Plucked Out of the Net

by Georgia McCain

CHAPTER EIGHT

  When Donnie came home from work a few weeks later, Mrs. Slocum met him at the door, using a walker.

  Visibly shaken, Donnie blurted out, "Mom, why didn't you tell me you were coming home?"

  With a grieved look and voice choked with emotion, she answered, "I wanted to surprise you, son. The rest home personnel brought me home in their van. I talked all the way about how pleasantly surprised you would be, with a good, hot meal awaiting you this evening. They cautioned me about overdoing, but I was so eager to do something nice for you. They even took me by the grocery store. But I. ... " She could not finish, but wept openly as she looked beseechingly at Donnie.

  "I'm sorry, Mom. Truly I am. I intended to clean house before you got home." He hung his head in shame.

  "Oh, Donnie, how could you? How could you?" She was crying brokenly. "The activity director and the social worker saw the beer cans sitting on the coffee table and the cigarette butts in the saucers. My Christian influence at the home will be completely ruined."

  She paused to wipe her eyes. Donnie stood speechless and looking thoroughly chastened.

  "I've never known you to clutter up the house like this. What's happened to you, son? Oh, my heart is broken, crushed beyond measure. I never dreamed this was going on. Oh, I knew you smoked, but you've never smoked in my house since God saved me. And I felt sure I smelled liquor on your breath at times, but I never would have believed you would have taken advantage of me like this. Oh-h-h .... " She swayed as if she would fall.

  Donnie caught her and half-walked, half-carried her to a chair.

  "Here, Mom, sit down," he spoke tenderly. "You're not able to stand so long. I'm sorry about the clutter. I've just grown careless staying by myself so long."

  Mrs. Slocum dropped her head in her hands and sobbed -the most heart-rending sobs that Donnie had ever heard. He knelt down in front of her and, with tears in his own eyes, pleaded, "Please, Mom, don't cry like that. I'm terribly sorry. Can't you find it in your heart to forgive me?" Then, searching for some way to regain his mother's good will, he added tentatively, "As Jesus forgave you?"

  Mrs. Slocum reached over and patted his head. Making a great effort to get her voice under control, she said, "Yes, son. I forgive you ... as Jesus forgave me. He will give me grace to bear up under this."

  Donnie arose, looking like a whipped child. He disposed of the beer cans and cigarette butts. His mom watched without a word. Donnie could see her dabbing at her eyes now and then. When his cleaning job was completed, he once again knelt in front of her and, with a contrite voice, said, "Mom, I promise you I'll never smoke another cigarette or drink another drop of beer or liquor in your house. I never, never want to see you as hurt as I've seen you today."

  His mom stroked his hair as she used to do when he was a little boy. "Son," she said, "I appreciate your promise to me, but if you would make a vow to God to leave these things alone, you would see me as happy as you have seen me grieved."

  Donnie got up and busied himself with getting the supper on. He could not make that vow. His heart had been so cold since the Sunday afternoon he had willingly rejected God ... why give up the few pleasures he had left, when God seemed a million miles away?

  The next day Donnie was off work, and he bent over backward to please his mother. He mopped, waxed, ran the vacuum sweeper, dusted, washed dishes and clothes, and cleaned the yard. He had one goal in mind: to bring back the gleam of happiness to his mother's sad eyes.

  The telephone rang. It was for Mrs. Slocum.

  "Yes," she spoke into the mouthpiece. Then she was quiet for a while as the caller talked. Donnie noticed tears gathering in her eyes as she exclaimed, "Oh, thank you, thank you, Mrs. Petrus, for calling. It sure takes a load off my mind. I prayed nearly all night for God to undo the damage that was done. I do want my influence to count for Christ."

  She hung up the phone and Donnie waited for her to tell him about the call. When she remained silent, he asked, "Who was your caller? My curiosity is aroused."

