A Canoe And A Prayer

Dedicated to the memory of my dear friend, Jean S. Chappell

The sound of peace and quiet was soothing to Ella-Claire.  She maneuvered her canoe into the shady bend of Lake Wickette observing the abundant foliage along the banks.  A single branch had fallen from one of the beautiful oak trees into the shallow water.  The seventy-eight year old widow paddled around the obstruction and felt a cool breeze against her skin as she picked up pace with the wind behind her.  The only sound she could hear were birds chirping and tree frogs croaking.  Her lips parted with a smile as she closed her eyes and lifted her head in reverence to God.  This little hiding place on Lake Wickette was one of Ella-Claire’s favorite places to pray.  

After four years as a widow, Ella-Claire Moorehouse had experienced the entire spectrum of emotions.  A survivor of breast cancer herself, she knew the precious gift of life was fragile and one must make the most of each and every day.  Charles was the love of her life.  They were married for more than fifty years, enjoyed an outstanding relationship and reared a talented and kind daughter.  Charles was her best friend and she missed him, but she was doing all that she could to make the most of the remainder of her life on earth.  Charles was a retired minister and educator when he passed away.  Faith in God and the knowledge of Heaven was a large part of their marriage.  Ella-Claire was confident when her days on earth came to an end, Charles would be waiting to embrace her in Paradise.

Blaneville, Massachusetts was a small village town a few miles from Nantucket.  Ella-Claire loved New England.  She and Charles had visited often during their marriage and after his passing, she made the decision to leave Louisiana for a cooler climate.  Most of her friends were retiring to Florida, but Ella-Claire had never been one to follow the crowd.  She was her own person.  A woman before her time.  Even as a southern Baptist, she was known as a little progressive.  Ella-Claire found humor in the whispering ladies of the church complaining that she was a fan of Hillary Clinton.  Ella-Claire spent much of her career working for a senior State Senator in the Louisiana legislature.  He was known as a Dixiecrat, conservative views, but supportive of the liberal fiscal agenda.  A blessed woman, Ella-Claire’s best characteristic was her generosity.  She believed whatever she had extra, should be given to others.  Charles shared the same perspective.  

Ella-Claire was a southern lady.  Aristocratic and polished, she raised her daughter to pursue etiquette and stage presence before anything else, resulting in her capturing the Miss Louisiana title.  Ella-Claire had never been more proud of Suzetta than when she walked the runway in Atlantic City and became second runner-up to Miss America.  Suzetta was very active in community service and eventually studied law at Tulane.  

Massachusetts was a long way from Louisiana, but the travel didn’t bother Ella-Claire, she had work to do and she was proud.  She could visit Suzetta and other family members often.

The sun appeared to be setting, so Ella-Claire began to paddle her way back to the dock.  The afternoon was lovely and she felt extremely relaxed.  She was ready to start the next chapter of her life.  Monday morning would arrive soon, so a good night of rest was important.  As the sun began to set in the distance, Ella-Claire stood on her deck watching the river on one side of the small island village and could hear the waves of the ocean crashing as the tide began to rise on the other side of the street.  She wrapped herself in an afghan blanket and thanked God for showing her His favor.

Monday morning, Ella-Claire took the ferry to New Bedford and then made the half hour drive into Providence, Rhode Island.  She made her way downtown and onto 8th avenue.  This particular area of town was no place for an elderly white woman from Louisiana.  It was even more uncommon for a retiree from the Nantucket island area to grace these parts.  Ella-Claire didn’t follow the crowd though, remember.

She parked her gray Volkswagon Passat in an adjacent parking lot from Grover High School.  As she stepped out of the vehicle she took a glance at the towering project housing all around the school.  People made fun of the south for clinging to segregation, but Providence, a very wealthy town and home of the infamous Brown University, had crafted it’s own private poverty section.  A far cry from the tree-lined subdivisions that crowded Providence, Grover seemed like a different world.  Ella-Claire took a deep breath and marched across to the front entrance.  A security guard opened the front door and nodded kindly as she walked passed him.  Ella-Claire was greeted by the Principal, a heavy set black female in her fifties with wildly frizzy hair.  The two women entered the main office and sat down for a chat.

