Page 131 - The Administrator - A Startling True Story of Politics and Deception_Neat

THE ADMINISTRATOR | 119

of where he goes from here; and Yvette’s welfare is, and will always remain, first and
foremost in his heart.

Meanwhile -- having spent seventy-one days’ retreat in stunning Punta Cana

-- Alonzo returns to the United States destitute and disheartened. Stuck at the airport,
without a place to go or call home -- he hunkers down on the terminal’s first floor.
Holding on to his three luggage and a smartphone that needs reactivation -- he uses
his laptop to connect to the public Wi-Fi -- sends an email to Yvette. He composes

another email to REMA -- a very dear friend -- in Saint Louis, Missouri; then waits.

Lafayette, Louisiana
SOUTH EVANGELINE TRAFFICWAY

Homeless -- in every aspect -- Alonzo finds himself, 71 days later, placing a
telephone call to a Men’s Shelter. He gets explicit instructions during the phone
conversation. At the end of the call he walks across the 3-lane road to a QSR.

Outside Men’s Shelter

Two-and-a-half-hour later, Alonzo walks across the street in the rain. A few

minutes’ walk, he comes to the queue -- in front of the Men’s Shelter -- amidst light
rain. Though slightly drenched, he’s number thirteen on the List, but eight on the
queue. Within half-an-hour, an average-looking male with the clipboard in hand --
wearing a red t-shirt and khaki pants -- calls out the names on the List. Fortuitously,

Alonzo’s among eleven, out of thirty-four prospects; the rest were turned away for
various reasons, including prior infractions, lack of state-issued IDs, and lack of
additional beds.