“Seehow using hashtags gives it that classic feel?” I ask, showing the team at Safe Harbor the post I helped them construct at the start of the meeting. “They’re coming back in a big way, and you can ride the wave of popularity for a few months before you’ll need to switch tactics.”
Suzie Flores, director of Safe Harbor’s Central Texas family shelters, sends me a relieved smile. “I swear, we’ve tried everything to drum up interest in our fundraising drive, but this one post has already pulled more eyeballs than we’ve been able to get all month. Seven hundred and fifty views already, and you’re not even in it!”
Everyone chuckles because I’ve been known to make nonprofits go viral with a single post. The pool selfies are always popular, but Suzie and her team need the same numbers while keeping their shirts on, so I’ve spent the last hour sharing my current theories on how to juice the algorithm to make the biggest impact.
It’s obvious my dads gave Suzie my name—along with a sizable donation—but the team has already asked me to come back for the statewide board meeting in a couple of months, soat least they find my advice useful. Hopefully, I’ve been sensitive to their unique needs.
With that in mind, I turn to Suzie. “Given the people you serve, I’m guessing you have some security concerns with your posts.”
“You could say that.” At her dry response, everyone shifts in their seats. Makes me wonder if they’ve already had a few dangerous encounters.
I lean in, hoping they see that I’m invested in making this work for them. “What are your known threats? What, or maybe, who are you most worried about?”
As someone raised in a protective and loving home, the next few minutes are difficult to hear. Difficult but necessary. I make no promises, but I’m for sure gonna text Uncle Jake when I’m done here. He’s the hacker of the family and created an automatic script to flag the dangerous comments on my posts. I’ll ask him to see what he can do to protect the staff and the people who need their services.
As we’re wrapping up, Suzie pulls me aside. “I’ve seen you on the volunteer circuit, but this is different. With the gala and now this consultation… Are you looking to open your own nonprofit?”
“What, like a nonprofit to help nonprofits?”
She lifts a shoulder. “Yeah. I mean, we’ve got a shelter for folks in recovery just down the road from here, and their fundraising is on life support. I know they’d appreciate this kind of help too.”
I haven’t fully organized my thoughts around what I want to do beyond event planning. That suggestion though… I can think of a dozen organizations off the top of my head that would be helped with a more centralized offering of support, including the community health center where Maya volunteers.
And then there’s online forums, algorithm briefs for when the social media gods get a wild hair up their asses, the occasional podcast for theold-school crowd… Hell, accredited volunteer hours if UT ever forgives the Bevo incident.
I tap out a rhythm on my bottom lip.
Huh. Oakley’s academic focus is on dangerous populations. He might have some suggestions on the mental health front, and then Mav’s already agreed to volunteer his skills with the visuals…
“Rami? Did I lose you?”
I shake my head to clear my thoughts and find Suzie looking at me with a crooked smile.
I give my apologies with a sheepish grin. “Your idea just set my brain off on a tangent.”
Maybe name it something that evokes a bright future…
She chuckles. “That’s what I like to hear. The nonprofit community could use that kind of well-funded help, and I’d be happy to help if you want to go down that path.”
“I’ll take you up on that.” I pump her hand enthusiastically. “I’ve got to get to the next thing on my calendar, but I’ll ping you later this week.”
I probably shouldn’t tell the director of Safe Harbor that stalking is the next thing on my calendar.
“Sounds like a plan,” she says with a pleased expression.
After firing off a quick message to Uncle Jake, I walk out of the Safe Harbor offices with a spring in my step and my phone in hand, spilling idea after idea into my Notes app.
Look, I get that following someone in the real world is shady as fuck, but I followed Silas’s recommendation to check out Truett’s online footprint, and the only thing I could find was his business account.
My first foray into stalking was a bust, mostly because I hadn’t considered my extensive social media following. Lastweek, I followed True to the tiny house project out by Decker Lake, and even though I disguised myself with a snapback and my reading glasses, a rush of twinky teenage fans came up to me, sweetly asking for selfies.
I’d just positioned myself behind Truett and was damned lucky he hadn’t spotted me.
By the time I finished chatting with the kids and digitally signing their socials, he was nowhere to be found, and I’d learned a valuable lesson. Since then, I’ve tested different disguises and found a few simple ones I can use in the future.
Today, for example, I’m back at the tiny house build—which will be going on for a few more weeks—and I’ve upped my incognito game. It’s not even that hard. I turn my hat backward and slip on some dudebro wraparound sunglasses along with the thinnest little mustache, and it completely changes my face.
No one’s recognized me, and now I’m… a little bored.
