by Joy Redmond
After school was in session, Mandy’s work schedule presented a problem. She saw Kati and Tony for only thirty-minutes in the mornings before school. She had to leave for work before they got home. They highly resented having to collect Abbie from the neighbor, then babysit her until bedtime.
Each day when Mandy left for work, her nerves were on edge. Kati was a wild, headstrong teenager, and Mandy was uneasy about the two girls whom Kati had made friends with. Kati insisted on spending her time with her friends when school was out for the day, and every weekend. Mandy wasn’t going to forbid her daughter to have a teen life as her parents had done to her, but every time Kati left with her friends, Mandy sweated bullets until she was back home.
Tony was twelve, still a sweet child, but he had made friends with a couple older boys who liked to drink and carouse. Mandy did forbid Tony to run with them, but she knew they were coming around when she was working. Abbie gave her all the information. She needed to put a stop to the boys coming over and having no supervision. She needed a new plan.
She pulled into the parking lot at the hospital thirty minutes early. She went into the office of Social Services and was hopeful as she checked to see if there were any positions she would be qualified for, and on day shift. There was nothing and Mandy wearily headed to the lab. I’ve got to work. My nest egg won’t last long, and I really want to buy a house and stop wasting money on rent. What a hell of a position to be in. So, do I let my children grow up as if they are wild weeds and eventually be in trouble with the law—or give up my job and pull Mother Patrol? I’ve got a strong feeling I’m going to be facing a lot of trouble and grief with my two oldest. What the hell do I do?
Two days later, Mandy sat at the table after dropping Abbie off at school, poured a cup of coffee and opened the paper. She scanned the Want Ads and her breath caught in her throat when she saw an ad. Wanted: An assistant to care for lady with MS. Hours—8 am to 4 pm. Mandy walked over to the desk, pulled out a small notebook, and quickly scribbled down the phone number. Oh, Lord. This might be my answer. But I’m sure the pay is next to nothing. However, it’ll be better than nothing.
She felt a gentle squeezing on both shoulders. I feel you. I hope you’re trying to tell me this is the opportunity that will solve my woes. Her heart pounded as she picked up the phone and dialed the number. She spoke with a lady named Betty who seemed to be very sweet. Betty asked Mandy a few questions. After a long pause, she asked when Mandy could come to her house for an interview. Betty said her husband, Hal, would want to talk with her also.
“I’ve got a couple hours before I have to pick up my daughter from kindergarten, but I can be there by one o’clock.”
“That’s good. Hal will be here until three. See you soon.”
“Thank you.” Mandy hung up the phone and a warm glow flowed through her body. “That woman is full of love.” She chuckled. “I sure hope she loves to pay well.”
That afternoon, Mandy talked with Betty and Hal for over an hour. They asked many questions and when Mandy answered them all, they seemed pleased. They looked at each other as if a silent thought passed from one to the other. They gave an approving nod, and Betty asked, “When can you start?”
Mandy’s jaw dropped but she managed to keep her composure. “I’ll have to turn in a two week notice at the hospital. Can you wait for me that long?” She held her breath and waited.
Hal stood and said, “We’ll be more than happy to wait for you. You wouldn’t believe the kind of people we’ve interviewed and turned down. We have a lady who has been taking care of Betty for almost seven years. She’ll stay on until you can start. She’s like family, but she’s recently gotten custody of a grandchild and she’s overwhelmed.”
Mandy said. “You haven’t mentioned the pay.” She waited, her fingers crossed.
Hal smiled and said, “We’ll pay you a hundred and twenty dollars a week—under the table. Our three children help us pay for Betty’s care. I’m a professor at the college. I make a decent living, but I don’t make enough to pay that amount. And I want the best to care for my wife. So, if that pay is acceptable, we’ll come up with the money.”
Mandy felt weak in the knees. That’s more than I’m making now. That’s as much as many men are making and they have families to support too. “The pay is perfect. Thank you for this opportunity, and I’ll see you in two weeks.”
