinion too seriously.
On this occasion, however, I’d been wrong.
“They were great, Leo. I’m taking on three apprentices for now, and two of them were ones you’d recommended.”
“Sarah and Hugo?” he asked, pushing his light brown hair off his forehead, his blue eyes bright.
“Yep. Mario was also a strong candidate, but he’s a little young.”
Leo nodded. “I thought so, too, but I wanted him to meet you now so you can maybe consider him next year.”
“That’s a really good strategy on your part. I think you’ll do a great job helping the apprentices with the basics.”
He nodded and wiped his palms on his jeans. “I think I’ll enjoy helping them. Though, uh, I wanted to ask you a question about that.”
I frowned. His usual brashness was nowhere to be found, and his voice held a tremor I couldn’t account for. I wondered what had him so on edge. “Go for it,” I said, adding some warmth to my voice to see if he’d settle.
He flushed, opening his mouth, hesitant. I sat forward, clasping my hands on my desk as he found his words. “I’ve been watching YouTube videos to learn some of the more advancedplumbing techniques,” he admitted. “I think I can take on more responsibility once you get the new apprentices going.”
I blinked, thrown by his sincerity.
I must’ve let the stunned silence go on for too long because he scrambled to explain himself. “I know it sounds stupid, watching YouTube videos to learn something you could teach me, but I thought maybe if I did that, I could move from the simpler stuff to some of the things you do.”
I hadn’t expected that from the guy who’d gotten in trouble at the end of the school year for letting one of his high school friends tattoo the word “love” on his collarbone with a stolen machine. Clearly, I had to recalibrate.
Shaking my head, I answered, “I pull up YouTube all the time to prepare for some of the more complicated fixes. That was very forward-thinking of you.”
He lifted his head, darting a soulful look to me, only to drop his gaze the second our eyes met. “I just… I’m about to turn eighteen, and I wanna be able to earn enough so I can be independent.”
The thin quality of his normally rich voice revealed how important this was to him. “That’s a good goal,” I said, hoping some conversation would help him relax.
We spoke for a while about his favorite YouTubers, what his senior schedule was looking like, and whether he’d want to stick to plumbing or also look into the remodeling side of things. He liked the idea of being a Renaissance man, and I made a note to get my contractor in on a mentorship path with Leo as well.
We’d have to work on his communication skills, but this conversation was, at the very least, a lesson to me in not making assumptions. Leo had intelligence, grit, and willingness to grow, and any business owner worth their salt knows that’s the good stuff.
Checking the time, I realized Ginger, Leo’s supervisor at Lupe, was probably waiting for him. Lupe was the Guadalupe County Group Home for Teens, and Leo was about to age out of the system. I was glad to be a part of the group helping kids like him succeed as they transitioned to adulthood.
Leo and I could’ve talked for hours, but it had been a long day and I still had a few tasks to finish, so I stood and stuck out my hand. “Congratulations, Leo. You’re officially a senior apprentice.”
Leo looked at my hand, then jumped up and made his way around the desk in a flash. He dragged me into a boisterous hug. “You won’t regret this, Major. I promise. I super promise. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” He buried his face in my shoulder, and hot tears wet my work polo.
“I think you’re gonna do really well in this new space,” I told him.
He pulled back, his eyes red but crinkled at the edges thanks to his massive smile. His throat worked as he tried to find more words, and I held up my hand.
