The Ark of Asylum (The Ark Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

husband. “I asked them the same thing in the beginning of the meeting before you got here, and they just said how amazed they were at how everything was coming along and how happy they all were.”
    “Well that’s great to hear,” John replies. “It means a lot to me that everyone is happy and satisfied with the development of everything, and I hope that stays the same in the future. Well, if there’s nothing else, I would just like to say thank you all for coming, and my door is always open for discussion, and everyone have a wonderful night.”
                  As John and Kate cross the room to leave, everyone else just kind of sits there, apparently not knowing what to say and with looks of concern on some of their faces. Some seem nervous, but others seem at ease about the news of the building of the Ark. As everyone gets up, they don’t say much to each other as they leave the room. In a way, the grandness of what’s been built and what’s planned to be built creates a sense of helplessness, as if they aren’t doing enough or helping out as much as they think they should, but after tonight, that all should change.

Chapter 4
     
    In the next couple of months, construction is well underway, and the main infrastructure of the orphanage is built. Before long, the whole family starts pitching in anywhere they can to help finish the orphanage. They start by gathering all the little things that will make the children feel like they are at home. They oversee the fabrication of things like bunk beds, school desks, and play areas for the kids. They interact with the designers so they can make every aspect of the orphanage as unique and homely as possible. Everything down to the bed linens has to be perfect for these poor, unfortunate children.
    John places a fresh batch of paint directly in front of Ashley and then continues to wipe the paint from between his fingers. Ashley looks at the paint and then at her father.                
    “Dad, why are we going through all this hassle to decorate this place? Aren’t these kids poor? I really don’t think they’ll care if our handprints are smeared all over the walls.”
    John continues to wipe his hands. “Because we need to take care of others, sweetheart, especially children. These kids are coming from nothing, so we should try to make this place as nice as possible.”
    Erica pulls her hand from the wall and smiles at her handprint. “I think they’re cool.”
    Kate finishes wiping Markus’s hands and stands to face Erica. “Ash, you know how you like placing things you like around the house? It’s so you feel like a part of this whole new experience. You’re making a connection by using those things. These kids have nothing, so we thought a way we can help them feel part of this new experience and their new home is by dipping their hands in paint and decorating the wall.”
    Ashley thinks for a second and then replies, “Oh, I get it. It’s an easy way to get the kids comfortable with their surroundings by making a connection with their handprints. But then why didn’t we wait to do this when the kids arrive so we can do it with them?”
    Kate and John look at each other, dumbfounded, hoping the other has a good response. John fumbles for his words. “Well, that is . . . an excellent idea, which we will be doing, so hurry up and cover up the paint, and we’ll pretend this never happened.” 
    Ashley throws up her purple hands. “You gotta be kiddin’ me!”
    Markus looks at his sister and does the same thing and mimics, “You kid me.”
    Everyone erupts into looks of surprise from the shock of a few rare words babbled by the youngest. Kara walks into the room just as the praise, consisting of hugs and kisses, calms down, obviously wondering what all the commotion is about. But the huge smile on her face quickly drops after they explain to her how she just missed the adorably cute and also very infrequent words from her