by Rick Kueber
The friends held her by her elbows as they descended the stairs, as her hands were filled with the large book and the stuffed toy animals which she refused to release. Walking out of the front door, the bright autumn sky and cool air gave them a refreshing greeting, as if it were welcoming them back to the present day. They stood on the front landing just outside of the entryway and absorbed all that had just been revealed to them. There were smiles and a comfort that could not be explained, that was shared by all four of the friends. It was then that a familiar face appeared from around the corner, coming up the ramp.
“Well, how’d it go in there?” Del asked, noticing Allison’s arms filled with her antique family treasures.
“Well…” Allison answered him with a squeaky, emotional crack in her aged voice. “Very well.” “Del,” Barb began, “The door with the red knob is unlocked… Allison found the key. Could you take that lock off for Jenn?”
“Sure. Let me grab some tools…” He thought for a second. “She was kind of fascinated with that lock, wasn’t she?” and then he disappeared to get his tools.
The three ladies returned to Linda and Fred’s home next door, and began to prepare a lunch for them all. Fred remained at the front door and joined Del to help him remove the old lock from the once mysterious door. When they had finished, and Del had reassembled the lock, he and Fred joined the three women in the comfort of the beautiful home. The, now, five friends gathered at the dining room table and enjoyed the fellowship of good conversation, and great friendship while they savored the delectable meal that had been prepared.
When the meal was finished and the coffee was being poured, there was a loud, thunderous sound that intruded on the peaceful setting.
“I guess it’s time.” Fred spoke somberly.
“Time for what?” Allison asked sheepishly. The others’ faces had grown long, knowing the inevitable was upon them. Del stood up with Fred and gazed out of the window. The thunderous boom hit them again and brought a feeling of anguish to the deepest pits of their stomachs.
“Let’s take our coffee outside. I think we should…” Linda’s voice was meek, and though she didn’t want to face the reality, she thought it was best. They gathered their jackets, and cups, and once again returned outside, walking slowly and regretfully to the cold, chain link, construction fence.
Looking on, their hearts broke as they watched the large buckets on the bull-dozers and scoops as they continued to rip apart the history and the memories that this amazing building held. As the equipment boomed against the structure, it crumbled bit by bit, filling the air around it with a cloud of brick dust and debris that floated through the air and slow settled on the surfaces of everything that surrounded it. Even Fred and Del couldn’t keep their emotions bottled up, and the men’s eyes watered, though they blamed it on the cool air and the dusty fog that rolled to them. The three ladies, on the other hand, cried openly, especially Allison.
Looking on, and focusing deep into the rubble, Allison caught the glimpse of a young girl, amidst the destruction, who smiled at her, as if to say ‘Everything will be fine, it is finished’. Allison held her coffee cup in one hand and had the little blue elephant tucked neatly and cozily under her other arm.
She gave the stuffed toy a gentle squeeze and quietly said, “We weren’t too late, were we? …a rhetorical question that she knew the answer to. She smiled back at the young blonde girl who seemed to fade into the billowing dust-clouds that were created by the demolition crew.
The onlookers watched for nearly an hour as the angry, growling, yellow claws and scoops ate away at the stature of the times gone by. Their attention was distracted by a honking horn from Fred and Linda’s driveway. Allison’s nurse had returned from her shopping trip to the east side of Evansville and emerged from her car in dismay.
“What’s going on?” She shouted above the roaring diesel motors and the sounds of falling rubble.
“The old home is being put to rest.” Allison told her when she finally approached the cluster of friends.
The nurse shook her head saying, “Now, that’s a real shame.” But, Allison held up her elephant and smiled at her, as the salty deluge embraced her cheeks once again. “It was time… not a moment too soon, and not a moment too late. This was meant to be.”
The friends waved good-bye as Allison and her nurse drove away, and then returned to the harsh reality that this was the end of an era and most definitely, a very sorrowful end indeed.
Chapter 21 Holiday Gatherings
The weeks passed after the Order of the Owls had moved into their newly renovated location. A Christmas party had been planned for the Saturday before the holiday, which would also be the first weekend the new location was open. Barb, Del, Linda, and an assortment of other volunteers had spent all morning decorating the new dance hall and putting up the Christmas tree, and other festive holiday decorations in expectation of the big party.
“Barb, who are the guys in the bar room sitting in the corner?” One of the helpers asked. “I didn't think there was anyone in there.” She said as she rushed in to see who the unknown guests were, but no one was there. Her holiday helper had followed her into the room.
“I swear there were just three guys sitting right there.” He pointed to the corner. “Two of them were wearing black jackets, and the other one was in a yellow shirt. Maybe they realized we weren't open yet and left.”
“Maybe...” Barb smiled. She had a feeling that these patrons were still around, and though she didn't know their names, she had a good idea of who they were.
Holiday themed music played quietly in the background, fat, flurrying snow fell silently outside and the combination put all of the helpers in a very jolly mood. It was on that Saturday afternoon, while using a step stool to hang clusters of mistletoe over the various doorways, that Barb received a surprising phone call.
