A REVELATION in AUTUMN

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  Eddie squinted and rubbed his forehead. “I have no memory about whether I’m a Christian or not. But I have seen from the way you and your sister have treated me, as well as the scriptures you’ve read and the prayers you’ve said on my behalf, what it’s like to show your beliefs and not just talk about them.”

  Susan nodded. “The Bible tells us in John 13:35: ‘By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.’ ”

  “Hmm…guess that makes sense,” he said, thoughtfully tapping his chin.

  Susan was tempted to say more but decided to let him think about the verse of scripture she’d quoted as they got off the exit ramp and onto the road toward Darby. She was sure that Eddie would be hearing plenty of verses in the days ahead, not to mention seeing for himself what a fine example of Christianity her grandparents lived.

  Darby, Pennsylvania

  When Susan pulled her car into the driveway of a large, two-story house a short time later, Eddie was impressed with the two huge maple trees in front. He was sure he couldn’t reach his arms around them, their trunks were so huge. He figured the trees probably made good homes for a lot of birds, and they looked like they’d be fun to climb, too—that is, if he were still a kid. I wonder if I used to climb trees when I was a boy.

  “Well, this is it,” Susan said, turning off her ignition. “This is where my grandparents have lived since they were married. You’d never know it from the looks of all the well-maintained homes in the area, but this is actually one of the older, original neighborhoods of Darby. Their house isn’t as new as some of the homes we passed along the way, but it has lots of room, and I believe you’re going to like it here. Grandma and Grandpa are pretty active for their age, but I think they’ll appreciate your help with some of things they’re not able to do anymore.”

  “I’ll be happy to help out,” Eddie said, staring at the stately old home. “It’s the least I can do in exchange for them letting me stay here.”

  “I’m sure they’ll appreciate that. Grandpa and Grandma do a lot of charity work, and they give to others at church, too. So it’ll be nice for them to be on the receiving end for a change.” Susan’s cheeks turned pink. “Well, just listen to me chattering away like a monkey begging to be fed. Guess we’d better go in.” She opened the car door.

  Just as they were getting out, an elderly couple came out of the house and met them on the sidewalk.

  “Grandma and Grandpa,” Susan said, gesturing to Eddie, “this is Eddie.” She motioned to her grandparents. “I’d like you to meet my grandpa, Henry, and my grandma, Norma.”

  Henry shook Eddie’s hand firmly.

  Eddie smiled. For an older man, he sure has a strong, firm handshake. I’ll bet he’s still pretty capable of doing a lot of the work around here himself.

  When Eddie reached for Norma’s hand, she offered a welcoming handshake. Even though he’d been a little nervous about meeting Susan’s grandparents, Eddie found himself instantly comfortable with these two friendly people.

  “Come in. Come in.” Norma offered Eddie a warm smile as she stepped onto the porch and opened the front door. “We hope the traffic wasn’t too bad coming out of Philly this evening. It can get pretty snarled on that interstate sometimes.”

  “Other than some guy in a little sports car cutting me off, coming out of the city wasn’t too bad,” Susan said as they stepped into the hallway.

  Once inside, a wonderful aroma hit Eddie’s nostrils, and it was all he could do not to head straight for the room it was coming from.

  “It’s almost suppertime, and as soon as Anne gets home from the errands she’s running, we’ll be ready to eat,” Norma said. “I have a pot of homemade vegetable soup simmering on the stove, and we also fried up some ham to have for sandwiches.”

  Henry bobbed his head. “My wife made some of her famous coconut cookies for dessert, too.”

  Susan leaned close to Eddie’s ear. “You’ll never be able to eat just one of those cookies, either. Grandma’s coconut dreams, as I like to call them, are so chewy and soft you’ll automatically reach for more. Not only that,” she added, smiling at her grandmother, “but Grandma’s cookies have won many blue ribbons at the church bazaar each year.”

  A blotch of red erupted on Norma’s cheeks. “Now there’s no need to brag on my cookies, dear. After supper we’ll let Eddie be the judge of how good they are.”

