“There is nothing I can’t do with God on my side,” Mama Pearl would respond when asked how she did it. “If God brings me to it, He’ll bring me out of it.”
Mama Pearl lived in a beautiful house in Meadowbrook that her sons bought her a few years prior. She was a devoted Christian and was very active in her church. A kind woman who would offer meals to her neighbors, strangers, and even the mentally ill. She loved and cared for people. She was a mother of her community. It wasn’t a coincidence that the Lord led her to Tiny.
Gerald and Mama Pearl waited a few more hours before they were told that the surgery was successful and Tiny was moved to a room. She was given strong pain medication and antibiotics and was sleeping restfully.
“I’m afraid she won’t be getting any visitors tonight,” the nurse had informed them. “Please come back tomorrow.” A reluctant Mama Pearl nodded and allowed Gerald to take her home.
The next morning, Omar dropped off Mama Pearl at the hospital, bright and early. She got very little sleep the night before as her mind was too consumed with the poor young girl.
“I’m going to park and meet you inside, Mama,” Omar said through the open window to his mother before he drove off toward the parking lot. At twenty-one-years-old, Omar was the only son who still lived at home.
Mama Pearl waved and hurriedly walked into the hospital, carrying a large basket containing ackee and saltfish, fried dumplings and cornmeal porridge.
“Good morning. I’m Jackie. How may I help you?” the chirpy receptionist greeted Mama Pearl when she walked up to the information booth.
“Good morning, Jackie. I’m Mama Pearl, and I’m here to see a patient,” Mama Pearl replied.
“Okay. What’s the patient’s name?” Jackie asked with a bright smile.
Mama Pearl paused and looked at her. She had a little problem because she didn’t know the girl’s name. In fact, she knew nothing about her at all. “Well, I’m not sure.”
Jackie looked at her skeptically. “You don’t know who you’re visiting?”
“No, I don’t.” Mama Pearl shook her head. “I think she’s homeless. I found her yesterday, and we brought her here. She had surgery last night.”
“Oh, okay. Her,” Jackie said as if she had just solved the mystery. “I know exactly who you are talking about. Our Jane Doe in Room 200.” In fact, the entire staff in that section of the hospital already heard about the homeless girl who had almost died in the abandoned car. “You are the lady who found her?”
Mama Pearl nodded her head. “Yes, that’s me.”
“You helped save her life,” Jackie said with admiration.
“No, the Lord saved her life,” Mama Pearl corrected her. “Our steps are ordered by the Lord. Don’t ever forget that.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jackie replied humbly. “Please go straight through that door over there and turn right.” She pointed and showed Mama Pearl where to go.
“Thank you,” Mama Pearl said gratefully and walked in the direction she was shown.
It was early morning, but the hospital was already bursting with activities. Porters pushed wheelchairs and stretchers up and down the aisles. Nurses, doctors, and medical assistants were scurrying from one patient room to the next.
As Mama Pearl passed the nurse’s station, no one paid her any attention. She walked down the narrow corridor looking at the room numbers until she came to Room 200.
Mama Pearl entered the room to find a doctor and a nurse standing over Tiny’s bed, looking down at the chart in the doctor’s hand. They looked up at her when she entered.
“May I help you?” the doctor asked.
“Yes, I’m here to see her.” Mama Pearl pointed to the still figure lying in the bed.
Tiny had tubes and wires running from her nose and arms that were connected to beeping machines. Her eyes were closed, her breathing shallow.
“How is she doing?” Mama Pearl asked as she looked at Tiny with fear in her eyes.
“I think she has passed the worst,” the doctor replied as he looked down on Tiny. “We removed the abscess, but she has a bad infection in her colon and is in a lot of pain. So we are giving her some very strong pain medication and antibiotics which is why she’s sleeping right now. She’s a lucky girl.”
“Luck has nothing to do with it,” Mama Pearl said softly. “Trust me, I know. This child has someone beating on heaven’s door on her behalf.”
They stood for a moment looking down on Tiny until Mama Pearl broke the silence. “I carried some breakfast for her, but I guess she can’t have it.”
