Resolving to make the best of matters, she stepped out of the bathroom and went into the living room where Sara waited. Donna sat, careful not to look at the couch this time. “Well now, Sara, tell me a little about yourself. I know you have some children.”
“I actually just have two boys, sixteen and eighteen. They work at the coal mines just as their father did before them.”
“Coal mines?” Donna couldn’t hide her shock. They were so young!
“Their uncle is the foreman. Daniel is too young to go in the mine yet, but his uncle pays him under the table for labor work. Christopher just began mining after his birthday last month.”
“You mentioned something about little ones.”
Sara nodded her head. “Yes, my little gifts from God. Jessie is the oldest—she’s seven and Lexie is five. They came to live with me after my cousin, Eloise, died. Her husband had passed on two years earlier from black lung.”
“Black lung?”
“Black lung is a disease that miners can contract from breathing in coal dust over a long period of time. I pray my boys don’t ever have to experience such misery. They watched their father die a painful and slow death. I know it’s always in the back of their minds.”
Donna shook her head. “I don’t mean to be out of line, but why aren’t the boys in school?”
Sara looked shamefully down. “We need the money. I work at a sewing factory, but the income I make doesn’t go very far. Besides, the boys aren’t much on schooling.”
Donna decided not to pursue the conversation. Sara seemed uncomfortable talking about her two boys working at the coal mine.
The front door swung open. Two tall, slender young men entered, followed by two adorable little redheaded girls. Sara stood. “Daniel, Christopher, this is Donna Dubois. She is the missionary worker I told you about, who will be staying with us for a while.”
Jessie and Lexie peeped from behind the boys, looking curiously at Donna. Bending down to Jessie and Lexie’s level, Donna told them how much she enjoyed meeting them. Then she stood and expressed to Daniel and Christopher how sorry she was to put them out of their room. They politely replied that they didn’t mind, but still she hated the thought of the boys sleeping on the floor in that cold, half a room.
Announcing dinner would be ready in a couple of hours, Sara told the children to do their homework. After they finished eating, Sara sent the children to prepare for bed.
Sara looked at Donna. “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll turn in also. Five o’clock comes very early in the morning.”
“Of course, I’m tired myself. Well, good night then.” Donna went into the room she was sharing with the little girls. The well-behaved youngsters were already in their pajamas and tucked in when Sara came to kiss them. After she left, Donna quietly changed into her flannel pajamas and slipped into bed. She was thankful Ellie suggested she pack thermal underwear. She had a feeling she would be wearing the warm attire a lot.
Exhausted from traveling, Donna curled in the bed. Too late, she wished she was at home snuggled on her king-size mattress, lying in her soft comfortable sheets. She said her prayers, asking the Lord that the time apart from Mark would do them both good. With that as her last thought, she fell asleep.
* * *
She awoke in the morning to clinking in the living room. Donna rose, dressing in a plaid, flannel shirt and blue jeans. Brushing her hair, she pulled it in a ponytail. Slowly, she eased open the bedroom door to find Sara placing wood in the stove.
“Good morning, Donna. Did you rest well?”
“Surprisingly well. Usually, I don’t sleep soundly the first night I travel away from home.”
Sara smiled. “I’m glad. Are you hungry? I have some oatmeal on the stove.”
“Oatmeal sounds great,” Donna politely replied, never a fan of warm cereal. She followed Sara into the kitchen, where Sara scooped a spoonful of oatmeal into an old bowl and handed it to Donna.
“Thank you.”
She sat at the small table and graciously started to eat. Jessie and Lexie came into the kitchen about the time Donna finished her meal.
“Oatmeal again,” Jessie whined.
“Yes, oatmeal. Be thankful for it. There are plenty of kids who have nothing to fill their bellies and would love oatmeal.”
Jessie looked shamefully down. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Sara hugged Jessie. The girls sat down at the table with Donna. Watching the children dig into their oatmeal, Donna thought how sweet they looked.
“Girls, you need to go and get ready for school now.”
Daniel and Christopher strode into the kitchen, already dressed for work at the mine. Each one accepted a plastic bag filled with a sandwich and leftovers from the night before. Donna couldn’t help but feel sorry for the young boys, forced by their home circumstances to become adults way too early.
“I understand that the church bus will be picking you up today to do some work at the retirement home.”
“Yes, they should be here any moment.”
“Speaking of which, it’s time for me to drop the boys off at work and the girls at school. On Wednesdays, we only work half a day since they cut our hours. I should be home around one this afternoon. Here is a spare key in case you arrive back before I do.”
“Thank you.” She thought it odd that Sara was so trusting of a stranger, to invite her into their home and even give her a key.
“I will lock the door when I leave.”
“Have a good day, Miss Donna. Okay kids, lets get on the road.” The boys and girls loaded into an old, rusted down Chevy.
Donna waved as the car left her sight. She looked around the cabin, noticing how dark and dreary it was inside. The church bus honked, forcing Donna to return her thoughts to her work. Picking up her coat, she locked the door on the way out. She stepped onto the bus to find Ellie waving. Moving toward the back, she sat next to her friend.
“How are you making out with your host family?”