  “Don’t let my wife fool ya. She’s a real fine cook.” Henry grinned at Norma. “I’m gonna show Eddie around the house now.”

  “That’s good. I’ll help Grandma set the table while you do that,” Susan said. “Eddie, you can set your satchel over there by the stairway, while Grandpa shows you around down here.”

  Eddie followed Susan’s grandfather to the kitchen and looked when Henry pointed to a desk in the corner. “There’s a laptop computer right there, in case you ever want to use it.”

  Eddie scratched the side of his head. “I can’t remember if I even know how to use a computer.”

  Henry chuckled. “Don’t worry about it, son. I don’t use the computer either. Susan and Anne have both tried to teach me, but that kind of technology is way over my head.”

  Eddie tagged along with Henry as they went from room to room and then headed up a flight of stairs. He noticed that though the house was neat and tidy, it also had a cozy, lived-in feeling.

  “This will be your room,” Henry said, after they’d entered the first door on the right. He opened the closet door. “As you can see, Norma got you a few more items of clothing.” He motioned to the outfit Eddie was wearing. “The shirt and jeans she sent to the hospital with Susan seem to fit you quite nicely.”

  Eddie nodded. “Yes, and I appreciate it.” Even though the clothes felt a bit uncomfortable to him, he didn’t want to sound ungrateful, so he kept that thought to himself.

  “There are a few things in the dresser drawers you may find useful as well,” Henry said. “Oh, and feel free to open or close the curtains whenever you want. Your room gets the morning sun, but I’m sure the birds will wake you before it’s fully daylight.” He chuckled. “They like to roost in the trees around here, and it’s a bit of a chorus every morning when they start chirping away. We rarely set an alarm clock anymore, ’cause we’re usually up with the birds at the crack of dawn. But don’t feel that you have to get up early,” he quickly added. “You can sleep however late you want.”

  Eddie couldn’t remember how early or late he’d ever gotten up before his stay in the hospital. He didn’t remember setting an alarm clock either. But he did look forward to hearing those birds chirping and waking him every morning, instead of all the hospital sounds he’d grown accustomed to over the last several months. He didn’t think he’d miss hearing the constant voices out in the hall and at mealtime or the food carts with their squeaky wheels and rattling dishes as the nurse’s aides pushed them into each room. Although the hospital food wasn’t too bad, it didn’t compare to that delicious smell coming from the kitchen downstairs.

  Wonder where I lived before all of this. Did I wake up with the sun or when the birds started singing each morning?

  “Anne’s home now, and supper’s ready!” Norma called up the stairs.

  “The bathroom’s right down the hall.” Henry motioned in that direction. “Guess we oughta get washed up before we eat, or Norma might not let us sit at her kitchen table.”

  Eddie grinned. These folks are sure nice. Whatever my life was before all of this, I’m pretty lucky to be here right now. Sure hope I don’t do anything to mess up. I wouldn’t want them to ask me to leave and then end up having to sleep somewhere on the streets. Wherever Eddie’s real home was, he hoped there was a sense of belonging like he felt here.

  CHAPTER 4

  Bird-in-Hand

  I can’t believe your boppli is a month old already,” Meredith’s friend Dorine said as the two of them sat on Meredith’s front porch one hot Monday morning in early August.

 
Meredith smiled and stroked the top of her son’s silky head. “I know, and he’s growing as fast as the weeds in my garden.”

  “I can’t do anything about how fast Levi’s growing, because that’s what babies do,” Dorine said, motioning to her own son and daughter playing on the other end of the porch. “But I can do something about those weeds in your garden.”

  “There’s no need for you to do that,” Meredith responded quickly. “Laurie said she’d pull them later this week. Today, I just want us to sit and visit. Between you taking care of Merle and Cathy, and me balancing my time between caring for Levi and making head coverings, we don’t get to see each other that often.”