“No, ma’am,” the doctor said quickly, noticing the basket in Mama Pearl’s hand for the first time. “She’ll be fed intravenously for a while, then put on a strict liquid diet for a few days.”
“Okay, whatever it takes for her to get better,” Mama Pearl said with a sigh. “I’ll be here every day to see her, so I have enough time to give her some good food.”
“Hmmm, I think she’ll be moved to the Kingston Public Hospital soon,” the doctor informed Mama Pearl.
“What? Why?” Mama Pearl looked at him as if he had lost his mind.
“Well, she is homeless, and this is . . . well . . . They will take care of her at the public hospital.”
“Excuse me?” Mama Pearl was appalled. She walked over to a small table in the corner of the room and placed her basket on top of it. Turning around, she walked back over and stood in front of the tall doctor, who towered over her by more than a foot, one hand resting on her hip. “You are not moving her anywhere,” Mama Pearl stated angrily, her finger pointed up at the doctor. “Do you hear me? She is staying right here.”
“What’s going on?” Omar asked as he stepped into the room. He looked from his upset mother to the bewildered doctor, back to his mother. “Mama?”
“They want to move her to KPH,” Mama Pearl spat. “Treating her like she’s nobody.”
“No, that’s not what this is about at all,” the doctor explained to Omar. “I was just explaining to your mother that her care here will be expensive, so—”
“So I’ll take care of her medical expenses,” Mama Pearl said with determination.
“You will?” Omar stared at his mother in surprise. “Mama, can I talk to you for a minute outside?”
“There is nothing to talk about, Omar,” she responded as she stared directly into his eyes. “The Lord led me to this child to help her, and I am going to do exactly that.”
Omar sighed and shook his head in surrender. He knew when his mother’s mind was made up there was nothing anyone could say or do to change it.
“That’s absolutely wonderful!” They both turned to look at the doctor, who had a big, stupid grin on his face. “You made the best decision ever. We provide the best services here at this hospital. In fact . . .” He bit his lips after Mama Pearl took a few steps closer to him.
“Okay, why don’t we go and take care of all the paperwork?” the nurse who had been silent all this time finally spoke. “Ma’am, sir, if you both could please follow me?” She waved her hand in the direction of the door and walked toward it. Glancing back over her shoulder to make sure Mama Pearl and Omar were behind her, she led them out of the room and over to the administrative office.
Chapter Eighteen
Tiny lay still on the bed, while her heavy eyes lazily swept the room. Ever so slowly, she moved her body slightly to the left and suddenly it went numb as waves of pain flooded her being. Taking deep breaths with her eyes tightly closed, she waited for the pain to subside. Soon the tears started running down her cheeks. “I miss you, Aunt Madge,” Tiny whispered. “I’m so sorry for everything that I have done.” Deep sobs shook her body, triggering another bout of intense pain, physically and emotionally.
“Please don’t cry, my dear,” Tiny heard a warm voice say above her. “It’s going to be okay.”
Tiny’s crying tapered off as she glanced up to see an elderly lady standing over her bed. The smiling face looked vaguely familiar
, but for some reason she couldn’t tell from where. She had seen so many different faces as she wandered the streets.
“I’m Mama Pearl,” the lady said as she pulled the chair closer to the bed and lowered herself into it. “What’s your name, sweetie?” She reached over and took Tiny’s hand into her own, her eyes fixed on Tiny’s face.
Tiny looked at her nervously.
“It’s all right,” Mama Pearl assured her. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’ve been waiting two days to talk to you.” Mama Pearl gently rubbed the hand she held in her own.
“Two days?” Tiny’s weak voice sounded like music to Mama Pearl’s ear.
“Don’t you remember me?” Mama Pearl asked, and Tiny shook her head. “I found you in the old car and took you here.”
Tiny closed her eyes, but only the image of a blurry face popped in her mind.
“That’s okay,” Mama Pearl said gently. Tiny looked at her. “You were too sick to notice what was going on around you.”