“Fine. They are a sweet elderly couple who are thankful for the company. And how about your family?”
“They’re nice. It’s just that I feel sorry for the mother, even more so for the children. They don’t have much. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but I don’t understand why she would want the expense of another person. She already takes care of two little girls who are not her own and her home...well, let’s just say it could use some work.”
Expressing concern, Ellie leaned into Donna. “Maybe God put you with them for a reason. Maybe you are suppose to help them somehow.”
“Oh, look! We’re at the retirement home already.”
“You can try to change the subject, Donna Dubois, but you know what I said is true.”
The bus hissed to a stop, for which Donna was thankful. What did Ellie expect her to do for this family anyway?
Mrs. Hutchinson blew her whistle, forcing Donna to focus her thoughts on the group. Everyone followed Mrs. Hutchinson into the retirement home. Donna studied all the people in their wheelchairs or holding onto a walker. How sad they seemed.
She followed everyone into the kitchen, where Mrs. Hutchinson divided the crowd into three separate assemblies with five people in each division. Donna was placed in Group Three, whose job was to provide entertainment. A big surprise there.
Ellie was in Group One, which received the assignment of decorating the center for Christmas. Ellie proceeded to sort through the boxes of decorations while Donna headed to the piano, where four members of her cluster already stood.
An elderly woman approached, requesting that they sing her favorite Christmas song, Silent Night. Then a feisty lady with a thick Texan accent scooted over in her wheelchair. “I want y’all to sing a happy song. Not some slow tune—something upbeat. Lord knows this place has enough sadness. Play something happy.” She whipped her wheelchair in the opposite direction and rolled away.
Each member started blurting Christmas songs considered upbeat. Jingle Bell
s, Joy To The World, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer... A list was made and it was decided that the group would finish with Silent Night.
Upon finishing their song list, Donna wandered over to Ellie, who was busy draping garland from one end of the room to the other. She looked so involved in her decorating, Donna did not want to interrupt. Instead, she walked over to the Christmas tree that was just completed with the last ornament hung. Several members of the home circled the tree and as she joined the crowd, the lights were plugged in. Claps and cheers erupted as white lights danced against the pale gray wall. Donna realized that the decorations had even brightened her spirit—maybe she would be able to get into the Christmas season after all.
Soon, the smell of baked ham, sweet potato casserole, cakes and cookies filled the air. A buffet was set up on a table that allowed everyone to fill their Christmas paper plates with all the goodies they desired. Donna and her group started singing again as the seniors sat at tables decorated with red tablecloths and tissue centerpieces. Even the seniors that were too sickly to attend were delivered the Christmas dinner to enjoy in their rooms.
Donna and her group went around to each room and visited with the bedridden men and women of the home, singing. Tears ran down Donna’s face as she listened to one woman’s story of how she had lost her only child and grandchildren in a car wreck three years ago on Christmas Eve. Another man told of how he had worked all his life, thinking that was what was important in life. “I made money, but now I have no family, no one to care about me, visit me. I am alone.”
Rick Burns, the tough as nails local football coach, wiped his eyes. “God loves you. He will never leave you alone.”
Donna and her group continued to visit and resonate the Christmas spirit. Until they ventured out into the dim evening to return home, she had not realized how late they had stayed. Ellie and Donna made their way to the bus and climbed in, exhausted by the day.
“What did you think?” Ellie whispered to Donna.
“I really enjoyed it. They seemed thankful for our group coming to visit.”
“I had the opportunity to talk with some of the women who were confined to their beds. Their stories really made me thankful for everything I’m blessed with. Some of their tales were so heartbreaking.”
“Me too.” Donna leaned back, thinking hard about Ellie’s words. Sara and her family popped into her mind. Despite all, Sara did not seem bitter. Instead, she was willing to share what little she had with a complete stranger.
The bus finally approached Donna’s destination—Sara’s small log cabin. Donna rose, said her goodbyes and charged off the bus.
Sara, who must’ve heard them pull up, stood to invite Donna in.
“Well, you look exhausted.”
“I am tired, but you know, it’s a good tired.”
“I know what you mean. Helping people makes you feel good, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah, it really does. I never really thought about it before. I’ve read the Bible verse in Acts: 20 when Jesus says, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ I can say that I personally experienced what Jesus meant by that today.”
Sara yawned. “Excuse me.”
“Forgive me, Sara. You must be ready for bed.”
“It is late for me, but I’m more than happy to warm up some supper for you.”
“Thanks, but I ate earlier. I think I’ll turn in also. Good night.”
Donna made her way to the bedroom, slowly creeping in so not to wake the children who slept peacefully in their beds. Quietly, she changed into her flannel pajamas. She could not help but notice how sweet and innocent the girls looked lying there asleep. Little angels, she thought to herself.
Morning came too soon, as Donna heard Jessie and Lexie up and about, preparing for school. Donna reluctantly rose and dressed. Looking into the mirror, she could tell by the bags under her eyes that she had not received enough sleep the night before. She followed the girls into the kitchen, catching Sara leaning over the table with her head in her hands. As soon as Sara heard the girls, she straightened. Donna could sense that Sara was extremely tired and worn. But, Sara’s attitude hardly revealed the truth as she smiled and went about preparing breakfast for her family. Donna sat with the girls and ate. Oatmeal again. After everyone had finished their portions, Sara, Christopher, Daniel and the girls drove off, leaving Donna by herself.
