by Al Lacy
“Totally without reservation. I’m sure he will do you a very good job.”
Clarkson extended his hand across the counter. “All right, Dane. You’re hired.”
Dane grasped his hand and shook it vigorously. “Thank you, Mr. Clarkson! When do you want me to go to work?”
“I want you to start Monday morning at eight o’clock.”
“I’ll be here a few minutes earlier than that, sir.”
Dr. Harris said, “Dane, as long as there’s no one else here in the pharmacy at the moment, I think you should tell Mr. Clarkson your story—where you lived up until recently and how you became an orphan.”
Clarkson listened intently as Dane told him he had lived in an apartment building in the two hundred block on Thirty-third Street with his family until several days ago when his parents and siblings were murdered by the street gang.
The pharmacists features pinched and sadness filled his eyes. He moved around the counter and put an arm around Dane’s shoulders. “Dane, I’m so sorry about your loss. That’s a lot for a boy your age to handle. It has to be hard enough to have your family taken from you so suddenly, but then to have to take to the streets in addition to this … I know it has to be overwhelming.”
Tears misted the boy’s eyes. “Yes, sir. It’s been very hard, but knowing I have a job now really helps. I can put some money aside so I can finish my education.”
Clarkson smiled. “Well, that’s an admirable objective. If a man’s going to get anywhere in this world today, he must have a good education.”
Dr. Harris smiled. “Tell him what your ultimate goal is, Dane.”
“I want to become a physician and surgeon, Mr. Clarkson.”
“Wonderful! That indeed is an illustrious ambition. And it can’t hurt you to be working in a pharmacy around medicine, either.”
Dane laughed. “You’re right about that, sir.”
Dr. Harris said, “Thank you for giving my young friend the job, Bryce. I appreciate it very much.”
“Well, Doc, I appreciate your telling me about him. He’ll do fine, I m sure of it.”
At that moment, a pair of customers entered the store. Dr. Harris told Clarkson he would see him later, and Dane said he would see him Monday morning.
The two headed down the street in the direction of Dane’s alley home, which would take them past Harris’s office.
As they moved along, Harris said, “Dane, how would you like to come to our apartment this evening for supper?”
Dane’s eyes lit up. “I sure would!” Suddenly, his countenance changed and the light left his eyes.
Dr. Harris asked, “Is something wrong, son?”
“Well-l-l …”
“What is it?”
Dane cleared his throat. “Well, sir, it’s just that—that I’ll feel guilty eating what I’m sure will be a delicious meal while my friends in the alley will be having only scraps and stale food. Please don’t misunderstand. I’m very grateful for the invitation.”
Dr. Harris smiled and a twinkle appeared in his eyes. “You are quite a lad, my young friend. You’re going to make an excellent doctor. You have that selflessness that is so vital to being a caring physician. Too many that choose a medical career, unfortunately, are only looking for monetary gain. It saddens me when I think of these men that God has blessed with the ability to do great things for humanity, and instead they use it only to build up their bank accounts.”
Dane looked up at the elderly physician with admiration. “Dr. Harris, I happen to know that you care for people because you love them, and it makes no difference whether they can pay you for your services or not. I’m sure your bank account is not a fat one.
“Well, I—”
“And sir, I want to be the kind of physician that you are. I want to serve my fellow man and make a positive difference in people’s lives.”
Dr. Harris’s face crimsoned. “Dane, I can’t say that I’m the shining example for you to follow, but—”
“Oh yes, you are!”
The crimson in the doctor’s features deepened. “Thank you, Dane.” He took a deep breath. “What you just said about wanting to serve your fellow man and make a positive difference in people’s lives … good for you. Don’t ever lose sight of that goal. Now, back to the subject of coming to supper. When I told my wife that I was going to take you to see Bryce Clarkson about the job, she told me to invite you to supper this evening.”
“Really?”
They were drawing up to the office.
“Really. You see, I’ve told her your whole story, and she wants to get to know you better.”
“Oh. I see.”
“And let me say this. Mrs. Harris always makes sure there is plenty of food on the table, so whatever is left after we eat supper, you can take to your alley family.”
A smile curved the boy’s lips. “Oh! Well, in that case, I would be very happy to eat supper with you!”
As Dr. Harris stepped up and inserted the key into the lock, he said, “We’ll look forward to it. And I want you to come into the office for a minute. I have something I would like to give you.”
Curious, Dane followed him in, and this time he noticed picture frames on the walls like those in the examining room—each with a Scripture verse on the subject of salvation. His mind flashed back to the one in the examining room about being born again. He wanted to ask Dr. Harris to explain that verse to him, but he didn’t have the nerve to do so.
The doctor went to his desk, opened a drawer, and took out a small glass jar with money inside. He pulled three crisp one-dollar bills from the jar, along with a fifty-cent piece and a dime. Holding the money so Dane could see it, he said, “At twenty cents an hour, Dr. Weston, you will make sixty cents a day. That’s three dollars and sixty cents a week, right?”
Dane grinned. “Mm-hmm. I already figured it out.”
