“I know,” said Boone, reading the visitor’s mind. “Daddy needs help.”
A beautiful figure stood at Boone’s bedside, encouraging the little boy to continue to trust his intuition and let it guide him. The woman had silvery blonde hair and sparkling green eyes. She wore a pretty, layered blue chiffon dress. She told Boone that her name was Elisha and that she was his great-grandmother and guardian angel. Boone felt safe and comfortable with her, and he trusted her completely even though he had never met her. His parents had always taught him not to talk to strangers, but she was no stranger. He listened intently to what she had to say, certain that she would help him.
“You know what to do, Boone,” she said.
“I do?”
“Yes. I want you to think for a minute. Remember your vision, your dream?”
Boone paused as he thought about what had happened in his dream. “I have to find her soon, don’t I?”
“Yes, sweetie.” Elisha nodded in approval.
“But how do I do that?”
“It’s probably easier to find him first,” she offered. She gently patted his floppy brown hair.
“But where do I find him?”
“You can start by asking if anyone knows of someone who can help your dad. When you find him, you’ll find her, too.”
“Okay,” Boone agreed. “I’ll ask my teacher. She knows lots of people.”
“Good idea,” Elisha said, patting his head.
Boone noticed that his great-grandma was wearing yellow ribbons in her hair. He’d had a dream about yellow ribbons once. He knew they had something to do with saving people.
“I like your well-woh ribbons,” he said.
“Thank you, Boone. Would you like one?”
“Sure.”
Elisha took one out of her hair and gave it to him. “Yellow ribbons are special,” she said.
“Cause they save people?”
“Well, you’re on the right track. The ribbons themselves don’t save people. They’re a symbol.”
“What’s a symbol?”
“A symbol is something that stands for something else. You’re a little young to understand this now.”
“No, I’m not. I git it. A well-woh ribbon tells us to save people.”
“Sort of.”
“See, I’m not too young. I’m four years old now. I go to preschool. And I’m real smart, too.”
“Yes, you are, Boone. Now get some sleep. You have an important day ahead of you tomorrow.”
Elisha gently kissed him on the forehead and pulled the covers up around his shoulders. Then she vanished in a silvery mist of sparkles. Boone slept peacefully after that. At least for a little while.
Before long, the sounds of his father’s painful sobs awoke Boone with a start. The house smells like that stuff Daddy drinks out of a bottle, he thought. Boone quickly jumped out of his bed and raced through the house to be by his dad’s side. He knew his father needed him more than ever now.
It was still dark outside, and most of the lights in the house were off. A slight glow from the yellowing table lamp in the living room let Boone know where his dad was. As he entered the room, he spotted him with his face buried in his hands. Assorted empty bottles lined the oak coffee table, and there were several ashtrays with cigarette butts in them. Daddy has some very bad habits, Boone thought. Mommy said so before she left. But now it had gotten worse.
“What’s wrong, Daddy?”
“Go back to bed, Boone,” Max croaked, his words sounding funny and run together. “Daddy doesn’t want you to see me like this.”
“Like what?” Boone asked, scratching his head.
Max rose from the worn, brown tweed couch and gathered the empty bottles. Boone watched as he stumbled to the kitchen and almost fell twice. He was very worried about his dad and followed him like a puppy dog to make sure he was okay.
“Sad. Tired. Upset,” his father answered finally while splashing cold water on his face from the kitchen sink.
“Why are you sad? Do you miss Mommy?”
His dad looked back at him like a deer that had run out in front of a car. He looked scared, alone, and very sad. Boone could feel the sadness building inside of himself as well. His tummy fluttered as if filled with butterflies when he thought about how his mother had left them. And he didn’t even know why. He knew she had been sick. He knew that she couldn’t do the things she did before. Boone remembered the doctor saying it was no one’s fault, that she had something that made her mind not work right. He loved her so much. He wished he could have his mom back. But he knew that he and his dad could still be okay without her. If only he could help his father believe.
“Of course I miss her,” Max replied. “I love your mom very much. But she had to go away. And now I’ve lost my job. Soon we’ll lose our house, too. Everything is a mess, Boone. I’m a mess. I’m so sorry. I never meant to let you down, son.”
Max collapsed into a chair at the kitchen table. He looked very tired. “Don’t worry, Daddy,” Boone said. He gave his father a big bear hug. “An angel will save you.”
“Oh Boone,” his father said. “Not even angels can help me.”
“Of course they can,” Boone protested. “Even Grandma Elisha thinks so. She’s an angel, you know.”
Max looked surprised, and more awake now. “How do you know about Grandma Elisha?” he asked with a puzzled look on his face. “She was my grandmother. She’s been in Heaven a long time now. She died long before you were born. You never even met her.”
“Yes, I did,” Boone said happily. “She visited me last night. She’s so pretty. Silver hair and green eyes. Pretty smile. I love that grandma.”
Boone watched his father’s face turn white and his eyes become serious. Then Max fell right out of his chair onto the floor.
“Daddy! Daddy! Are you okay?”
But he didn’t respond. Boone knew that the stuff his father drank sometimes made him fall asleep. But he also knew that something he said about Grandma Elisha had bothered him. He just didn’t know what. But it didn’t matter; he had to get his dad to wake up.