“Hello?” she said inquisitively, not recognizing the phone number on the screen of her cell phone. “Hi, is this Barb?” The cheery voice on the other end said. “Yes it is, who may I ask is calling?” She said in a professional tone, still puzzled at who this anonymous stranger was, calling her by her first name.
“Well, hey there Barb, this is Rick Hayes. How have you been?” and suddenly the voice became not only recognizable, but familiar.
“Oh, hi Rick. To what do I owe the pleasure?” She asked with a spark in her voice. “I hope you don't mind, I got your number from the 'other Rick'. He said it would be okay.” He wanted to be sure he hadn't over stepped any boundaries.
“Of course! You're fine.” The tone in Barb's voice happily fluctuated as she spoke. “Okay, good... you all have been on my mind a lot since I was down there to visit your club, and all day today, I couldn't get Ms. Allison off of my mind. She seemed very happy, and peaceful... not that she wasn't before.” Rick paused for a moment in thought. “I feel like she has reconnected with someone she hasn't seen in a very long time, like a very close friend, or even a family member. Does any of this make sense to you?” He stopped for a breath, and to await an answer.
“No, I'm afraid it doesn't. Unless you are thinking of when she was down for a visit, when the old Owl's Nest building was torn down, but that was ...oh gosh... a couple of months ago.” She scoured her memory, but that was definitely that last time she had heard from, or about, Ms. Allison Bettiger.
“Well, alright... I don't think it is anything to worry about. It actually feels like a very happy time for her. I just thought maybe you had talked to her, or knew something I didn't” Rick said politely.
“Well that's a first!” Barb said with joyous sarcasm. “The psychic thinks I may know something before he does.” She chuckled at the thought.
“Just because I am a psychic-medium doesn't mean I know everything.” Rick laughed along with Barb. “Alright, I'll let you get back to decorating for your party, and just keep that in the back of your mind, and next time you hear from her, see if anything made her exceptionally happy today.”<
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“Oh, I will... heeeey...” Barb drug out her word. “How did you know I was decorating for a party?” “Psychic, remember?” Rick and Barb bubbled with holiday laughter. “Keep BE-lieving, and have a great holiday! Talk to you soon.” Rick said.
“I will, and you have a great holiday too, Rick! Oh, while I have you on the phone, I wanted to tell you that the week after you came to the club, I got a call from my doctor's office. I had some tests done, and it seems my cholesterol was really high. They asked me to cut out a few things... like butter.” She smiled as she told the story.
“Wow... I'm glad they caught it, and let you know. That may explain the stick of butter I saw when we were talking. Those kind of validations are what keeps me believing. Okay, tell everyone I said hi, and I wish them all a joyous holiday! Talk to you soon.” Rick ended the conversation.
“I will. You have a wonderful holiday too! B-bye.” Barb hung up the phone and found that she had a small audience around the foot of her step stool.
“What was that all about?” Linda loudly joked to her friend. “THAT... was Rick Hayes. He called me to ask if I had heard from Ms. Bettiger recently, and he wanted me to tell everyone hi, and happy holidays.” Barb went through the condensed version of their conversation, telling it to all of the volunteers who had surrounded her while she was chatting on her phone.
“I haven't talked to her since the day she was here. She called me that night to let me know that she had arrived home safely. Oh, and she did send me a Thanksgiving holiday card, but other than that, I really haven't heard from her.” Linda said to Barb, but everyone was listening to hear what was going on. “Maybe I'll call her this evening before the party starts, just to see how she is doing, and to let her know everyone is thinking about her.”
“Thanks a nice gesture.” Del interjected. “Tell her Barb and I said hello, and merry Christmas.”
“I sure will.” It warmed Linda's heart, knowing that she would be talking to her old friend so close to the holidays. The snow flurries had grown steadily thicker and the snowfall was now a beautiful shower of white, cottony fairies that danced and twirled in the twilight of the late afternoon. It was nearly four o'clock when the decorating was finished, and the friends all gathered around a couple of tables telling stories and reliving precious memories from the past.
“There's my ride.” Linda stood up and gestured to the front of the new club. Through the windows, everyone could see the warm car that Fred had pulled up in, waiting by the curb to pick her up.
“See you in a while, right?” Barb asked for confirmation. “We are just going to dinner, and then we'll both be back for the party by seven or eight.” Linda reassured her. Causal good-bye waves were given as she headed out into the snowy wonderland.
“I didn't think we were supposed get anything but a few flurries.” Fred joked as she stepped into the car. He had been surprised by the early arrival of wintery weather in southern Indiana.
“Supposed to, or not, it's here. I just hope we don't get too much. People might stay home, or worse, come out and have to drive home on slick roads.” Linda was concerned, but didn't let it dampen her mood.
“So where do you want to go for dinner?” He asked, half expecting her to say, 'Home.' “I don't care, as long as it isn't too loud. I want to try to call Allison Bettiger before we head back to the Owls.” She mumbled, half to herself.