Dr. Harris handed him the money. “I’m giving you a week’s pay. This will carry you until you get your first week’s pay from the pharmacy next Saturday”
Dane shook his head. “Oh no, sir. I can’t let you do this. I’m sure you need it for yourself and your family. I’ll get along all right until I have a pay day. I wouldn’t feel right taking your money. Like I said, I’m sure your bank account is not a fat one.”
The kindly man laid a blue-veined hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Dane, someone helped me out when I was a young man trying to find a way to fund my medical education so I could become a doctor. I tried later to pay him back, and his words to me were, ‘You don’t need to pay me back, but whenever you see a sincere young man who is struggling like you were to become a physician, then you help him.’ Dane, what I’ve just put in your hand is nowhere near the amount he gave to me, but please let me do this much to help you. In a small way over the years I’ve been able to help some other young men who were working toward becoming doctors. Please accept this money. And someday after you’ve become a successful physician, maybe you’ll find some aspiring young doctor-to-be that you can help.”
Humbled by the dear man’s generosity, Dane nodded. His voice was tight with emotion as he slipped the money into his pocket. “All right, sir. Thank you. I appreciate it more than I can ever tell you. And I promise you that one day when the opportunity arises, I will do the same for someone else.”
Harris smiled. “That’s all I ask, son.”
“And Dr. Harris …”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for getting me the job with Mr. Clarkson.”
Harris squeezed the boy’s shoulder. “You’re very welcome, Dr. Weston.”
Dane blushed. “One day, sir, I will indeed be Dr. Weston. Whatever it takes, I am going to make it.”
“I have no doubt of that. Supper is at 6:30.”
“I’ll be here, sir!”
“Mrs. Harris will be glad to hear it. And, Dane, since it will be getting dark by the time supper is over, I’ll take you back to the alley in my buggy. It’s at the stable in this same block on
the next street behind the office.”
“All right. Thank you. I’ll be back in time for supper.”
When Dane reached the alley, his new family members were eager to hear if he got the job for sure, and when he told them he did, they wanted to know all about it.
After he had given them the details, he reached into his pocket, showed them the money, and explained that Dr. Harris had given it to him to get him by till he got paid next Saturday by Mr. Clarkson. He told them of his invitation to eat supper with the Harrises that evening, and said, “Russell, how about you and I go to the grocery market and buy some real good food for all of us? And some of this money can be used to buy a real nice meal from the café so the rest of you can have a good supper too.”
Bessie Evans had tears in her eyes. “Dane, thank you for being so generous.”
He grinned at her. “Hey, friends should share with friends, and I’m glad I can do it.”
Dane then turned his attention to Nettie Olson, who was now sitting up. “How are you feeling, Nettie?”
“My stomach is much better, Dane. I think by tonight, I can eat some of that supper you were talking about.”
“I’m glad to hear that. But if you should get worse, we’ll take you to Dr. Harris.”
Melinda Scott moved up beside Dane and chuckled as she elbowed him in the ribs. “Who needs Dr. Harris? We’ve got our own doctor now. We’ll just call you ‘Doc’!”
They all laughed, and Dane laughed with them. “Okay, Russell, let’s go get some food for this bunch.”
Russell grinned. “Doc, I think we’d better take at least one of the girls with us. They know more about buying groceries than we fellas do.”
Bessie laughed. “Russell, you’re going to make some woman a good husband someday.”
Everybody laughed.
Bessie said, “I’ll go with you two. We’ll make that money stretch real far. And when it’s time to go to the café this evening, I’ll go along with Russell and see that we get our money’s worth.”
“I’ll vote for that!” piped up Melinda, and everybody laughed again.
That evening at 6:20, Dane knocked on the door of the small apartment above the doctor’s office. Dr. Harris opened the door and smiled. “Come in, Dane!”
As he stepped into the parlor, Dane sniffed. “Smells mighty good, Dr. Harris. One whiff of that sweet aroma has my stomach growling already!”
“Good! Let’s go to the kitchen.”
As they moved through the parlor and entered the narrow hall that led to the kitchen, Dane noticed how clean the apartment was, and what a homey atmosphere pervaded the place.
When they entered the kitchen, Maude smiled and left the cupboard where she was cutting hot bread. “Welcome, Dane. I’m so glad you came.”
“Me too, ma’am,” said Dane. He looked around the room and noticed there were only three places set at the table. He frowned.
Harris noticed Dane’s frown. “Something wrong, son?”
“Uh … no, sir. I thought your daughter would be eating with us. I saw her when we were here the other day.”
The Harrises exchanged glances, then the doctor said, “Dane, we need to explain about our daughter.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Lawanda … well, she’s mentally deficient, Dane. She was born that way forty-four years ago. She has the mind of a two-year-old.”
“Oh.”
Maude said, “Dane, Lawanda has great fear of other people. If we brought you into the room and she was here, she would be terrified. She is in the bedroom, lying down. I fed her already.”
“She should really be in a home for the mentally deficient, Dane,” said Harris, “but we can’t afford to put her in one. We love her with all of our hearts and want to take the best care of her possible. Maude and I can’t go to church together, because one of us has to stay home with Lawanda. So we alternate. One of us goes to church on a Sunday morning while the other one stays home with our little girl, then the other one goes on that Sunday night while the other stays home with her. We switch off who goes Sunday mornings and nights each week. When Maude goes to church, there is a family who are members of the church who come by and pick her up. When I go, I drive my buggy.”
