I’m so sorry to change our plans, but a friend of mine has come down sick. I need to go take care of him, but I’ve brought you a copy of one of my favorite books.” She handed the volume to Timmy. “Maybe your mother would help you with the reading. The story is quite good and it’s about Christmas.”
“I’ll be happy to read it to the boys,” Lois said, then glanced past Estella. “How far do you have to go?”
“Over to Chester Street.”
“That’s a long way and the sun is about to set. Are you sure you want to walk all that way? My Charlie will be home from work at five and he could drive you over.”
“No, my friend is all alone. I’m afraid he might grow worse if I leave him too long.”
“I understand. Now, don’t you worry about a thing. The boys and I will keep a good eye on your place.”
“Thank you, Lois. I knew I could count on you.” Estella started to leave, then remembered the book. “Timmy, when my friend gets well and I get back, I’ll sit down with you boys and we’ll talk about the book. I’ll tell you all about my favorite parts and you and Jimmy can tell me about yours. And maybe I’ll make us some Christmas cookies.”
“Oh boy!” Timmy exclaimed. “That would be a whole bunch of fun. I love cookies.”
Estella laughed and leaned down. “Just between you and me . . . so do I.” She winked and straightened. “Thank you again, Lois. The Good Lord knew what He was doing when He brought your family to this neighborhood.”
The woman blushed. “Well, we don’t have a lot of money, but we know how to be charitable with our time and efforts.”
“And I believe that’s far more important than just about anything else you could offer.”
Leaving Lois and the boys, Estella hurried home to retrieve her things. Before heading out she remembered the sparseness of Andy’s cupboards and grabbed a few of her own supplies to use for dinner and breakfast. No sense taking undue advantage of the boy, she mused. Besides, I’m not at all fond of pork and beans.
Andy was still sleeping when she returned. The house was dark because Estella hadn’t thought to put on a light. She was grateful when the electricity came on without pause. Some folks in town had lost power, and she’d not even bothered to check earlier to see if Andy was one of them.
Slipping down the hall to check on Andy, Estella wondered at the life he led. People avoided him, and his whole family was gone. He must be very lonely, indeed, she thought. I know exactly how that feels, Lord.
She gently touched Andy’s forehead and sighed. He wasstill hot. Burning from the fever and showing no sign of recovery. She’d once heard a doctor say that a person had to want to get well. Had Andy given up wanting to get well?
Estella whispered a prayer and went to work preparing soup and tidying the kitchen. Spying the spice rack, she was delighted to find a jar of dried garlic. It would add a wonderful flavor to her creation. She hummed a Christmas song as she worked, feeling so very useful and happy. This was as God intended it, she thought. No one should ever live off by himself. It wasn’t healthy.
In the evening, Andy’s boss from the telegraph office stopped by. Estella explained the situation and was relieved to find the man so understanding. After he’d gone, Estella settled down to do some mending for Andy. Earlier in the day she’d washed some clothes for him and in doing so, she found that many items were in desperate need of repair.
I like doing this, she thought as she worked to darn a hole in one of Andy’s socks. I like to be useful—to be needed. She sewed until it was nearly nine o’clock. Putting her things aside, Estella stifled a yawn. She wondered if Andy would mind her being here—spending the night. She’d already decided to sleep on the couch instead of the spare bed. Andy might not like the idea of someone else sleeping in his mother’s room.
She quietly crept into his room and
“I’ll be happy to read it to the boys,” Lois said, then glanced past Estella. “How far do you have to go?”
“Over to Chester Street.”
“That’s a long way and the sun is about to set. Are you sure you want to walk all that way? My Charlie will be home from work at five and he could drive you over.”
“No, my friend is all alone. I’m afraid he might grow worse if I leave him too long.”
“I understand. Now, don’t you worry about a thing. The boys and I will keep a good eye on your place.”
“Thank you, Lois. I knew I could count on you.” Estella started to leave, then remembered the book. “Timmy, when my friend gets well and I get back, I’ll sit down with you boys and we’ll talk about the book. I’ll tell you all about my favorite parts and you and Jimmy can tell me about yours. And maybe I’ll make us some Christmas cookies.”
“Oh boy!” Timmy exclaimed. “That would be a whole bunch of fun. I love cookies.”
Estella laughed and leaned down. “Just between you and me . . . so do I.” She winked and straightened. “Thank you again, Lois. The Good Lord knew what He was doing when He brought your family to this neighborhood.”
The woman blushed. “Well, we don’t have a lot of money, but we know how to be charitable with our time and efforts.”
“And I believe that’s far more important than just about anything else you could offer.”
Leaving Lois and the boys, Estella hurried home to retrieve her things. Before heading out she remembered the sparseness of Andy’s cupboards and grabbed a few of her own supplies to use for dinner and breakfast. No sense taking undue advantage of the boy, she mused. Besides, I’m not at all fond of pork and beans.
Andy was still sleeping when she returned. The house was dark because Estella hadn’t thought to put on a light. She was grateful when the electricity came on without pause. Some folks in town had lost power, and she’d not even bothered to check earlier to see if Andy was one of them.
Slipping down the hall to check on Andy, Estella wondered at the life he led. People avoided him, and his whole family was gone. He must be very lonely, indeed, she thought. I know exactly how that feels, Lord.
She gently touched Andy’s forehead and sighed. He wasstill hot. Burning from the fever and showing no sign of recovery. She’d once heard a doctor say that a person had to want to get well. Had Andy given up wanting to get well?
Estella whispered a prayer and went to work preparing soup and tidying the kitchen. Spying the spice rack, she was delighted to find a jar of dried garlic. It would add a wonderful flavor to her creation. She hummed a Christmas song as she worked, feeling so very useful and happy. This was as God intended it, she thought. No one should ever live off by himself. It wasn’t healthy.
In the evening, Andy’s boss from the telegraph office stopped by. Estella explained the situation and was relieved to find the man so understanding. After he’d gone, Estella settled down to do some mending for Andy. Earlier in the day she’d washed some clothes for him and in doing so, she found that many items were in desperate need of repair.
I like doing this, she thought as she worked to darn a hole in one of Andy’s socks. I like to be useful—to be needed. She sewed until it was nearly nine o’clock. Putting her things aside, Estella stifled a yawn. She wondered if Andy would mind her being here—spending the night. She’d already decided to sleep on the couch instead of the spare bed. Andy might not like the idea of someone else sleeping in his mother’s room.
She quietly crept into his room and
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