The Neighborhood Paper Boy and His Faithful Assistant

A few weeks ago, we got a call from Kory’s paper route supervisor informing us that the local newspaper was planning to hire an outside company to do deliveries. The new company’s policy is to hire only those 18 and older. Bob, the supervisor, apologized and congratulated Kory on his years of faithful service. He also assured us that Kory would still get a portion of the promised college scholarship for those who keep their routes at least 5 years. With 3 years and 4 months of service, that comes to $680 (which might cover books for one semester!) to be paid out upon receipt of the college’s letter of acceptance – it would have been $1000 if he had been able to complete the 5 years.

We were all pretty sad to receive the news that Kory would be losing his route. Because of his job, he had managed to save $1000 in his own savings account, as well as keep a checking account complete with debit card which is handy for making iTunes and other online purchases – sweet independence for any teenager! Fortunately, his customers were even more grieved than he was, and he managed to bring in over $250 in tips just this week after he notified them of the coming changes. And not only tips, but also many kind notes of thanks and appreciation.

I have to include a couple of the notes he received here. They are just so sweet and funny – and even full of social commentary!

Dear Kory,

I am very sorry (and annoyed) by the Gazette’s decision to end the boy+man delivery route in favor of a company. It leaves a lot of people like you in the lurch.

Thank you for all the service you have given me over a long period of time. I appreciate your hard work – snow, rain, and other storms didn’t stop you.

Best wishes for the future, Mrs. B

Dear Kory,

The enclosed is just a token of my appreciation for your prompt delivery of my newspaper.

I think it is very sad that you and your fellow deliverers won’t be doing it anymore. It takes away the neighborhood feeling we have enjoyed.

Sincerely, Mrs. B

And last, but by far the most thorough and thoughtful … 🙂

Dear Kory,

Together all of us “face the end of another era” – through no fault of any of us. Many of us are giving up kicking and screaming to no avail. (A lesson….things change – like it or not – no matter what one does!)

We have particularly valued having you – a neighbor – as our “paper boy.” They are “the natural part” of our lives – and then suddenly – they disappear from our lives as they lose their jobs. As a sociologist – who is seeing more and more “natural” connections disappearing in our society – I worry about what that does to how people interact – or not – and care – or not – for one another. This worries me on a larger scale than just our immediate neighborhood.

Anyway, I want to thank you for doing your job so well. We never could figure out how you managed to deliver our paper – opening a door – about 20 feet from our ears – and never awakening us! Truly magic! And – mornings when we caught a glimpse of you – and Buddy (now and then) on your trek – always started our day with a feeling that all was right in the world – at least for a few minutes, anyway.

We hope that you will find something to take the place of being a paper boy and that, now and then we might get to see you and catch up on your life. Maybe the dogs in our lives will keep us somewhat attached!

We send a few dollars to give you spending money until you can find new “work” – and to thank you for sharing your time with us in the past.

Best wishes – take care – and keep in touch when that is possible. Cheers, Mrs. W

I feel sorry for the Gazette with these earnest ladies on their hands. I can only imagine the phone calls they have gotten just from Kory’s route! I wonder if the employees of the new company will also pick up the customers’ New York Times that simply gets thrown in their driveway and hand deliver it along with the Gazette to their front door? Or if they will separate the paper into sections, fold each section into thirds and pass each third through the mail slot of a certain house? I wonder how long it will take them to master the art of opening the glass door just enough to drop the paper between it and the wooden door without letting the paper fall to pieces in the process?

And I KNOW they will not be as adorable as a freckled 14 year old boy, newspaper satchel over his shoulder, and golden retriever leading the way!

(My goodness… now I’m in tears. It is just so sad! At least he has an appointment with one of the Mrs. B’s for some pet siting and other odd jobs which he offered in his goodbye note to all his customers. Hopefully we’ll keep some of these precious connections.)