The Great Thirst Part One: Prepared

by Mary C. Findley

  Chapter Nine – Prayer and Popcorn

  Talia got out of the tub and wrapped up in the big terrycloth robe hanging on the door. She went into the bedroom and sat on the bed. Outside her room a thump … thump … thump drew her across the hall into Joana’s room. Mr. Bradley came out of his room, but she waved him back and went inside. Joana lay in the bed, alternately swinging her left hand and left foot and now and then managing to strike the wall.

  “Hey, are you okay?” Talia whispered, crouching down by the bed. Tears ran down Joana’s face and Talia quickly wiped her face with one of the clean cloths that sat piled by the bed.

  Joana rocked her head back and forth. Talia grabbed her headrest and powered up the synthesizer.

  “We need to pray for your class and about finding those testaments,” the artificial voice said. “I was trying to do it by myself, but you know what God says about two or three together.”

  Talia curled up in the armchair beside Joana's bed and held Joana's hand. They both prayed about the class, the students, and for Uncle Naddy and Aunt Sophie.

  “That's better,” Joana said. “But...I'm sorry, I know you're tired...”

  “What is it?”

  “Popcorn and a movie,” Joana replied.

  “Can you … can you eat popcorn?” Talia faltered.

  “No, but I can watch you eat it, and I need me some Princess Bride.”

  “I love that movie!” Talia exclaimed. “I’ll be right back with the popcorn.”

  Talia could hardly stifle her laughter by the time the final credits of the Princess Bride came up, she had such a bad case of the ‘late night giddies’. Joana had a oneliner for everything, and they were all hysterical.

  “Go to sleep, Joana,” Talia sighed, stroking her head.

  “OK.”

  Talia returned the headrest to the wheelchair and slipped out. She glanced in the bathroom mirror at her matted hair. Ohhhhh. She shut out the light and crawled into bed.

  Talia staggered down to the kitchen in the morning in her hoodie and sweats. She had pulled her still-uncombed hair up in a Scunci. Sunlight barely peeked through the blinds. She started coffee and began hunting for breakfast ingredients.

  “Oh, my, somebody knows how to make Saturday smell fine.” Joshua Bradley came into the kitchen dressed in a polo shirt, jeans, and scuffy slippers.

  “Good morning Mr. – Joshua.”

  “What can I do besides send you back to bed? I know Joana kept you up watching a movie. Thank you, but are you all right? Are you sure you don’t want to catch a little more shut-eye?”

  “I’m fine.” Talia laughed. “She really wanted to pray for the class first, and that was such a blessing. Where do you keep the flour?”

  “Uh … Over here.” Joshua pointed out the canisters. “Cooking I do, but baking, not so much. You need – what? Bowls, spoons, measuring cups?” He started dumping items on the counter.

  “Wait, I have to have room to knead the dough.”

  “Knead the dough? I think my wife had a bread maker that’s still around here somewhere.”

  “No, kneading is therapeutic.”

  “Oh, so you need to knead.” Joshua shoved things aside.

  “Exactly.” Talia heated milk, cracked eggs, poured sugar, mixed yeast, and those oh, so comforting smells started to overcome her tiredness.

  “What are you making?”

  “My Aunt Sophie calls it Whatever Bread. She says, ‘Sweet dough, cinnamon, and whatever else you can find to chop up and pour in’.” Talia pushed the mound of dough into a neat round and set it in the greased bowl, spreading a towel over it. “I need to run to the store and get some dried cranberries and nuts. I have to have some fruit and nuts in my Whatever, or it’s just cinnamon bread.”

  “Now wait a minute,” Joshua protested. “If it’s Whatever Bread, you’re supposed to find stuff on hand to put in it, right? Going out and buying stuff is cheating. Let’s take another look around here.” He pulled open a drawer. “Ah, look here under the potholders. A bag of walnuts.”

  He tossed them on the counter near the dough bowl. “Hmmm … Well, I have some dates here in the refrigerator. Could we use those instead of cranberries?”

  “Oh, Aunt Sophie made it with dates lots of times. Sure, we can do that.”

  “Good. We can sit down and have some coffee. I am glad Joana’s not an early riser.” Joshua poured himself a cup and took a long whiff. “Ahhh, I can tell Keith did not make this coffee. I apologize for taking advantage of you this way.”

  “It’s okay. I had such a good time with her, and I’m sure she gets lonely.”

  “I know she does. The caregivers who come in are all sweet ladies, but they’re not like friends. You two did hit it off. It was so good of you to take time with her.”

  “It’s been a long time since I had a sleepover and popcorn movie-thon,” Talia confessed. “Joana has such a great sense of humor, and I loved that she wanted to pray together.”

  Keith arrived an hour or so later. Talia fed Joana breakfast while the men oohed and aaahed over the Whatever Bread. Talia checked with Joshua and added a little spice to Joana’s gruel. Her eyes lit up and she quipped, “Please, ma’am, I want some more.”

  Everyone laughed. After breakfast Talia coaxed Joana back into the bathroom and locked the door.

  “What are you doing?” Joana asked. “I don’t need another bath.”

  “Nope. You need a makeover.” She set her makeup bag on the sink and got to work.

  “Talia? What’s going on in there?” Keith called through the door an hour later. Talia flung open the door and Joana rolled out.

  “Wow!” Keith exclaimed. Talia had swept Joana’s hair up into a tiny French roll and pinned it with a couple of jeweled clips. She had used some mascara, a touch of blush, and lip gloss. She had also given Joana a manicure and pedicure with sparkly pink polish. “Oh, Jo-Jo! Don’t you look fine?”

  Joshua came to see and approved also.

  “How can we thank you, Talia?” Keith asked as Talia gathered her things to go.

  “You know I don’t need any thanks. I thought I was going to minister to her, and she ministered to me. Take care of her, Keith. She’s a precious jewel.”

  “I’m beginning to think you’re another one,” Keith grinned.