Boone quickly pulled himself up on the kitchen counter and grabbed a blue cup from the cupboard. He turned on the sink and filled the cup with cold water. Then he climbed back down and splashed it into his father’s face, yelling, “Daddy, Daddy! Please wake up!”
He was relieved when it worked. His father opened his eyes and looked right at him.
“I’ll be with Grandma Elisha soon,” he said seriously. “I want you to know how much I love you, Boone, and that I’ll always miss you.”
“Don’t be silly, Daddy,” Boone said. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“I’m afraid I am, Boone,” Max said quietly. “There’s no other way. You deserve a better life… a life I can no longer give you.”
Boone didn’t like how his father was talking. It made him feel scared. He had to do something—and fast. He was running out of time. If he didn’t find that woman soon, he thought, his dream might not come true after all. Boone knew that dreams were just a look at what could happen, not a guarantee. He knew that sometimes, people got in the way. And without a doubt, his father was getting in his own way.
“I need you to take me to school soon,” Boone said, changing the subject.
“Sorry, bud, I can’t,” Max replied. “Daddy’s in no condition to drive. I’ll call Aunt Lydia. She’ll take you. Now go get ready while I clean up a bit more.”
“Okay,” Boone agreed.
***
Boone’s teacher, Mrs. Garrett, cheerfully greeted the preschool students who entered her brightly decorated classroom. Twelve smiling faces bounced through the door and found their places on the colorful alphabet carpet. They chattered among themselves and sat cross-legged, eagerly waiting for story time.
Boone was the only one who wasn’t so happy today. He had more important things on his mind than ABCs and 123s. He had to find her so she could save his father.
Once everyone was settled, Mrs. Garrett shut the door. Boone sprang from his spot on the carpet and rushed over to her. She looked troubled, probably because of the urgent look on the little boy’s face.
“I need your help,” he whispered into her ear.
She ushered him over to her cluttered desk and motioned for him to sit down. “What’s wrong, Boone?” she asked sweetly.
“Daddy’s not good,” he said quietly, so the other kids wouldn’t hear. “He’s crying a lot and talking about leaving to join Grandma Elisha. She’s dead, you know. I don’t want Daddy to die, too. ’Cause then, who would take care of me?”
“Oh,” said Mrs. Garrett, frowning, her eyes growing wide. “You’re right, Boone. That’s not good. This is a very serious situation.”
“Yesss, it is ser-i-ous,” he agreed. “Daddy’s very sad. I need a phone number. Someone who can help. Someone who helps people with plob-lems.”
Mrs. Garrett shot Boone a worried look and opened her desk drawer. “I know just the person,” she said. “His name is Dr. Chip. He will be able to help your father.”
She pulled out a small card with a phone number on it. “Go put this in your backpack so you don’t lose it. Have your aunt or another responsible adult help you make the call after school today, okay?”
“Okay.”
Boone nodded and sighed. He felt a little bit better now; that fluttery feeling in his stomach was starting to go away. He knew that this person his teacher told him about was the same Chip he had met at the park. After all, there weren’t many Chips around. Except the yummy kind I like to eat for snack, he thought. Boone was sure this little card would lead him to her—to sweet, kind Sara, the lady in his dream. Now all he had to do was make the call.
CHAPTER 17
Saving him
Several months had passed since Sara’s last suicide attempt. She had been attending therapy to help resolve her feelings of depression, anger, and guilt. The visions of death still came, but she was better equipped to deal with them. Instead of being overwhelmed by her emotions, she learned to channel her energy into a more positive purpose. She seemed to have a lot of visions not just of death, but of other people’s suicide plans. She understood them well and, in some cases, was able to help talk people out of killing themselves by sharing her own story of once being suicidal.
Chip had completed his PhD in psychology and had thrived in the short time he had been out of school. He had a natural knack for helping people and had even been contemplating opening up a private practice.
He and Sara were sitting together at the kitchen table, munching on fresh strawberries and antipasto and discussing their wedding plans, when Chip’s cell phone rang. “Hello?” Chip answered.
“Hi,” said a young boy’s voice. “Is this Dr. Chip?”
“Yes?”
“Can I talk to Sara, please?”
“Sure. Who’s calling?”
“It’s Boone,” he answered. “You know. From the park. I saw your fish.”
“For you, Sara,” Chip said, handing her the phone. “It’s Boone.”
A chill ran through Sara’s body as she took the phone. Boone? The little boy from Herrick Recreation Area? Why was he calling her?
“Boone, sweetie? What’s wrong? How did you get this number?”
“It’s my dad,” he said hurriedly. “Something’s wrong. I asked my teacher for help. She told me ’bout some guy named Dr. Chip. Said he helps people. She gave me this number. I knew it was the Chip from the park. And then I ’membered you. You’re supposed to save my dad.”
“Slow down, buddy,” Sara said soothingly. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“Well, Daddy lost his job. Mommy left. And then Grandpa died. Daddy’s been drinking that stuff. He’s very sad. He cries a lot. He won’t eat. He mostly sleeps. Today he is really bad. He locked himself in the bathroom. He won’t come out. He’s crying really loud. He keeps saying something over and over again about dying. Please, Sara, you need to save him. I saw you save him in my dream. I know you can.”