  “That’s true.” Dorine sighed. “Things were much easier when we were girls playing on the swings in your folks’ backyard or riding around my parents’ field in my pony cart.” Dorine settled against her porch chair with hands clasped behind her head. “Just listen to those cicadas. When I was younger, hearing them always reminded me that school was about to start.”

  “Jah, it’s funny how hearing certain things sparks memories.” Meredith chuckled. “I’ll never forget the time your daed bought that new pony and we took him out before he’d had a chance to get to know you very well. Little Rosie wouldn’t pull the cart for us at all.”

  Dorine giggled. “That stubborn pony waited till we got out of the cart, and then she took off across Dad’s field like a shot. My brother Thomas wasn’t too happy when he had to chase after Rosie and bring her back to the barn.” She gestured to her two little ones again. “Makes me wonder what kinds of things Seth and I will have to handle with our own kinner.”

  “Guess it’s good that we don’t know what the future holds.” Meredith leaned over and kissed Levi’s little nose. “If we did, it might be too hard to bear.” She moaned. “When I fell in love with Luke, never in a million years did I think I’d lose him the way I did.”

  Dorine reached over and clasped Meredith’s hand, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze. “That’s why it’s best to take one day at a time, asking God to give us the strength and courage to deal with things as they come.”

  Meredith nodded slowly. She knew her friend’s words were true, but living them out was a tall order sometimes.

  “On a lighter note,” Dorine said with an eager expression, “how would you feel about the two of us hiring a driver and taking our kinner to the Elmwood Park Zoo the first week of September? By then the weather should be cooler. We can stop in Paoli on the way there and see the hot air balloons.”

  “That sounds like fun,” Meredith said. “But Levi’s so young yet. He wouldn’t get much out of going to the zoo.”

  “True, but since you’re nursing, you probably wouldn’t want to leave him with anyone for the day.”

  “You’re right about that, and if I go, I’ll take the boppli along.” Meredith’s thoughts went to Jonah. The last time he’d stopped by to visit, he’d mentioned something about visiting the zoo sometime in the future. Meredith was tempted to invite him along but thought better of it. She didn’t want anyone to think they were a courting couple. Besides, she and Dorine hadn’t done anything together for a long time, so this day would be just for them and their children.

  Darby

  “What would you like me to do this morning?” Eddie asked as he and Henry got up from the breakfast table.

  “Why don’t you take the day off and laze around the yard?” Henry draped his arm across Eddie’s shoulders. “Between your therapy sessions at the hospital and all the odd jobs we’ve found for you to do around here these past four weeks, I think you deserve some time off.”

  Eddie shook his head vigorously. “I wouldn’t feel right about doin’ nothing all day. You and your wife have been so kind to take me in. The least I can do to pay you back is to keep doing chores.” He was glad when Henry nodded his agreement.

  Eddie had settled in nicely after moving to the Baileys’ house a month ago. Right from the start, Norma and Henry had gone out of their way to make him feel at home. When he’d first arrived, it hadn’t taken him long to realize that he’d been worried for nothing. Anne and Susan’s grandparents made sure he didn’t want for a thing.

  Thinking back on getting familiar with the room he’d been given that first day, Eddie couldn’t believe how considerate this couple had been—especially when he had looked in the dresser drawers and found all the items Henry and Norma had gotten for him. These kind folks had gone to the store and bought him underwear, socks, T-shirts in various colors, two pairs of jeans, two sets of pullover sweatshirts with matching sweatpants for the upcoming autumn weather, some dressy slacks and shirts to wear when they went to church, and a pair of pajamas. In the closet, he’d found a jacket for colder weather, and a lighter-weight hooded sweatshirt, as well. On the closet door hung a red baseball cap, which he’d immediately put on his head. It fit him quite well, and except for meals and sleeping at night, he wore it most of the time. On top of the dresser, he’d noticed a man’s hairbrush, comb, a razor, and shaving cream. He still couldn’t believe they’d thought of everything he might need.