Ms. Clifton, the school Principal thanked Ella-Claire for coming.  “Ms. Moorehouse, I was so moved by the letter you wrote.  It is kind of you to reach out to us,” explained Clifton.  “I am just concerned, do you really understand what you are getting into?”  Ella-Claire chucked and replied, “Ms. Clifton, do you realize what you are getting into with me?  Why, I am a handful.”  The hefty woman laughed loudly in agreement.  

Before moving to Baneville, Ella-Claire read a news story in the New York Times about Grover High School in Providence.  The school was tagged as the most violent education facility in the country.  It topped long time problematic areas like Detroit, Harlem, DC, and Chicago.  The details of violent activity troubled Ella-Claire.  The article reported that administrators were thinking of closing the school and splitting all the students up over a 100 mile radius.  Twenty-five years earlier Charles Moorehouse conducted a summer seminar at Brown University and Ella-Claire accompanied her husband on the trip.  She had gotten lost while out shopping and ended up in Grover.  A homeless man on the street attacked her and attempted to sexually assault her.  Two male students saw what was occurring from the window of their classroom at Grover High.  They ran down and saved her.  She would never forget it.  For the last twenty-four years, the Moorehouse Scholarship had been awarded to a graduating senior chosen by the faculty for outstanding character.  Now, Ella-Claire wanted to do more for this community than give money, she wanted to give her time and knowledge.  

Ella-Claire was so affected by the article and the turmoil that surrounded Grover High School, she sat for days at her typewriter and created a “Character Education Curriculum.”  She mailed it with a personal letter to Principal Clifton and the Superintendent of Schools.  She spent months working on a special project to motivate the students at the high school.  It took several letters and phone calls to convince the leaders of the school district to allow Ella-Claire to get involved and use her life experience, influence and heart to turn things around for Grover.  She was determined and there was no such thing as “no” for Ella-Claire Moorehouse, just ask the folks back in Louisiana.  

“Ms. Moorehouse, what you have put together for us is nothing short of a miracle.  It’s amazing and I am so grateful.  I have just felt that we were fighting a losing battle.  Seeing you hear today, it let’s me know this is real.  We might just have a chance,” explained Principal Clifton.  Ella-Claire was touched by her words and the tears in her eyes demonstrated the educator was genuinely thankful.  Ella-Claire was thankful that God had given her this idea/dream and the resources to make it come true.  

The general assembly of students began shortly after 9AM.  Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors piled into the gymnasium.  Some looked as if they had not bathed in days, others as if they had not eaten.  It was obvious the ninety-seven percent black and three percent hispanic student body were not ready for what they were about to hear from this old white lady from down south.  They began to get rowdy as soon as they gym became crowded.  It was stuffy and smelly and certainly not an ideal setting for an important meeting.  It was clear the district had stopped putting money into Grover.  It was going to be a long school year.

Principal Clifton stepped to the podium in an attempt to quiet the audience.  About forty percent of the noise stopped.  “It is my pleasure to introduce a very special guest.  Some of you may recognize the name, she is the very generous lady who gives a scholarship each year, please be courteous and welcome Ms. Ella-Claire Moorehouse.”  Five students clapped.

The small framed elderly lady with gold and white hair stepped to the podium.  Her simple green dress was conservative, but the knee length brown leather boots meant she had attitude and could probably “throw some shade.”  She could hear one student yell, “go head gramma!”  She smiled.  

Ella-Claire took another deep breath and quietly asked God to take over.  She spoke so eloquently.  She told the students of her background.  When she reached the point in her life that she visited Grover many years ago, you could have heard a pin drop.  As she described the man on the street pulling her into the alley and ripping her clothes while she screamed for help, she could tell many of the girls connected with her.  She told the young students how she looked up from the ground as she fought the stranger and saw two young tenth grade boys looking out the window of their classroom.  Her eyes met their eyes and she pleaded for them to help her.  Only moment passed before the two boys were tackling the man.  The first impact they knocked him almost ten feet.  He fought back against the boys while Ella-Claire struggled to get up and cover herself, but he was no match.  The young boys saved her life and prevented the worst thing that can happen to a female.  As she looked at faculty lined up along the side of the gymnasium she saw tears in a few eyes.  She went on to explain how she and her husband made the decision about the scholarship and how she had just lost him a few years ago.  She read the article in the New York Times about Grover and she decided it was her chance to do something.  She lived a long and blessed life.  God was on her side and He was more powerful than evil violence.  She was there to convince the students to change their behavior.