Two weeks later, Mandy made arrangements with a neighbor, the mother of Lizbeth, to pick up Abbie after kindergarten and keep her until Kati and Tony came home from school.
Mandy was on her way to Betty’s house, her heart singing with joy. No more uniforms. It’s jeans, sweaters, and sneakers from now on. The hours are perfect and I’ll be with my children before and after school until bedtime. Thank you, God. Thank you, spirits for guiding me. I flew on faith, and for four months, faith has taken me onward and upward. Amazing!
Mandy’s soul was quiet and still, and she embraced the feeling of tranquility. Everything was alright in her world.
Chapter Six
Mandy was happy as she drove over to Betty’s apartment, ready for her first day of taking care of the sweet lady. She lightly tapped on the door and a big smile played across her face when she heard Betty’s voice, “Come in.”
Mandy stepped inside and again it struck her as strange that Betty was in a hospital bed, in the living room, which left little space to walk around. “Good morning, Betty. Did I wake you?”
“It doesn’t matter. I doze off and on all day. I don’t have anything else to do and I get tired of TV. I so long to be able to be outside, but nobody will assist me into my wheelchair and push me outside. It’s hard to push that old dilapidated thing across the ground, and we can’t afford a new one. I think mine was brought over on the Niña.”
Mandy gave Betty a querying look. “How long has it been since you were outside?”
“Going on seven years. I was diagnosed with MS before we left New Mexico, but I wasn’t confined to a wheelchair until a few months after we moved back to Cape Girardeau. Hal comes home from work, grades test papers, and then prepares his lectures for the next day’s class. On weekends, he takes off to play golf and fish when it’s nice weather. When the cold sets in, he plays pool and works out at the YMCA.”
“What about Evelyn?” Mandy asked with one eyebrow arched.
“Evelyn only did what she had to, like give me a bath, dress me, fix meals and give me my meds. The rest of the time, she watched soap operas, ate candy, and then fell asleep. She’s a very kind lady and she’s become like family, but she’s rather on the lazy side, but you didn’t hear me say that.”
“Well, dear lady, today you shall go outside. I’ll give you a bath, then dress you, get you in that dinosaur wheelchair, and we’ll go out!”
“Honey, there’s no pavement around here except the parking lot and it’s full of cars. Once you’re out of the lot there’s nothing but ground. You’re too tiny to push my fat butt in a wheelchair through grass. Hal tried it once and he almost had a heart attack.”
“Betty, don’t judge my strength by my size. I’ll surprise you. I’ll push you through the grass and we’ll go to the little park across the street. We can feed the squirrels too. Have you got any stale bread?”
“I’ve got some peanuts. That’s better than bread. Just ask the squirrels,” Betty said, and laughed. “This is gonna be an adventure. Starting with you trying to get me across the grounds and over to the park. But I’m all for it if you think you can. Remember, I weigh a good two-hundred pounds. Do you even weigh a hundred pounds?”
“I’ll have you know I weigh a hundred and two. I can do it!” Mandy stood straight and flexed her muscles for Betty and they both laughed when nothing popped up.
Though it was a struggle, Mandy managed to dress Betty, hoist her out of the hospital bed and into the wheelchair. “Hold on, lady. We’re off. I hope I don’t get a speeding ticket!” Mandy laughed, but she was already a little winded. When I set my mind to some
thing, I do it. And by golly, I’m gonna get this sweet lady to the park or I’ll die trying. She pushed Betty to the front door. “Hold on. Should we take a snack?”
“Not today. Let’s see if we can make it to the park before we make bigger plans.”
Mandy pushed with all her might and at times she wondered if she would be able to make it all the way to the park. She was out of breath and panting and was ready to tell Betty she had to take a breather when suddenly the chair rolled on its own power. Mandy lifted her hands from the push arms and couldn’t believe her eyes as she watched the wheelchair move across the ground as if it were on an ice skating rink.
Holy bat chair! Way to go, spirit! Whoever you are. You knew I needed help. And you know this sweet lady deserves to enjoy the beauty of nature. You never cease to amaze me. She suppressed a giggle. Betty thinks I’m Super Woman. This chair is gliding as if it has wings. “Wings and faith,” she whispered.