“Thank you,” Tiny whispered. “I thought I was going to die and was actually looking forward to it.”
“Don’t you dare say that!” Mama Pearl was shocked. “The Lord has a great future in store for you . . .”
“Eleanor,” Tiny offered. “My name is Eleanor, ma’am.”
“Aunt Madge, why does everyone call me Tiny?” Four-year-old Tiny pouted out her lips, her small hands folded across her chest. “I’m not tiny, I’m a big girl.”
“Yes, you are, sweetheart.” Aunt Madge smiled as she reached down and lifted Tiny into her arms. “When you were born, you were so tiny and cute, I began to call you ‘Tiny’ and everyone started to do the same.” She kissed Tiny on her cheek. “But your real name is Eleanor, and you are a big girl. And I love you.” She tickled Tiny’s side, and the child began to laugh uncontrollably.
Unshed tears filled Tiny’s eyes at the memory. It was at that moment that the name “Tiny” officially died and Eleanor was resurrected.
“Nice to meet you, Eleanor.” Mama Pearl’s voice brought back Eleanor’s eyes to her face. “A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.”
Eleanor smiled shyly. She was beginning to like the friendly lady.
Over the next five days, Mama Pearl visited with Eleanor every day. Each of her sons also stopped by at one time or another to meet the young girl who had captured their mother’s heart. Their hearts also went out to Eleanor. That morning as Mama Pearl passed the nurse’s station on her way to Eleanor’s room, she was stopped by a nurse. “Excuse me, Mama Pearl?” the young lady said affectionately. They had all become familiar with the feisty, loving, elderly lady.
“Yes, my dear?” Mama Pearl quickly walked over to her. “Is something wrong with Eleanor? Did she take a turn for the worse? I thought she was doing well?” With each question, her voice rose higher in panic.
“She is fine, ma’am,” the nurse assured her. “I was asked to tell you when you arrive that you are needed in the administrative office.”
Mama Pearl frowned. She wondered what the problem could be. She had given them a down payment for Eleanor’s medical care and would be paying the balance when she was discharged, courtesy of her five sons who were footing the bill. “Okay, I’ll go over there before I go to see Eleanor.” Mama Pearl turned around and walked briskly to the office.
“Enter,” a small voice responded to her knock on the door.
Mama Pearl turned the door handle and entered the small office.
“Mama Pearl, it nice to see you again,” said Mr. Lake, the billing administrator, as he stood to his feet behind his desk. He had met Mama Pearl when she was there to set up the account for Eleanor. “Please have a seat, ma’am.” He waved his hand toward an empty chair facing his desk.
Mama Pearl grunted, her lips fused tightly together as she walked over to the chair and sat. “What’s this about?” she asked in a stiff voice. “You need another payment? What?”
“I just wanted you to know that it’s time for Eleanor to be discharged,” Mr. Lake said gently. “In fact, we are planning on doing so tomorrow.”
“You are discharging her tomorrow?” Mama Pearl asked in a stunned voice.
“We have done all we can for her here,” Mr. Lake explained. “She still needs to fully recover but nothing that cannot be done at home. We will give her pain medication and antibiotics. With some rest, plenty of water, and a high-fiber diet which includes fresh fruits and vegetables, Eleanor will be okay.”
Mama Pearl was dumbfounded. She knew Eleanor could not stay in the hospital forever, but she thought she had a few more days to figure out a few things.
“There is a girl’s home in Papine that is willing to take in Eleanor,” Mr. Lake added. “It’s a place for homeless girls like her.”
“Absolutely not,” Mama Pearl said firmly as she stared into his eyes. “She is coming home with me.”
Mr. Lake silently looked at her over the top of his eyeglasses that rested on the tip of his flat nose. “Mama Pearl, are you sure? You have already done so much for this young lady . . . but taking her in your home?”
“I’m sure,” Mama Pearl said unwavering. “I’ll be here tomorrow to get Eleanor and to settle my bill with you.”
“You are an amazing woman,” Mr. Lake said with admiration. “I have a strong feeling that Eleanor’s life is about to change for the better. God bless you both.” He stood up and extended his right hand to Mama Pearl.