Most of the student body was motivated by her speech, but she knew a simple speech would only work for a short period of time.  She had to do more.  She had to give them something to look forward to.  

“I have a surprise for you all today,” explained Ella-Claire.  “I have been working for over a year on this project.  I have lobbied all my friends in Louisiana and around the world.  I have talked to politicians, educators, officials, you name it.  I have been working with East Providence Community College and we have worked out a deal.  Effective immediately, every one of you, regardless of what grade you are in, when you graduate, you will receive a full two-year education at East Providence Community College.  You can study anything you want.  It’s all paid for.  All 450 of you!”

It brought down the house.

The cheers erupted from every corner of the gymnasium.  Students were stomping their feet jumping up and down and hugging one another.  Ella-Claire fought back tears to finish her speech.  There were conditions and she needed to explain them.  “I am an old lady, but I am staying alive,” she said.  “I want to see all of you go on and receive a degree.  Some of you may even be able to take it on to a larger school, but at least you will get a better chance in life to do what you want to do.  We have to stop the violence though.  I am here to help you with that.  I will be here full time the next three years.  We are going to change things at Grover.  We are starting our own tradition.  I will be here to talk to you, to help you work through problems, and to help the teachers guide you on to your higher education.  We can do this.  God is bigger than the evil that has been residing here.  Are you with me?”  

She brought the house down again.

Ella-Claire worked a full day going from classroom to classroom meeting as many of the kids as possible and re-iterating her promise.  She dove deeper into emotional control and the changes they would have to all make.  She looked the students straight in the eyes.  Held them in her arms, she watched full grown boys cry as she discussed what their future could now be like.  It was one of the greatest days of her life.

Late in the afternoon after the school day ended, Ella-Claire was back in her canoe paddling along Lake Wickette.  She sailed into her favorite spot to thank God for the great day and the blessings that brought her to this point.  She made the promise to come to this spot as often as possible and pray for the success of everyone at Grover.  She looked up at the blue sky and with tears in her eyes she told Charles she was doing this for him too.  She couldn’t wait to get back home and call Suzetta in Baton Rouge and tell her about the day.  

The journey God places us on may have moments of hardship, turmoil and tragedy, but following His lead and demonstrating endurance and faith always results in victory.  Just ask Ella-Claire.

The End

I Closed My Eyes Too

The strange man opened the squeaky door to his old Grand Torino station wagon and little Timmy climbed in.  He slid across the green vinyl seats all the way over to the passenger door.  His Mom Darla scooted in beside him and the new fellow hopped in behind the steering wheel.  Timmy wasn’t sure what was going on between his Mommy and this guy, but they were both silly and happy.  The passenger door had a large armrest and that is where Timmy always liked to sit when he rode in his mother’s car, so he raised himself up and planted his 3 year old tiny behind on the object.  In the mid 1970s seat belts were not a big deal, few vehicles even had them.  Timmy would grow up to learn there were many “good ole day” things about the 70s that kids couldn’t do later, like sliding around freely in a car.

Darla Waters had not dated anyone since her ex-husband ran off with the waitress from Denton.  She kept working in the textile mill and trying to support little Timmy and herself.  She was making the trailer payment and buying groceries on her own without any help.  Tom Cranford began stopping by her winding machine at the mill several months earlier and tried to get her to go on a date.  He was divorced with a 9 year old son of his own and really wanted to get to know Darla.  At first she was apprehensive.  Who was this fool who is always so full of himself and why was he slowing her down at work?  The supervisors were liable to run her off if they saw her talking to him.  He was known as a “fixer” in the mill and that was a prestigious job.  Tom had the attitude that he could prance all around the cotton mill without any consequences.  He had a lot of bravado.