“You got that right,” Betty said. “You had faith that you could do it, and I swear my chair seems to have taken wings. Wheee,” she exclaimed, as if she were a child coming down a sliding board.
If you only knew, Betty, Mandy thought, as she watched the best show a spirit had ever performed. Her heart lit up as she listened to Betty’s enjoyment as she moved along. Mandy saw a Monarch butterfly alight on Betty’s lap and sit there. She watched in amazement as the Monarch rose in the air, its wings a stained glass window in the bright sun, and hovered for a second looking at Betty. Both Betty and Mandy stared in wonderment at the small creature and in a second it was gone.
From that day forward, Mandy took Betty to the park and they had picnics, fed peanuts to the squirrels, picked flowers, and Betty shined with happiness. A warm glow flowed into Mandy’s heart.
One rainy day, Mandy brought her makeup kit and nail polish and gave Betty a makeover. Betty looked at herself in the hand-mirror and blushed. “I’m still pretty if I say so myself. But who cares? Hal lost interest in me years ago.”
Mandy winked. “Hal might discover a new interest when he sees you looking so pretty. He’ll wanna get frisky.”
Betty laughed. “It won’t do any good. I don’t have any feeling down there,” she said. “And every time you make me laugh I pee my pants. But I love it. I haven’t laughed in years. You keep me laughing.”
“Well, you just laugh away. When I get tired of changing your panties, I’ll put a folly catheter in Ol’ Lucy, and you can fill a bag.”
Betty held her hand over her mouth and continued to giggle. “I’ve heard it called everything now. Ol’ Lucy. Now that’s a name I’m gonna start using.”
“After I get you dolled-up, Hal might want to pet Ol’ Lucy.”
“Get out of here!”
Mandy looked at her watch. “Get out of here is right. It’s four o’clock. I really need to get on home. I’m a nervous wreck when school is out for the day. I worry about Abbie. Sometimes Kati and Tony get busy with friends and they don’t always pay attention to her. But Hal isn’t home. Should I wait for him?”
“No, I’ll be fine until he gets here. He probably stopped at the grocery. I made a list of stuff for him to buy so we can have picnics. And I’m going to empty the yarn and knitting needles out of the picnic basket. We’re gonna picnic in style as soon as we get another nice day. I hope this rain lets up soon.”
Mandy kissed Betty’s cheek. “We’ll have the grandest picnic in the park parade. See you tomorrow. Have a good night and God bless.”
As Mandy went out the door, she heard Betty sniffle. I’ve finally found somebody who truly appreciates me, enjoys me and knows my worth. And thank you spirit for all the help you gave me when I was lifting her and pushing her in the wheelchair. Stay with us. We need you. Whoever you are.
By October, Mandy and the children were happy in Cape Girardeau and they all wanted to call it home. Mandy contacted the real estate office that she was renting from and an agent was thrilled to take her house hunting. Mandy was happy with her life, her job, and watching her children blossom and grow.
That Friday, when she left Betty’s, Mandy went by the real estate office and an agent showed Mandy two homes in her price range. The houses were nice but Mandy didn’t get a homey feeling when she went inside.
When the realtor pulled up in front of the third house, Mandy felt a warm glow come over her. She looked at it and it seemed to beckon her. She got out of the car and looked around. “Not a bad neighborhood. The yard is perfect and looks healthy. The leaves on the trees are already turning. What beautiful colors. Fall is my favorite season.”
The real estate agent said, “It’s an old home but it’s in mint condition. It’s empty and you can take immediate possession, should you choose to. And there’s a black walnut tree in the backyard. If you like black walnuts, you’ll have plenty.”
“I love black walnuts. But they are a booger to crack.” Mandy laughed. “Let’s go inside.”
The minute the realtor unlocked the front door and Mandy stepped inside, the house seemed to be calling her name. Or maybe it was the brick fireplace in the living room with a beautiful mirror incased in a gold frame. The realtor told her the previous owners said they were leaving it because it had been bought just for the special fireplace.
