Since we last met Chauncy Black, the impoverished teen's life has continued to change dramatically.
He's flown in a plane, for the first time. He and his family are on the verge of owning a house and a car. And this week, he plans to enroll at Bartlett High School, where he'll start the 10th grade next month.
Oh, and strangers who've heard his inspiring story, who've seen him all over both traditional and social media, stop him in public to ask if they can take a picture with him.
"They were like, 'You're the guy on the news, right?'" Chauncy said, sheepishly. "I was like, 'No, I wish.'"
Just about a month ago, The Commercial Appeal told the story of Chauncy and Matt White and their chance encounter at the Poplar Plaza Kroger on June 9.
The 15-year-old was approaching strangers in the store, asking if he could carry their groceries to the car in exchange for food. After several people turned him down, Chauncy asked the same of White, hoping for a box of doughnuts to quell his hunger pangs.
Instead of just buying Chauncy those doughnuts, White bought him a week's worth of food. He took the teen home, and was horrified at his situation. No mattresses. No food. One malfunctioning air-conditioner. Barbara Black, Chauncy's grandmother, was disabled and the family, including Chauncy's older brother Tim, was barely surviving.
So White told the world Chauncy's story, and the world responded. Thanks to a crowdfunding website, more than 15,000 people from around the globe have donated almost $350,000 to Chauncy and his grandmother.
"It's gratifying," Chauncy said. "I don't have to do what I used to do."
After various fees associated with the crowdfunding website, the Blacks were left with about $308,000. Now, that money is being put to good use.
First, White found a lawyer to draw up a trust to protect the money. Only that trustee — White declined to say who it is, except that it wasn't him or anyone in the family — can dispense the money. That has also helped send some family members who were trying to get some of the money scurrying away.
"I think people are going to understand eventually that there's no money for them," White said.
Before this story exploded, White had originally asked for just enough money to buy Chauncy a new lawn mower so he could make some money. Rob Hamilton, who owns a yard service in Memphis, heard about Chauncy and offered him a job. Now, Chauncy spends about 15 hours a week learning more about not only mowing yards, but running a small business.
"He's doing good. He doesn't know a lot about landscaping and lawn services. He knows he wants to do it and it's fun, but he's also realizing it's more work than he thought," Hamilton said. "But he doesn't mind doing the work either."
Other donations have come pouring in. Interscope Records sent a batch of CDs (Chauncy gave a thumbs-up on Tupac, not so much on Madonna). Kroger gave them $1,500 in gift cards and paid for two weeks in a hotel earlier this summer.
Chauncy and Tim both took part in the Memphis Aviation Career Education camp, meant to encourage teens to pursue jobs in that field.
"It was a perfect opportunity for two kids who wanted to become maintenance technicians," said Anthony Glenn, a co-director of the camp. "They had an opportunity to see when (they) go to school, what will be required of (them)."
Added Chauncy: "If I wanted to, I could be an aircraft technician, working on planes."
As part of that camp, Chauncy and Tim both got to take a flight in a small plane from General DeWitt Spain Airport north of Downtown. In an interview this week, Chauncy tried to act like his first flight was no big deal, but a video recorded as they took off betrayed him: his smile was as wide as the ocean. He insisted that he wasn't even a little nervous that day.
Thanks to some more good luck, the family got a great deal on a new house in Bartlett. It has three bedrooms, two baths and is in fine shape. They move in Monday, and should close on the home about a month after that.
"We don't have to live in the 'hood no more," Tim said.
Next up, finding a car and getting Barbara a driver's license. After that, about two-thirds of the money will remain, and much of that will be invested to provide for Chauncy's future education. Some will also be used for living expenses.
This week, White will take Chauncy and his brother to Bartlett High to register for school this fall. Chauncy will be a sophomore, Tim a junior. Chauncy already has plans for the two of them to take over the basketball team as their own version of the Golden State Warriors "Splash Brothers."
And after all that, after the family finally gets settled into their new life, White will finally be able to relax and step down from what has become a full-time job.
But, of course, that doesn't mean he'll be stepping out of Chauncy's life.
"Once they have a car, and they're mobile and can take care of themselves, (and) we've got them a professional who can help them set up a budget, then I (won't) have to do this stuff," White said. "I'll probably be around just as much, though. They're like my family now."