The bus wasn’t due to arrive for another hour. She looked around the small cabin, at the sink full of dirty bowls and cups, a week’s worth of laundry piled up, the beds needing made. She pushed up her sleeves and decided to get to work. A few chores were the least she could do. Donna proceeded to do the dishes, then moved on to loading clothes in the old, worn out washing machine and hanging them on a line in the back yard. She had just finished straightening everyone’s bed when the bus honked its horn. Grabbing her jacket, she rushed out the door. Helping Sara with the housework had lifted her spirits, filling her with satisfaction.
Ellie immediately noticed the apparent change. “I don’t think I have seen you this cheerful in a long time.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Don’t take offense, Donna. I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but you’ve been very unhappy for the last few months.”
Donna leaned back, not saying a word. “Maybe you are right. I do feel like my old self here. Not worrying about the traveling, schedules, stage lighting—”
“Thinking about babies.”
“I will admit, I am not concerned with having a family for the first time in a long time.”
“See. All you needed was to get away from your life for a while. Everything will fall into place.”
“I hope you are right.”
The bus stopped in front of the local food bank. Everyone unloaded and headed into the big, concrete building housing the food supplies. The same groups were in place from the day before. Donna followed hers into the room lined with storage shelves that held assorted canned goods. They were given paper bags to unfold and instructed to place a certain number of green beans, corn, spaghetti sauce, and different vegetables into the sack. The bag was then carried to the next station, where dry goods were added and at the third stop, the goods were distributed to the local people.
All the groups worked well into the evening once again. Everyone seemed extremely tired when they all loaded onto the bus and headed back to their host families.
When they reached Sara’s house, Donna waved a silent goodbye and hurried inside. Sara was still awake, working on sewing a patch on Lexie’s blue jeans. Donna made herself comfortable on the couch.
“You look tired.”
“I am.”
“It seems you had quite a long day, doing housework and working at the food bank.”
“I just wanted to help you out a little.”
“I was so surprised when I came home and saw all the work you had managed. Thank you, but you are a guest here. Please. I don’t expect you to earn your keep.”
Donna sat for a moment, contemplating. “I want to help you. It’s the least I could do for all your hospitality.”
“But—”
Donna lifted a hand, determined. “Let’s make a deal. I’ll help only when I have time before the bus comes. I hate just sitting around. Cleaning keeps me busy and helps you out at the same time. Deal?”
“Okay, deal. But remember, only if you have the time and are not too tired.”
“Now that that’s taken care of, I am going to bed. See you in the morning.”
As Donna walked past, Sara remained there in the light of the woodstove and the small lamp, continuing to sew. Clearly, her hands ached from the arthritis in all her joints. Donna’s guess, she would never complain though.
CHAPTER FOUR
As the days progressed, Donna became a member of the Cagle family. Sara commented frequently about how good Donna was with the girls. Some nights, Donna would braid Lexie and Jessie’s hair. Other evenings, she would play ga
mes with all four kids for a couple of hours before everyone turned in. Forming a relationship with the children had not been in Donna’s plans, but as each day passed, they grew closer.
The sound of the rooster’s crow came early. That morning, Lexie and Jessie remained asleep, but Donna was now adjusted to the cold, early mornings. Quietly, she dressed and ventured into the living room. No one was up yet. She tiptoed her way into the kitchen to start breakfast. As she looked in the cabinets, she was shocked. A few canned goods and a big sack of oatmeal were all she found. The small refrigerator contained only a meager amount of milk, a stick of butter, and a bottle of ketchup. They needed the food from the food bank themselves, Donna thought.
“Yet here she is sharing her meals with me,” Donna whispered under her breath. She heard the boys stirring on the porch. She gathered the pan she had seen Sara use to cook the oatmeal and placed the milk and sack of oatmeal on the counter. After measuring the ingredients, she proceeded to cook the oatmeal on one of the two working eyes on the stove. The boys came in, startled to see Donna instead of their mother. Lexie and Jessie followed and soon all four kids were eating their oatmeal. Sara came slowly walking in.
“I can’t believe I overslept.” Sounding exhausted, she looked around at all four of her children already eating their breakfast. “Thank you.” A big smile came across her face.
The bus came earlier than usual. Donna apologized to Sara for not having the time to clean up, but she had to go.
Sara smiled, clearly trying to mask the pain burdening her body. “You go on. I can take care of the rest. I’ll see you tonight.”
Donna stepped onto the bus, feeling guilty regardless. This time they were headed to do maintenance at a local shelter for the homeless, which had been neglected. They patched drywall, fixed cracks in the ceiling, repaired roof damage, and gave the building a good old-fashioned cleaning. Sheets, blankets, and donated clothing were washed and dried and sorted by sizes. Their tasks weren’t finished until after six that evening.
The Christmas Answer (Christmas Holiday Extravaganza) Page 3