“What a bonus!” The mirror seemed to tug at her heart. She strolled over to the fireplace and peered into the mirror. She gasped and grabbed her heart as Mama’s face came into view. Mama was smiling that beautiful smile Mandy hadn’t seen in years. She raised her hand and just as she placed her palm on Mama’s reflection, Mama disappeared. Mandy dropped her hand to her side. I wish you had brought Evan with you, she silently said.
The realtor said, “Beautiful mirror, isn’t it?”
“You have no idea how special it is to me.” And I’m not about to explain it, she thought. “The living room is spacious. And the carpet looks new.”
“It is new. And so are the drapes. Come. I’ll show you the rest of the house.”
They walked into the kitchen. It was small, but Mandy didn’t care. It was big enough to fit a table and four chairs, and it had a built-in desk with a phone on the wall above it. There was plenty of cabinet space.
Her heart beat a little faster as they went through the living room and on to the bedrooms. Mandy did a close inspection of the three bedrooms and bathroom. The bedrooms were spacious with large closets. The bath was small but it had a built-in closet that was big enough to hold towels, wash cloths, and other toiletries.
“Here’s the part you’re really gonna like,” the realtor said as she opened a door and headed down a set of steps that led to a full basement. Mandy followed and when she reached the bottom of the steps, she couldn’t believe her eyes. The basement had a TV room, bedroom, a full bathroom, a laundry room, and a large storage room.
“Wow! Tony will have his own private domain down here. He’ll be in heaven. Both girls will have their own bedroom upstairs, and I’ll have a bedroom to myself. I love it! I want it!”
“Then you shall have it,” the realtor said. “All we have to do is fill out the paperwork. Here’s the asking price,” she said as she handed Mandy a piece of paper.
Mandy saw the price. “Hmmm. I’m not going to pay asking price, but I’ll make an offer.” Which is few thousand less than they’re asking, but I can come up a little if I have to.
“Then, let’s go back to the office. I’ll fill out the paperwork and take the offer to the owners.
They walked back outside and Mandy looked down the street. “All the houses on the block are very nice and well-kept. I’m not that familiar with Cape, but would you say this is a safe neighborhood?”
“It’s as safe as any place in this town. And there’s an elementary school just two blocks that way,” the realtor said, pointing her finger to her left. “It’s considered the best elementary school in Cape.”
“Great! Tony and Abbie can walk to school. Everything seems to be what I was looking for. My oldest, Kati, is in high sc
hool, but she has friends who drive, so I’m sure she’ll have a ride.”
“Then get in the car, girl, and we’ll get the ball rolling.”
Mandy felt as if she were walking on air as she left the real estate office. Take my offer, Mr. and Mrs. Steinburg, she silently prayed.
Mandy was getting ready to go to bed when the phone rang. The owners had accepted her offer which left her a few thousand for a nest egg. “Thank you!”
“We can have the closing tomorrow. We’ll do it in my office.”
“Great! I’ll call a moving company and see how soon I can get moved. Thank you so much for finding the perfect house for me.”
“It was my pleasure. I can give you a name and number of a local man here that moves people. He’s good and he’s a lot cheaper than most places. He’s open on Saturday, so you can give him a call in the morning. Good luck.”
Mandy hung up, bowed her head and said, “Thank you, God, spirits, and the universe for leading me to the right home. Mama, if you guided me to it, then I know that’s where you want me to live. I hope you come back for a visit.”
Kati was out with a friend, Tony was watching TV, and Abbie had fallen asleep on the couch. Mandy walked into the living room and whispered, “Tony. Mama just bought us a new home. I’ll close the deal tomorrow. You’ll have a private TV room, bedroom, and bathroom in the basement. No more being surround by estrogen and being annoyed by crazy females.”
Tony jumped up from the floor and hurried to Mandy. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off the floor. “Hot diggity dog!” He stood her on the floor. “Now I can have my friends over and they won’t have to put up with crazy women. Not that I don’t love you and my sisters—but you do get hard to take.” He laughed and Mandy laughed with him.