Dane was not sure what to say, so he commented, “I can see that you are wonderful parents. Do you have any other children?”
“Yes. We have a son who lives in Roanoke, Virginia. He has a lovely wife, and they have given us three grandchildren. Two of those grandchildren are now married and have families of their own. They all live in Roanoke.”
“I see. Do you get to visit them often?”
“Usually once a year we go to Roanoke, and they come here a couple of times a year.”
The room went silent.
Maude broke the silence. “Well! You men sit down at the table, and as soon as I finish cutting the bread, well eat.”
As Dane sat down at the place designated by Dr. Harris, he noticed a Bible lying on a small table near the window. He also noticed a picture frame on one wall with a Scripture verse on it, like those in the office and examining room downstairs. This one read:
The name of Jesus Christ …
Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under heaven
given among men,
whereby we must be saved.
Acts 4:10, 12
The doctor sat down at his place, and as Maude placed the plate of hot bread on the table, Dane took in the array of food. The hot bread was in huge slices, with a butter plate and a jelly dish to go with it. There was succulent glazed ham, sugared sweet potatoes, and green peas with tiny onion chips. Dane had already spied a yellow cake with chocolate frosting sitting on the cupboard. He had to keep swallowing the saliva that filled his mouth in anticipation of what he was about to enjoy.
When Maude sat down at her place, Dr. Harris ran his gaze over both faces and said, “Let’s pray.”
Dane saw the Harrises bow their heads and close their eyes, and he did the same.
The doctor led in prayer, thanking the Lord for allowing Dane to come into their lives; he then thanked Him for the food and closed in Jesus’ name. When the amen was said, Dane raised his head and opened his eyes to see both people smiling at him. The food was passed around, and the doctor and his wife smiled at each other as Dane wolfed everything down.
While they were eating, Dr. Harris looked at the boy, swallowed a mouthful of sweet potato, and said, “Dane did your family attend church anywhere?”
Dane shook his head. “No, sir. We didn’t go to church.”
Approaching the subject carefully, Harris asked, “Do you believe God exists?”
“Oh, yes, sir. I sure do.”
“Do you believe the Bible is God’s written Word to mankind?”
“Yes, sir. I have heard enough about it to know that it is God’s Word. There was a family who lived in our tenement who went to church regularly. Several times I heard the man and his wife talking to my parents about what God says in the Bible concerning many different subjects.”
“I see. Was there ever any discussion about heaven and hell, and sin and salvation?”
Dane swallowed a mouthful of green peas. “I remember the neighbors bringing those subjects up sometimes, yes. They told my parents that God’s Son, Jesus Christ, was the only one who could cleanse and forgive their sins and take them to heaven.”
He pointed to the picture frame on the wall that he had looked at earlier. “That Scripture up there …”
“Yes?”
“I remember hearing our neighbors say something very much like that.”
The doctor went on to question Dane along these lines to see just how much he understood about sin and its consequences. He was pleased to learn that the boy had some of it right, but quickly saw that he needed further instruction in several areas. He realized he must be as wise as a serpent and as gentle as a dove in dealing with the boy, so he explained a few things for him
to think about and quoted Scriptures to plant the seed of the Word firmly in his heart.
Both Harrises were pleased at the way Dane accepted what he was being told as the absolute truth.
Maude said, “Dane, tomorrow morning it’s my husband’s turn to go to church while I stay home with Lawanda. Would you like to go to Sunday school and church with him?”
Dane had just swallowed a piece of the yellow cake. “I really would like to go with Dr. Harris, ma’am, but I really don’t have any church-going clothes. I have three more shirts that I brought with me when I left the tenement flat, two more pair of trousers, three pair of socks, and two pair of long johns. My shirts and trousers are much like the ones I have on right now. They’re just not dress-up clothes.”
Dr. Harris smiled at him. “You will be welcome at our church dressed as you are.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Then I will go with you in the morning, sir.”
“Good! I’ll be by your alley at about 9:15. Just wait right there on the street for me.”
“I will, sir. I can check the big clock on the front of the bank on the corner, so I’ll know what time it is.”
After supper the doctor took Dane back to the alley in his buggy.
The next morning, Dane was picked up by Dr. Harris and taken to Sunday school and church services.
In the preaching service, Dr. Harris was pleased to see the boy keeping his eyes on the pastor as he was preaching. The sermon was on the subject of hell, and Dane was amazed to see the preacher wiping tears with a handkerchief as he warned of the consequences of dying without Jesus Christ.
Dane was strongly impressed by the sermon, and the doctor could see conviction on his young face during the invitation. As others were walking the aisle to receive Jesus into their hearts as their personal Saviour, Dane gripped the back of the pew in front of him but did not move.
Chapter Seven
When Dr. Lee Harris and Dane Weston climbed in the buggy after the church service, Dr. Harris said, “I didn’t tell you this yet, Dane, but Mrs. Harris told me to ask you if you would come home with me and eat Sunday dinner with us. How about it?”