Virginia. Even in the healing of a child’s heart.”
Virginia sighed. “Yes … I know He can,” she said with deep feeling. “I’m counting on that … because, quite frankly, I admit that I’m not up to the task. I have no idea how to help her. Really help her. I can’t see what’s going on inside that little heart.”
The entire household was astir. Their very own telephone was being installed. Henceforth no longer would trips to town be required to make a telephone call. Virginia could hardly believe it. What a blessing it would be to be able to dial the phone and speak to her mother anytime she chose. How nice to ring up Rodney and Grace or Danny and Alvira. To call Francine or have long chats with Clara. And her grandparents. Her grandparents, too, had just installed a telephone. That in itself had greatly reduced Belinda’s concern. At least if they needed help they would be able to call a family member.
Even the small children skipped around in excitement, seeming to understand that this gadget on the wall would change the life of the family. Virginia had to keep shooing them out of the way so the workmen would not be tripping over them.
The negotiations with the woman from the city to stay with the Davises were still ongoing. Belinda was quite com? fortable with their interview and the prospect of her coming, but the woman herself had not as yet given them a definite yes or no.
“I think she’s holding out until we’ll be desperate enough to promise her the moon,” Drew had remarked dryly. “And, quite frankly, I am getting very close to that point. Your mother is beside herself with worry. I don’t think she’s had a decent night’s sleep in months.” Virginia had not realized it was that serious a matter for her mother and was sorry she had not been more empathetic. Her only thought had been to keep things as they had always been.
But the phone would help. It would ease the burden. At least they would feel like they had some kind of connection with the folks on the farm.
Virginia could hardly wait until the man in charge stepped back and said with satisfaction, “It’s ready to go, ma’am.”
“Now?” It was almost too good to be true.
As soon as the crew stepped out her door, Virginia checked the phone list they had left, lifted down the earpiece, and with a trembling hand cranked out two shorts and a long. Would it really work? Would she really be in touch?
The receiver lifted on the other end and she heard her mother’s voice. It sounded strange. Muted. But it was definitely her mother.
“Mama. It’s me. Virginia. We have our phone.”
“Virginia.” Her mother sounded as excited as she felt. But now that they were speaking over the miles, Virginia did not know what else to say. They had been together for tea and a chat just the day before. There was no new news.
But the children were jumping up and down and tugging on her skirts, and Virginia decided that it was time to introduce them to the modern technology of this new world. “Here,” she said to Martha. “Say hello to Grandmother Belinda.”
Martha, a grin on her face, eagerly reached for the earpiece and pressed it to her ear as she had seen her mother do. But the moment Belinda’s voice came crackling through the strange new instrument, her eyes grew big and she threw the receiver back at Virginia. Virginia lunged to catch it. She was unsure of the damage it would cause if the piece fell to the floor. She need not have worried. The attaching cord was far too short to let the piece actually drop.
Olivia was braver than her big sister. She had to be placed on a kitchen chair in order to reach. When the voice of Belinda greeted her, she giggled, then began to babble back in her childish prattle. But she had no idea where to speak. Much of her conversation was buried in Virginia’s bib apron or spoken to the wall. She did not want to relinquish the new toy, and Virginia had to pluck it from her hand amid
Virginia sighed. “Yes … I know He can,” she said with deep feeling. “I’m counting on that … because, quite frankly, I admit that I’m not up to the task. I have no idea how to help her. Really help her. I can’t see what’s going on inside that little heart.”
The entire household was astir. Their very own telephone was being installed. Henceforth no longer would trips to town be required to make a telephone call. Virginia could hardly believe it. What a blessing it would be to be able to dial the phone and speak to her mother anytime she chose. How nice to ring up Rodney and Grace or Danny and Alvira. To call Francine or have long chats with Clara. And her grandparents. Her grandparents, too, had just installed a telephone. That in itself had greatly reduced Belinda’s concern. At least if they needed help they would be able to call a family member.
Even the small children skipped around in excitement, seeming to understand that this gadget on the wall would change the life of the family. Virginia had to keep shooing them out of the way so the workmen would not be tripping over them.
The negotiations with the woman from the city to stay with the Davises were still ongoing. Belinda was quite com? fortable with their interview and the prospect of her coming, but the woman herself had not as yet given them a definite yes or no.
“I think she’s holding out until we’ll be desperate enough to promise her the moon,” Drew had remarked dryly. “And, quite frankly, I am getting very close to that point. Your mother is beside herself with worry. I don’t think she’s had a decent night’s sleep in months.” Virginia had not realized it was that serious a matter for her mother and was sorry she had not been more empathetic. Her only thought had been to keep things as they had always been.
But the phone would help. It would ease the burden. At least they would feel like they had some kind of connection with the folks on the farm.
Virginia could hardly wait until the man in charge stepped back and said with satisfaction, “It’s ready to go, ma’am.”
“Now?” It was almost too good to be true.
As soon as the crew stepped out her door, Virginia checked the phone list they had left, lifted down the earpiece, and with a trembling hand cranked out two shorts and a long. Would it really work? Would she really be in touch?
The receiver lifted on the other end and she heard her mother’s voice. It sounded strange. Muted. But it was definitely her mother.
“Mama. It’s me. Virginia. We have our phone.”
“Virginia.” Her mother sounded as excited as she felt. But now that they were speaking over the miles, Virginia did not know what else to say. They had been together for tea and a chat just the day before. There was no new news.
But the children were jumping up and down and tugging on her skirts, and Virginia decided that it was time to introduce them to the modern technology of this new world. “Here,” she said to Martha. “Say hello to Grandmother Belinda.”
Martha, a grin on her face, eagerly reached for the earpiece and pressed it to her ear as she had seen her mother do. But the moment Belinda’s voice came crackling through the strange new instrument, her eyes grew big and she threw the receiver back at Virginia. Virginia lunged to catch it. She was unsure of the damage it would cause if the piece fell to the floor. She need not have worried. The attaching cord was far too short to let the piece actually drop.
Olivia was braver than her big sister. She had to be placed on a kitchen chair in order to reach. When the voice of Belinda greeted her, she giggled, then began to babble back in her childish prattle. But she had no idea where to speak. Much of her conversation was buried in Virginia’s bib apron or spoken to the wall. She did not want to relinquish the new toy, and Virginia had to pluck it from her hand amid
Similar Books