Over time Darla started talking to him often and they took breaks together.  She even brought a little extra food that she had cooked so he could try it out.  It didn’t take long for Darla to start to imagine that she deserved to be happy again and that life could be better for Timmy and herself.

Darla told Tom she would consider going on a date with him, but only if she could take her three year old.  “I don’t go anywhere he doesn’t go,” said Darla.  Obviously the cocky and over-confident Tom was hoping for a little romance, but he conceded that if he wanted to get to know Darla a little better he was going to have to meet Timmy right off the bat.  

This first date was a trip to the Rocket Drive-In in town. The best burgers, hand-patted, cooked fresh and seasoned with worcestershire sauce made the drive-in famous.  Timmy loved the perk he always got when visiting this restaurant.  Patrons had to pull into stalls and lift an old black phone receiver from it’s hook on a pole to order.  He always climbed across his mother’s lap and reached out the window to pick up the receiver.  When Tom pulled the Ford wagon into the stall, he put the gear in park and began rolling down the window.  Darla reached over and guided Timmy, “it’s okay, you can get the phone.”  Tom picked up on it right away and took the shy little boy from his Mom, held him out the window and let him grab the phone.  When he pulled little Timmy back in the window, their eyes met, Timmy was grinning and Tom felt his heart melt.  He knew it was going to be a good date.  

A few months passed and Darla was able to meet Tom’s son, Randy.  Even though he was more than six years older than Timmy, they played well together and Darla was completely in love with Tom.  Neither of them wanted to be alone, felt they were ready to put the past behind them and took a second chance on love.  This time when Tom opened the door of the green Grand Torino for little Timmy to climb in, he was wearing a brand new buster brown suit.  Tom, Darla, and Timmy headed the car toward the Cleburne County Courthouse to meet with the Justice of The Peace.  Randy’s Mom wouldn’t allow him to attend the ceremony, so it was just the three of them.  A flat tire along the way made Timmy panic a little, but Tom swiftly changed it and got them back on the road.  A sign that he would always take care of the important and scary stuff in life.  He reassured little Timmy, “no worries, I am in charge.”  

As they stood before the Justice, Timmy clung tightly to his mother’s hand.  After saying a few vows, the older man asked the couple to close their eyes so they could pray.  Timmy was used to going to church with his grandmother and saying all his prayers late at night, so he closed his eyes tightly and listened intently.  The Justice of The Peace spoke about commitment, dedication and love.  He said that once they spoke “amen,” the three would be a family and the marriage would be official.  As soon as the prayer was over he pronounced Tom and Darla as married.  Timmy couldn’t contain his excitement, he piped up, “I got married too…I closed my eyes too!!”  Laughing, Darla and Tom assured Timmy that yes, he did get married as well and they were all one family.  In the coming days and weeks when the marriage was discussed, Timmy would always interrupt the conversation and let them know he closed his eyes also, so he was married too!

Timmy’s biological father would disappear almost completely from his life, but he learned to love Tom as his Dad.  They dropped the word “step” from his title after Timmy explained to them that “No one is stepping on me..he is just my dad, not my stepping dad.”  

The years moved on and Timmy enjoyed learning to play ball, fish, plant a garden, love Alabama football and all the things that Tom could teach him.  Even though a little sister came in a few years, Timmy never questioned his place in the family or in Tom’s eyes.  Tom’s large family also took him in and called him their own.  He felt very loved and blessed to have his Dad.

As an adult, Timmy went on to college and became a successful businessman.  He made his Dad very proud in everything that he did.  One of Timmy’s corporate positions garnered him season tickets to the Alabama Crimson Tide football games.  One of the best memories the two would ever make was going to games as grown men.  What Tom must have felt when he looked in Timmy’s eyes back at that Rocket Drive-In was the same way Timmy felt when he saw his Dad so excited at the ball games and so proud of his son.

