Description

Music bounced off of every surface, distorting the lyrics of the melancholy melodies. The fan overhead lazily rotated with the changing air currents, squeaking softly to express its point of view. Every so often a bolt or a nut would jump away from the iron, only to interrupt the constant monotony of my task for the briefest of moments. Rubber and motor oil were all around me. Their fragrance mingled together to remind all who entered of their claim to the premises.

My fingers burned. My finger nails had been whittled away by the constant tapping and twisting that was my assignment.

Matching the auditory tones of the evening, the gray walls and racks combined with the low lighting stood in stark contrast to the vibrant and energetic colors in the other room. Gray. Such was my fate. Sweat accumulated on my upper lip. Once in a while I would taste the salts as I bit my lip to stifle a scream. Skin grows back- most of the time.

 

Time. What was the time? Night, I believed. I could no longer detect the pinpoints of light breaking through the rust holes near the fan. Isolated from reality, I continued to toil away the hours in my cage. Soon I would be free. Just one more row…

Comparison

Volunteering at StoneFire Studios reminded me of the story of the Count of Monte Cristo. I felt a bit more liberation with each piece of iron being removed from its place on the wall. Every disassembled bracket clanging to the scaffold rang loud as if to shout, “Your almost there...”

In the movie about the French book, Le Comte de Monte-Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, a young man becomes imprisoned and must secretly tunnel his way to freedom.

The back room looked as if it had once been a dungeon. Iron racks lined in neat rows like cages, carrying the echoes of those who once sat imprisoned, never hoping to find liberation before the end of the work day.

But now, Maxine Trainer has acquired the building, and is selectively disassembling sections at a time. She intends to turn the once drab and soulless tire warehouse into a thriving and vibrant palace of art. Revenge is sweet.

Cause and Effect

When Dr. Jones (Com. Prof.) asked me to volunteer at StoneFire Studios, I decided to oblige. Maxine, the manager of the organization, had a vision for the old tire warehouse. She wanted to turn the bland building into a community arts building wherein locals might gain a sense of culture, and also grow in their personal talents. 

When I arrived at the service site, I immediately became concerned for the safety of the less experienced volunteers. The building was safe enough, but the back room did not warrant the access of the unaware ambulator.

I began the task of disassembling a series of metal tire racks. Though tedious, Maxine voiced her appreciation for the progress and completion of this task repeatedly. She provided constant positive reinforcement for my efforts. I felt a sense of accomplishment as I realized that no one would happen upon an injury due to my efforts.

Advocacy

 In our world, one usually can find a lack of commitment to verbal agreements. Commitment is important to strengthen our society. When one can trust the word of another, respect is gained.












One option for building commitment is to volunteer. StoneFire Studios provides an atmosphere wherein volunteers can work to fulfill their verbal commitments. If one needs a little push in the right direction, Maxine proves to be very encouraging. She will find projects and support ideas. Maxine teaches art classes to children and adults. Her commitment to our community has earned her the respect of city officials. She has made friends with members of the Titusville Chamber of Commerce along with City Hall persons.


More importantly, the community has rallied around this new art studio to show their commitment to culture. Volunteering at StoneFire Studios will surely increase the personal drive to stay committed which exists in each of us.

Narrative

One evening as I tidied up for the night, I came across the missing bolt cutters.

Maxine had almost gone frantic searching for these loppers earlier in the day. I assumed that I’d find them in the catch-all room, but I did not feel at liberty to explore the premises on my own. I happened to move a box, and voila.

I asked Maxine if she'd like me to gear up and chop the lock at the top of the ladder. She exclaimed something in British that I took to mean "yes." I grabbed my head light and some climbing gear, tied the loppers to my belt, and climbed the ladder to the roof hatch.













 With a quick click, I accomplished my mission. I offered my head torch to Maxine as I headed to my car. I knew that the entrepreneurial manager of StoneFire Studios would not keep her feet on the ground.