Page 31 of Trusting the Grumpy Mountain Man
"Which failed them before." He paces the small room. "You've seen what we're accomplishing here. Are you really willing to destroy that for a promotion?"
The accusation lands where he hopes. "That's not what I'm doing."
"Isn't it?" He stops, turning to face me fully. "When you have to choose between your career and what you know is right, which matters more to you?"
"Again, that's not a fair question." I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly cold despite the warm cabin. "My entire professional identity is built around protecting vulnerable youth. I can't just throw away my career."
"And I can't just stand by while bureaucrats who've never met these kids decide their futures from behind desks in Sacramento." The passion in his voice reminds me of why I was first drawn to him, despite our differences.
"I'm trying to find a middle ground." I step toward him, needing to bridge this growing divide. "Maybe if we address the most critical violations immediately?—"
"We don't have time for 'maybe,' Riley." He checks his watch. "The kids are waiting for today's lesson. I need to go."
"Jax, please." I reach for his hand. "We need to finish this conversation."
He allows the contact but doesn't return the pressure of my fingers. "What's left to say? You have a decision to make. Make it. I have kids counting on me."
With that, he gently disengages from my touch and leaves, the door closing behind him with a quiet click that somehow hurts more than a slam would have.
I stand alone in the cabin, my professional and personal worlds colliding with devastating force. Whatever I decide, someone gets hurt. The kids. Jax. My career. Myself.
After twenty minutes of circular thinking, I grab my jacket and head outside. Maybe watching the program in action one more time will clarify things.
I find the group at the small lake a quarter-mile from the main camp. They're building rafts from materials found in the forest, supervised by Jax and Mason. The teamwork evident in their interactions showcases exactly what I've documented in my report. Communication. Problem-solving. Conflict resolution through necessity rather than intervention.
I hang back, observing without interrupting. Jax notices me but gives no acknowledgment beyond a brief glance. The distance hurts more than it should after just five days of knowing him.
Mason approaches as the teens test their rafts in the shallows. "Quite the transformation from day one, isn't it?"
"Remarkable," I agree, watching Kevin willingly take direction from Darius without complaint.
"Jax has a gift." Mason sips from his ever-present thermos. "Not just with the techniques, but with seeing what each kid needs. When to push, when to step back."
"I've noticed." I wrap my arms around myself against the morning chill. "It's all in my report."
"Which I hear is causing some friction." At my surprised look, he shrugs. "Small program. Thin walls."
Heat rises to my cheeks. "My supervisor has specific expectations for my evaluation."
"Bureaucracy versus reality." He nods sagely. "The eternal struggle."
"It's not that simple."
"It never is." Mason watches the teens with obvious pride. "But sometimes the right choice is painfully clear, even when it's the hardest one to make."
Before I can respond, shouts erupt from the lake. One of the rafts has capsized, dumping Mia and Tyler into the water. Jax moves immediately, wading in to help them right the unstable craft. Instead of panic, the teens laugh, working together to fix the structural issues that caused the failure.
"See that?" Mason gestures toward the scene. "A month ago, Mia would have exploded in frustration and Tyler would have given up. Now they're problem-solving through failure."
"The program works." I state what's become undeniable. "I've never seen anything like it."
"Worth fighting for, wouldn't you say?" With that parting comment, Mason returns to the group, leaving me with thoughts that offer no easy resolution.
I spend the morning observing, compiling additional notes, though my report is essentially complete. At lunch, I return to the admin cabin alone, needing space to think.
Sitting at Jax's desk, I open my laptop and stare at my report. Seventeen violations clearly documented. Program strengths thoroughly outlined. Recommendations for continued operation with modifications.
Everything Margaret doesn't want to see.