Shortly after Timmy turned 30 years old a bad diagnosis came.  Tom was suffering from stage 4 cancer of the intestines.  After several trips to the University of Alabama hospital in Birmingham, the prognosis was grim.  The doctors sent Tom home to die.  Darla, her kids and the family couldn’t bare the thought of giving up the fight.  There just seemed to be so much left to do with his life.  Timmy set out to find a way to try and save his Dad.  He searched all over for specialty hospitals and found a wonderful facility in Zion, Illinois called the Cancer Treatment Center of America.  Tom was frail and weak.  It was questionable whether or not he could make the trip.  In addition, Darla had just suffered a fall and broken her arm.  Neither Darla or Tom had ever lived outside Alabama or traveled anywhere other than by car.  

Timmy loaded up both his parents and headed to the airport.  He put them both in wheelchairs and they made their way to the plane.  The trip to Illinois gave the family hope during a time of complete stress and chaos.  The doctors were confident they could help Tom.

Tom and Darla had to stay for months in Illinois for treatment.  Timmy and his siblings and other family members would travel and accompany them every opportunity, but it all seemed to be working and a good outcome appeared to be around the horizon.  

After nine months of treatment, they felt they had beaten the cancer.  Tom and Darla were home with the kids for Christmas when he took a turn for the worse.  They drove him to the nearest ER and he was admitted to the small community hospital where they lived.  He continued to decline over the week and it was obvious he was not healthy enough to travel back to Illinois.  On Sunday morning an on-call doctor announced to the family that his organs were shutting down and it would not be long.  Tom asked for time alone with his wife and then each one of his children.

Timmy stood alone next to his Dad’s bed.  The middle of three children, he felt no different about his relationship with his Dad than the other two must have felt.  Tom took Timmy by the hand and lowered him down to the bed.  “Son, it looks like we are at the point where I need you to take over.  You are the strongest, I raised you to be.  You are in charge now.”  Timmy thought about those words, “your in charge.”  His eyes were watery and when he closed them to pray tears streamed down both cheeks.  He cleared his throat to speak, “Dad, a long time ago I closed my eyes too, no worries, I am in charge.”

They say that divorce can be the worst thing to happen to a child.  Every now and then there is a silver lining and when the parents and the children are on the same page, the new relationship can be amazing.  It takes a special child to look up to man with total respect, submission and love when he is not his biological father.  It takes and even more special man to nurture, support, and love a child that wasn’t born his.  It can work out for the best if they are both on the same page.  It doesn’t hurt if everyone closes their eyes too!

  

Time and Again

It is a common occurrence as a person ages to realize your hometown looks more compact than it did when you were young.  Everything looks bigger to a six year old!  Ridge Marlow chuckled slightly as he drove the rental car through the winding country roads of Shelby, Iowa.  Every visit to the small town where he was born brought a new memory.  On this particular August morning his thoughts lingered to the time Uncle Calvin taught him to drive.  They ventured out in an old Ford F150 along this same road leading to Shelby Elementary School.  Ridge's mother was too nervous to teach her son how to drive and since Uncle Calvin was the only man in his life, the responsibility fell on him.  Ridge remembered just how patient the elderly man was.  It was hard to believe his favorite uncle had been gone over ten years.

 

As the plain white Honda approached the wide open hay fields south of the old school building, Ridge could see the brick structure in the distance.  He was headed to visit a cousin suffering from cancer, but decided he would make a stop at the former elementary school.  Fortunately, the people of Shelby were conservative and believed in preserving history.  The building while over a hundred years old, remained in good condition.  The former school was now known as Landers Community Center, named for the rural community just outside the town limits of Shelby. 

 

Ridge parked the car near the left front entrance.  Gazing at the structure he once again had to chuckle at just how small it appeared.  The brick building had two entrances along the front with a concrete sidewalk running the width of the structure.  The foundation was about waist high on Ridge and had been constructed to avoid the common flood problems of south-central Iowa. 

 

No one appeared to be at the community center this Thursday morning perhaps a senior luncheon or card game was scheduled for later in the day.  Ridge climbed the steps and peered through the north door.  The old gym was dark, but visible.  He could see a glimmer of sunlight bouncing off the shiny hardwood floor.  The floors were still beautiful after all these years.  He remembered many games of dodge ball in the gym.