Mama Pearl got to her feet and shook his hand. “Thank you for everything you have done for her.” She turned around, walked out of the office and out of the hospital, her mind racing. I’ll be back to see Eleanor later. Right now it’s time for a little family meeting.
“That’s not going to happen,” Sydney said point-blank to his mother. “We are not going to allow you to do that. Right?” He looked from one brother’s face to another.
“That’s right,” Alwayne replied in a firm voice, and the others nodded in agreement. “Don’t even think about it, Mama.”
Mama Pearl was sitting on her couch in her living room, surrounded by her five sons. She had called a family meeting for that afternoon to tell them that Eleanor would be moving in with her. She wasn’t surprised by their behavior; after all, Eleanor was a street kid that she knew nothing about.
“I have made my decision, sons,” Mama Pearl said calmly. “I know in my heart that this is what the Lord wants me to do.”
“Mama, the Lord doesn’t want you to bring a stranger in your home to live,” said Robert. “I mean, you are already paying a huge hospital bill for this kid after saving her life. Isn’t that enough?”
“You mean, we are paying a huge hospital bill,” Gerald muttered.
Mama Pearl gave him a sharp look. “If it was any one of you, I would want someone to do the same for you,” she said. “Eleanor is a kind, sweet girl who is going through a lot right now, and we are going to help her.” Emphasis was placed on the word “we.”
Omar rolled his eyes, leaned further back into the couch, his hands folded across his chest. “She is a kind, sweet girl,” he mimicked his mother.
“Boy, watch your mouth.” Mama Pearl turned sharp eyes to him. “Don’t think you are too grown to talk any way to me. You hear me?”
“Sorry, Mama,” Omar replied sulkily. “But you don’t know if this girl is dangerous. What if she attacks you, and no one is here, huh?”
“Omar is right, Mama,” Sydney said. He reached over from beside her and took his mother’s small hand into his own, staring deeply into her eyes. “I don’t see why she can’t go to the girl’s home and you visit her there, Mama. Don’t get me wrong, I have met her, and I feel for her, but the fact remains we don’t know her enough to move her in here with you.”
“Omar lives here too,” Mama Pearl pointed out.
“But I’m not here all the time, Mama,” Omar responded. “I do work, and I have a social life, you know?”
“Please, Mama. Listen to us,” Robert added affectionately. “We l
ove you, and we are going to protect you, no matter what.”
Mama Pearl smiled as she looked from one handsome face to the next. These are her sons. Her little boys were now strong, independent, educated men who loved their mama, four of whom were husbands with children of their own. Tears leaked down her face as she looked at them with pride.
“Oh, man. Mama, please don’t cry.” Gerald who was sitting to her right pulled her into a hug. The other sons edged closer, their faces filled with concern.
“I’m okay,” Mama Pearl said as she sat up on the couch. She sniffed and used her hand to wipe her eyes. “I’m just so proud of all of you. I want you to know that.” She smiled at them. “You all know I’m not irrational, right?”
They all nodded their heads.
“And you know I have never been wrong once when I tell you that the Lord has asked me to do something, right?”
Again they nodded their head.
“So work with me on this, my sons. I know that this is what I should do, and I’m going to do it. You can stop by as often as you want and check up on us. But this is something I need to do.”
The room was arrested in silence. The brothers looked at each other, deep in thought, their concerns still alive.
“All right, Mama,” Alwayne finally responded and took a deep breath. “We are still not too sure about this, but we are going to go along . . . for now.”
“And don’t think we’re not going to be monitoring the situation,” Gerald warned in his cop voice. “She makes one bad move, and I’m throwing her little behind in jail.”
Mama Pearl laughed out loud, clapping her hands together excitedly. Even though she never needed her sons’ approval for Eleanor to stay with her, she wanted them to support her decision. They were still skeptical, but she was hoping that eventually they would realize that she was doing the right thing. In fact, she hoped that they would come to care for Eleanor as she had in such a short time.
God Has Spoken Page 9