Sara remembered what Boone had told her that day. Not only did he know she wanted to kill herself, but somehow he was convinced she was going to save his dad one day. What if he was right?
“Okay, Chip,” said Sara. “I want you to tell me where you live. Do you know your address?”
“Yes. 125 Oak Street. In Clare.”
Sara scribbled down information from Boone and then jotted down the name and phone number from the caller ID.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” she told him.
“Thanks, Sara,” Boone said. “And please hurry.”
Sara flew over to the computer and quickly Googled the address Boone had given her. She printed out a map and ran back into the kitchen where Chip still sat.
“C’mon,” she said to Chip. “We have a life to save, Doctor.”
“Don’t you mean you have a life to save, Superwoman? If I remember correctly, you’re the hero in this scenario.”
“Well, even superheroes bring along a sidekick,” she said with a wink as they headed out the door.
***
Chip and Sara raced to Boone’s house. When they rang the doorbell, the little boy answered right away. He looked really worried.
Chip sat down on the sofa and began to comfort Boone, while Sara ran for the bathroom and tapped on the door. “Hello?” she called. “Max? Are you okay?”
“Who are you and how did you get into my house?” Max asked angrily.
“I’m Sara,” she said in a soothing voice. “From the campground several months ago. Your son jumped in my arms and was excited about my fish. He thought I was a superhero. Remember?”
“Of course I remember,” he snapped. “But that still doesn’t answer my question. Why are you here?”
“Well, Boone called me,” she explained. “He’s worried about you.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. Why would Boone call you? He hardly knows you. Where did he get your number from?”
“Not everything makes sense,” Sara said. “Some stuff is beyond our control. Sometimes things happen that we can’t explain.”
“Well, ain’t that the truth!” Max exclaimed.
“I want to help,” Sara said. “Please talk to me.”
“There’s nothing you can do,” he said sadly. “I can’t support my son. I’m about to lose my house. My wife left me. My dad died. My life is a mess. The world would be better off without me.”
“My life was a mess once, too,” Sara said.
“Somehow I doubt that,” Max said gruffly.
“It’s true,” she continued. “I was in horrible emotional pain. It was so awful that I even tried to kill myself—more than once. I couldn’t handle things anymore. It was just so overwhelming. Like you, I thought the world would be better off without me.”
“Really? You tried to kill yourself?”
“I did,” she said. “And I almost succeeded, too.”
“Well, what happened?”
“I don’t know exactly. Call it fate. Divine intervention. Life.”
“I don’t believe in that stuff.”
“Believe me, I didn’t either,” Sara said. “In fact, I’m a biologist. I’ve been trained to look at the facts, what I can see and verify. But somehow things kept happening to me. It’s like some unknown force was pulling the strings. I met Chip at the right time, and somehow he saved me.”
Silence filled the air. Sara figured that Max was thinking. Maybe she was starting to get through to him. She leaned in closer to the door, waiting for his response.
“Go on,” Max urged.
“Chip mysteriously appeared during several of my suicide attempts just in the nick of time. I believe we meet people for a reason, Max. I don’t fully understand how it happens, but it does.”
Max let out a squeak and started sobbing again. Loud cries filled the room and echoed through the house. It was clear just how much pain he was in. Sara became worried about Boone and how
this would affect him.
“Chip, please take Boone outside,” she called.
Chip quickly escorted Boone out the back door. Sara watched from the bedroom window until they were out of sight.
“Sir, your son is outside with my fiancé. Can we talk face-to-face please? Can you open the door?”
Max gulped and then slowly unlocked the door. Sara was shocked to see a skinny, scruffy man with red puffy eyes and a horrified look on his face. He looked older and messier than when she had met him. Clearly, he was suffering a lot. And he was holding a bottle of pills.
“I tried pills, too,” she said. “But just as I was about to take them, my mother’s ashes fell off the mantel. That was just one of the weird things that happened to me.”
“I was about to take them when you arrived,” he said, sobbing. “And you know what else?”
“What?” Sara asked softly.
“Even though I don’t believe in the stuff, I prayed right before, just in case. I prayed for God to take care of my son. I prayed for an angel to come save me. And then out of nowhere, you appeared. Are you my angel, Sara?”
“Yes,” she said with certainty. “I am. I’m here to save you.”
“Is this for real?” Max asked. “I’m not dreaming or anything, right?”
“It’s absolutely real,” she said. “Remember in the park that day? Boone told me he had a vision of me saving you. It seemed far-fetched at the time, but now I think he was right. I’m supposed to be the one. I’m supposed to save you, Max. I’ve been where you are. I understand how it feels. I know how to help you get your life back on track. So does my fiancé. We’re your angels. Now, what do you say? Will you let us help you? If not for yourself, for your son?”
“The pain,” the man said. “It’s just too much for me. It’s so so hard.”
“I know. I once felt that way, too,” Sara said, putting her hand on his shoulder. “But it’s okay. It will all be okay.”
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