 

Ridge decided to look around the property and admire some of the upgrades and changes to the grounds.  He rounded the northwest corner and was stunned to see a lady sitting on a bench facing a wooded area.  He couldn't tell who she was and was wary about approaching at first.  There were no other cars in the parking lot and no house for at least a mile.  He cleared his throat, "excuse me ma'am."  A little startled the woman jumped to her feet and turned to face Ridge.  She placed her hands on her swollen belly, clearly nearing her delivery date and smiled, "Ridge Marlow, is that really you?"

 

Anna-Kate was one of the best friends Ridge had ever known from Shelby.  They attended the elementary school for six years together and then graduated from Shelby High.  Occasionally he would hear things about her and the family through his mother, but they had not laid eyes on one another for over 12 years.  He recognized her right away and jogged into her open arms.  Anna-Kate was lovely!  She wore a floral maternity sun dress and flip flops.  It was evident she was happy and healthy.  She had that pregnancy glow. 

 

For hours they sat on the bench and reminisced about times gone by.  Both had lost parents and gone through their share of hard times.  Anna-Kate was happily married and expecting her first child, while Ridge was wrapped-up in his career in New York.  They chatted about the old school and how things had changed, but also remained the same around Shelby.  Anna-Kate taught at the new elementary school, but was enjoying her time off preparing for the arrival of her son.  Ridge told his story of giving up on his dreams of writing and now he worked as an editor for a publishing firm watching other people's dreams come true.  Anna-Kate was saddened to hear that her school chum was not still writing, it had always been his dream and she remembered the short stories and essays he would bring to school and share.  The change in his demeanor while talking about writing troubled Anna-Kate.

 

Ridge was so happy to see Anna-Kate and the two vowed to remain in contact.  His visit to Shelby lasted only two more days and he was back on a plane to New York.  Two weeks later, Anna-Kate gave birth to her son, John Lee Colley.  She and her husband were overjoyed.  Several attempts had been made to have a child, but Anna-Kate suffered three miscarriages in the last five years.  John was her miracle baby.

 

Anna-Kate decided not to return to her job until the new term began in January.  During the Christmas holidays she kept thinking of her visit with Ridge.  She thought about the sadness in his eyes when he was speaking about his career.  She felt heavy hearted that the little boy who was so talented in school had forgotten just how much he stood out in Shelby, Iowa.  She wrote him a long letter.

 

The winter was wet and cold in New York.  Ridge stepped off the subway in Chelsea and ventured up to the street level near his apartment building.  It had been a long day at the office and he just wanted to get home.  He rounded the block and came face to face with his assailant.  Ridge was not ready for the encounter.  Although it was a common occurrence in some areas of New York, the more affluent neighborhoods like Chelsea saw little crime.  Most New Yorkers know the drill; give them what they want, but sometimes even that is not enough.  Ridge heard the sound of the blade ripping through his flesh before he actually felt the pain.  In fact, he felt the impact of the sidewalk before the burning sensation in his abdomen.  Shocked and struggling to breathe, he didn't even attempt to scream.  As he lay on the street, his mind drifted to Shelby, Iowa.  Surely, it wasn't meant to end this way?  He longed to be back among the hay fields, country roads, and old school building where his dream once danced vivid in his mind.  Ridge felt his life was slipping away and closed his eyes wishing for the end to come quickly.  He drifted to sleep.

 

Once the cloud of pain killers began to lift, Ridge realized he was alive and in the hospital.  Friends and co-workers had come and gone and prayed for his recovery.  Surgery was successful and there would be no reason Ridge couldn't return to his daily life; no physical reason.  Ridge realized he had not been happy  in a very long time.  His visit to Shelby weighed on his mind.  He had never considered moving back until now.  The table near his bed contained his mail from home.  A friend had picked up clothing, toiletries, etc. from his apartment.  He immediately noticed the postmark from Des Moines.  He ripped open the letter to find a beautifully written note on pink stationary.

 

Anna-Kate reminded Ridge of the boy she used to know.  She quoted a line from his speech at graduation.  She reprimanded him for letting his dream go and shared her story of wanting to have a son.  She went into great detail about what she had experienced, but knew if she persevered her dream would come true.  She talked about small town values and ethics and how faith is stronger than doubt.  She reminded Ridge of the young man who stood out from the crowd in Shelby.  He realized he was tired of being "lost" in the city.