  "Mrs. Petrus, from the rest home. She's the activity director. She noticed how upset I was, yesterday when they brought me home, over the beer cans and the other things in my living room that certainly didn't glorify God. I tried to explain, then, that I had not left it that way and that I had nothing to do with it. But I stuttered and stammered so, because of embarrassment, that it seemed I was guilty. Anyway, she assured me on the phone that she knew it was no fault of mine. She said the patients were asking for me, and she wondered if I could come back soon and hold regular services. She said she had gotten lots of help herself and had confidence in me." Mrs. Slocum blushed modestly as she went on. "I'm telling you the rest of what she said, not to promote self, but to glorify God for what He has done in my life. She said I was different from anyone she had ever seen. In her words, I was bubbling over with my religion." Wiping her eyes, she exclaimed, "Oh, praise the Lord! I'm so relieved. The devil tried to torment me with thoughts of my ruined influence. He told me it would be spread all over the home, but Mrs. Petrus said they would not repeat the matter to anyone."

  Mrs. Slocum burst into tears, but this time Donnie could take it, because they were tears of relief and happiness. But how he wished he had not put his mom through such an ordeal. If only ... he had not been so careless and had cleaned up his mess when she had first started talking of coming home. But he had not expected it to be so soon.

  Things were quite different around the house since Mrs. Slocum was back home. Some things were exceptionally nice, such as the hot meal in the evening when Donnie came home from work. Also, his clothes looked much neater with a woman there to inspect them, soak out the stains, and press out the wrinkles. It amazed him how much his mom could do, even though she had to use a walker to get around.

  The one thing that made Donnie uncomfortable was her devotion to God. He could hear her sometimes at night groaning, crying, and praying. And, no mistaking it, he could hear his name being called in prayer. She had attempted to draw him into her religious activities through family devotions, but he let her know in no uncertain terms that he wanted no part of it. Why should he sit and listen to the Bible being read every day? 1t was like a foreign language to him. If she wanted to read the good Book and pray every day, he had no objections. All he wanted was to be left alone.

  After Mrs. Slocum was well and strong enough to be left by herself at night, Donnie went out more and more. He did not report to her his whereabouts. He figured that it would upset her greatly if she knew. It had upset Ralph no end.

  One day as Donnie was eating his lunch at Noley's Diner, across from where he worked, Ralph came in, ordered a plate lunch, and joined him.

  "How are you, Ralph?" Donnie greeted him. "Haven't seen you around much lately."

  "We've been working hard, trying to get a big shipment out. But 1 think we're catching up. How's things going with you?"

  "Could be worse. 1 met a fine gal where I'm working, and I've been dating her several nights a week. It's really helped me to get out of the dumps and start living again."

  Ralph's face clouded. "Are you speaking of Lisa Whitfield?"

  "Yes, that's her name. Do you know her?"

  "Quite well. Does she know you're married?"

  "I don't know if she does or not, but it doesn't really matter, because 1 won't be married long," he answered flippantly.

  Ralph's face changed colors and took on a grave expression. "Donnie, do you realize how serious it is to break the marriage vows?"

  "I know what Mom read me from the Bible, if that's what you mean." He took a cigarette out of the pack in his pocket and put it between his lips.

  "That's what I mean," Ralph said. "You can get your life so tangled up, you'll regret it forever."

  Donnie looked at his friend, defiance written on his face. "Ralph, I hear enough preaching at home without you unloading on me, too."

  "I don't want to see you hurt, Donnie," Ralph said. "Nor do I want
to see Lisa and her parents hurt."

  "Do you know her parents?" Donnie asked, surprised.

  "Yes, Brother and Sister Whitfield attend our church."

  "Do you mean that? Her parents are church-going people like Mom? Why, I would never have guessed it. She has never mentioned one word about church. And she certainly doesn't dress and look like-like-"

  "She's not a Christian, Donnie. Though Lisa is a sweet girl, she is very proud and worldly. It would break her parents' hearts to know she was dating a married man."

  "Well, she seems to be old enough to make her own decisions. She's twenty-three and has her own apartment."

  "I'm sure she makes her own decisions," Ralph answered, "but have you mentioned the fact that you are a married man? In all fairness to her, I think she should be told."

  "I haven't seen the need to spill the beans, Ralph. We're not serious. She's just someone to have fun with."

  "But it could get serious, Donnie. Were you serious with Sharon on your first few dates?" he asked soberly.

  Donnie's grin faded and his face took on a contemplative expression. "I think I loved Sharon the first time I saw her. I still love her, Ralph, but I can't have her, so I don't intend to grieve my life away. I'm going to get all I can from life. Going out with Lisa helps me to forget Sharon. When I leave her at night, I can go home and sleep. No more tossing and turning half the night, yearning for Sharon and Christy."