  Even after a month’s time, it almost brought tears to Eddie’s eyes, thinking about the kindness Susan, Anne, and their grandparents had shown him. Before he’d come here, Susan had mentioned that she’d told her grandparents about his amnesia and said she hoped he didn’t mind. That didn’t bother Eddie at all. He wasn’t ashamed of his situation, just frustrated by it.

  Almost from the start, Eddie had started healing—physically, that is. He enjoyed helping Henry with his garden, pulling weeds and seeing what vegetables were ready to pick. Overnight, the cucumbers seemed to double in size, and the warm weather was making the tomatoes turn a brilliant red. The Baileys even had a small patch of sweet corn, and just this week the ears had become ripe for picking. Norma had told Eddie that August was “produce month,” and she was right about that.

  Last evening, they’d all sat around the picnic table in the backyard, enjoying their first kettle of steaming corn on the cob. Eddie couldn’t seem to get enough of it. Everyone laughed when George, the squirrel, ran up the tree with a cob of corn Henry had given him. Norma had also made what she called “cucumber delights,” which consisted of slices of cucumber on a small piece of pumpernickel bread that had been spread with cream cheese. On top of the cucumber, she’d sprinkled some lemon pepper. Eddie couldn’t believe how good they were.

  The Baileys’ yard was so inviting, and Eddie could understand why they liked to spend time outdoors. He liked all the trees in their neighborhood, too. They were so big along the property line that he couldn’t even see the house next door. All the homes in the neighborhood weren’t real far apart, but they were just close enough to run to in case of an emergency. Eddie couldn’t get over how close-knit everyone seemed to be. He’d even gotten used to seeing certain neighbors waving to him as they took their daily walk down the tree-lined street.

  Henry and Norma were not only hospitable in sharing their home with Eddie, but they were easy to talk to, as well, just like their granddaughters. Eddie found himself laughing more times than not as the Baileys shared some of their special memories from the past. He had to admit it felt good to find something to laugh about these days.

  Norma, who’d been standing at the sink doing dishes, lifted a soapy hand and shook her finger at Eddie, bringing him out of his daydreaming. “Now you listen to my husband, young man. He’s right about needing to take it easy sometimes. In fact, I insist that you take two days off every week for as long as you’re staying with us. Sunday is one of them, of course, because the Lord commands us to rest on the Sabbath.” Two dimples dotted Norma’s cheeks when she smiled. “But you can choose which of the other days you’d rather not work, and it doesn’t have to be the same day every week.”

  Eddie lifted his hands in defeat. “Guess I have no other choice.”

  Henry thumped him lightly on the back. “Now that we have that all settled, why don’t the two of us he
ad out to the backyard and relax on the porch glider for a while? Anyways, George is probably anxious to see if we have a treat for him today. When we get tired of sitting, we can take a walk around the neighborhood.”

  Eddie nodded agreeably. That cute little squirrel sure was entertaining, and he liked the fact that George had begun to eat from his hand, just like he did with Norma and Henry. For the first time in a long while, Eddie felt lighthearted. Although he was unsure how long it would last, he had a feeling of belonging and looked forward to each new day. It was nice to see Susan and Anne more often, too. It was almost like having a family of his own.

  Eddie had energy inside that had been pent up way too long and was just itching to be used. It wouldn’t be easy to sit around today and do nothing, but if it made Henry and Norma happy, then he’d do it.

  Philadelphia

  “I can’t believe how warm and humid it is today,” Susan said to Anne as they visited during their morning break, sitting on a bench outside the hospital grounds. Today was one of the few times they had the same schedule, and Susan was glad for the opportunity to visit awhile with her sister.

  “I know what you mean.” Anne fanned her face with her hand while blowing out, which lifted her curly bangs off her forehead.

  Susan giggled. “Did you see how Eddie enjoyed the corn on the cob we had for supper last night?”

  “Yes.” Anne grinned. “I have to say, I think I enjoyed it as much as he did. Corn always tastes better when it’s fresh from the stalk. And it was so tender and sweet.”