 

With faith and his life savings in tow, Ridge returned to a simpler life in Shelby.  He bought a beautiful country house on two acres and began to enjoy the new life.  He saw Anna-Kate and her family often and even attended church service at the same congregation.  Before long he was publishing short stories, magazine columns, and negotiating with his old publisher on his first book.  The creativity seemed to flow so freely with the simpler more peaceful life.

 

Fifteen years later, Ridge had published 7 books, 4 of them bestsellers.  He was able to travel and see the world, speak at various colleges and conduct creative writing seminars for thousands of aspiring writers.  He continued to call Shelby his home.  The small town remained his refuge.

 

Months had gone by since Ridge and Anna-Kate spoke.  He heard the news through a mutual friend that she was battling breast cancer.  He was devastated.  He tried calling her home, but there was no answer.  He knew that he needed to find her and offer his prayers, support, or whatever he could do.  He knew her husband and son, now nearly 16, must be worried sick. 

 

Ridge decided to visit Anna-Kate's home.  As he approached the old school, he decided to stop in and sit for a moment on her favorite bench to gather his thoughts and compose himself before seeing her.  To his surprise there she sat.  There was no long flowing hair this time, it had all fallen out.  She had a colorful scarf tied around her head.  Her eyes were sunken and red.  She had lost weight and seemed quite frail.  She struggled to stand, but greeted her friend with a smile.  He fought back tears as he noticed his latest book lying on the bench beside her.  The prognosis wasn't good and Anna-Kate was worried.  Mostly she feared the sorrow John and her husband would have to endure.  She truly wanted to watch her son become a man and a parent himself.  Ridge tried to encourage her, but the medical facts seemed to overwhelm her.  Suddenly he realized he had placed in his wallet the letter Anna-Kate wrote to him before the stabbing.  He removed it and read it to her as they both cried.  He encouraged her to continue to fight on and she would realize her next dream of becoming a grandmother.

 

Ridge researched hospitals all over the country and found a program that he felt would be beneficial to Anna-Kate.  He visited with her and the family and shared the information.  The expense would be too great for the Colley’s to handle and the insurance would not approve all experimental treatment.  Ridge insisted that they at least make a visit to the facility in Texas.  He booked the travel and accompanied the family. 

 

After the tests were performed, the doctors gathered and presented a plan.  The cost would be more than $500,000 above her insurance coverage.  Before Anna-Kate had time to decline the offer, Ridge opened his checkbook and presented the doctors with full payment.

 

Several months went by and one day Ridge got the best call.  Anna-Kate sounded so happy.  She was officially in remission.  She was feeling much stronger and excited about returning to work.  The two old friends laughed and cried.  They talked about the friendship and how much genuine love was shared.  At church service on Sunday the congregation celebrated and gave praise for answered prayers. 

 

Happy years passed by and John Colley married and gave his mother three grandsons, one of which he named for his uncle Ridge.  Anna-Kate retired from teaching and helped her daughter-n-law raise the children.  Ridge continued to write and publish more books.  He even adapted one into a major motion picture. 

 

The town of Shelby began to grow and was accepted as a site for a new auto manufacturing plant.  Thousands of jobs were coming to the area.  The economy of southern Iowa would be hugely impacted by the advancement.  The downside of the announcement was the property being used housed the Landers Community Center, formerly the old Shelby School.  Both Anna-Kate and Ridge did everything they could to help relocate the plant and save the school, but the town council’s minds were made up.  It was necessary to move forward with the project.

 

At sixty years old, Anna-Kate and Ridge joined hands and walked out to their favorite bench one last time.  The wind blew against their faces and they sat in silence thinking about how their lives had been changed time and again by the old school.  They wondered how many other friendships had been built within the walls of the old brick structure and on its grounds.  The two friends looked into one another's eyes and realized they had shared a great blessing and perhaps the school itself had been built just for them.  The friendship and genuine love for one another would continue long after the building was gone.  Brick and mortar may not stand for eternity, but the soul surely will.

 

The End