  Ralph finished his lunch and stood to his feet to leave. "Donnie, all I can say is, I'm praying for you. The church people are praying for you. Your mom and sister pray for you. I can't see why you're not the most miserable man alive."

  "Miserable? Are you kidding? I'm having a great time. I'm happier than I've been in months. Don't worry about me." Donnie congratulated himself that he was a good actor. No use letting Ralph know how miserable I really am. Better to put on a front and make him think I'm enjoying life. Don't want to encourage him in his praying. Thinking thus, Donnie smiled brightly, almost convincingly.

  Ralph patted him on the back as he turned to go. Looking back over his shoulder, he said, "Donnie, I really think you ought to tell Lisa what we talked about."

  "We'll see," Donnie answered as he snuffed out his cigarette and stood up to go back to work also.

  Mrs. Slocum handed Donnie a letter when he got home that afternoon. It was a long white envelope. Donnie glanced at the left-hand corner and saw it was from "Brown and Berry, Attorneys at Law." Tearing it open, he discovered that Sharon was suing for divorce.

  Donnie turned pale and slumped down in the nearest chair. In spite of all his declarations of what he would and would not do, he had never faced what it would be like if it really went that far.

  "What's wrong, son?" Mrs. Slocum asked kindly. Already, she suspected what the envelope held.

  "It's from Sharon's lawyer. She wants a divorce," he stated bluntly.

  "Oh, no. I can't believe it will go through. After the way I've prayed and fasted. I just can't believe God is going to let you two get a divorce."

  "Here, Mom. Read it for yourself."

  With trembling hands, she took the letter from Donnie and read it.

  "But, why, Donnie? Have you done your best to patch things up?"

  "Yes, Mom."

  "But maybe if you made an effort to see her and tried to convince her of your love for her .... "

  "I went to see her, Mom."

  "When? I never have known you to go see her."

  "One Saturday while you were in the nursing home."

  "What happened? What did she say? Donnie, you've never told me you went to see Sharon. Why?"

  "I didn't think it was worthwhile, Mom."

  "Why, Donnie! You know I'm concerned about you and Sharon. Did you make any headway with her?"

  "None at all, Mom. None at all."

  "Did she seem glad to see you? Oh Donnie, there are ways that one can tell."

  "Yes, Mom, there are definite ways that one can tell. Would you think it was pretty clear evidence that she didn't care, if I told you she was out with another man?"

  "Oh, no. I can't believe that."

  "Whether you believe it or not, Mom, it's so."

  "But Sharon just doesn't seem like that type."

  "Whether she's the type or not is beside the point. She was with another man."

  "Perhaps it was some of her kinfolk." Mrs. Slocum's voice sounded desperate.

  "Most likely if it had been her kinfolk, he wouldn't have clobbered me."

  "Clobbered you? Oh, was that the reason your face was so bruised?"

  "Yes, Mom."

  "Well, Donnie, it looks like we're defeated. It looks like my prayers have been in vain. It looks like the devil will have his way in spite of all we can do. But I'm not giving up. You're not divorced yet, so I will continue praying as long as there's a ray of hope. I still believe that God is more powerful than the enemy, that He is still able to undo what the devil has done."

  "You had better pray hard, Mom, for I have no intention of contesting the divorce. She told me we were through, so as far as I'm concerned, our marriage is over. I'll just have to go on from here. I can't give up and die because Sharon has pushed me out of her life. There are other fish in the sea."

  "But, Donnie--"

  "Don't start in on me, Mom. I'm not going to live alone the rest of my life because I can't have Sharon." Waxing bolder, he declared, "In fact, I've met a very nice young lady at work, and you might as well know now as later, I've been dating her."

  Mrs. Slocum's shoulders drooped. Donnie saw in her eyes a certain look of despair that he hated to see. But she'll get over it, he told himself. He had caused her heartache and grief many times before, and she was always able to overcome. She wouldn't go down under this, either, he knew. Probably, she would pray her way through. He wouldn't be surprised if he heard her praying all night again.

  Donnie arose from his chair, gave his mother a gentle peck on the cheek, and left without supper.