“Oh, about that… Kind of an odd coincidence, but you had a call at home while you were decorating.” Fred's voice had fallen to monotone, and not as cheery as it had been when he joked about the unexpected snowfall.
*** It was Friday evening, and Allison peered through the front window as the snow began to fall. Though it had been many decades since she had anyone to share the holidays with, she loved this time of year. There was a smile in the heart of the elderly woman, who had seen so much change in her lifetime, but one thing remained the same, her love for the mother that she gravely missed. Allison wandered from the front window to the small pine Christmas tree that had been placed on a short table in the corner of her living room. She had always insisted on having a real tree, and in her later years, she demanded a live tree that she could donate to the local Boy Scout troop, to be planted after the holidays were over.
This year, she had a three and a half foot blue spruce. It was covered in silver tinsel and white and blue lights that twinkled slowly. A hand made angel from Allison's childhood adorned the tree-top, and its branches were tipped with ornaments that spanned nearly a hundred years. She gazed at it lovingly, for all that it stood for, and all of the memories it held on its boughs. Beneath the tree there were no wrapped presents, but three gifts had been placed there by the old woman's shaky hands... a tattered, old, blue elephant, an owl, whose 'feathers' were now a beautifully matted mess, and an old hard cover book with worn and frayed edges, that hid rose petal memories within its pages. The soft and thin skin of Allison's hand gently touched the needles of the tree, an occasional light, and caressed a few of the ornaments. She knelt down cautiously before the tree and, picking up a plastic pitcher from the floor next to the table, watered the young evergreen. She stayed there for a moment and ran her hands across the 'presents' under the tree that she had been given earlier that year.
Standing up, she went to turn off the lights and find her way to her invitingly warm bed, and the goose down comforter that patiently waited for her. With the switches off, the only light in the room was the faint twinkling of the Christmas tree lights. Allison's nurse, who had brought the tree, put the lights on a timer so that they came on every evening just before dusk, and turned themselves off every night at midnight. She glanced at the tree one last time on her way to her bed, and detoured her path. It was truly a beautiful thing to her. Happy tears filled her smiling eyes, as she reached under the tree and retrieved the old elephant. Tucking it under her arm, she headed off to bed.
Allison sat on the edge of her bed, where she could still see the lights twinkling in the front room, and held the little elephant in her lap. “Dear lord...” She spoke out loud in the solitude of her bedroom. “...Thank you for this beautiful world and for my friends that you have given me...” She paused, deep in thought and humble gratitude, “...and thank you lord for this long and blessed life. Amen” She pulled back the comforter and top sheet, and slid herself into their warmth. Hugging the elephant tight, she drew a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Good night, my little friend.” She whispered to the stuffed toy that now meant more to her that everything she had accumulated in her lifetime.
Allison slipped off to a peaceful slumber, and in the early morning hours a dream came to her. She stood in a mist of bright, white fog and three figures approached her, two adults and a child. The child stepped forward and out of the haze that shrouded her identity. Allison quickly recognized her as Ashley, the little girl from her dream, and the girl that appeared to her in the dusty cloud at the old family home.
“Ally, these are my parent's. Come with us.” The girl’s voice was hollow and haunting, as she stretched out her hand to Allison. Allison reached out to her, and now saw that the hand she reached out with was no longer riddled with arthritis. In fact, it appeared to be a child's hand. She looked down, and remembered the dress she wore as being one she had been so happy to receive on her thirteenth birthday. The two girls strolled hand in hand into the mists, and were joined by Ashley's parents.
“Where are we going?” Allison asked curiously. “Home.” was the only answer she received, and though it didn't seem to come from Ashley, or her parent's, the voice sounded familiar.
The four strolled through the foggy mist in a seemingly aimless and carefree fashion. After a bit, the cloudy fog lightened and the four travelers emerged into a bright and beautifully sun-shining day. Allison stopped in her tracks. The familiarity of the beautiful home before her struck her as odd. She pieced together her memories with a sudden knowledge that simply 'was', and found herself filled with amazement for the sight that st
ood before her.
“It's the old family home... but it isn't old anymore.” Allison spoke in a breathless whisper. It was true. The old home was now beautiful, white, and pristine. The windows sparkled in the sunlight, and a bell rang in the tower announcing their arrival. The front doors swung open wide and Allison's Grandmother, mother (now young again, only in her thirties), Father, and four younger brothers rushed out to greet them.
Arms wrapped around each other, and joyful tears filled their eyes. Allison met her grandmother, father, and brothers for the first time, but felt as if they had known each other for a lifetime and longer. As they embraced, Allison looked over her shoulder to her friend Ashley and her parents, who held smiles across their faces that could not be dimmed, and as they waved to the newly reunited family, they vanished back into the mists that had brought them. Allison was not sad to see them go, for she knew in her heart they would see each other again. She turned back to her family, and her arms felt a weight in them. She looked down, to see the owl, elephant and book, resting in her folded arms, each looking crisp and new as it had on the day they were made. Allison smiled and knew this was far better than any Christmas gift she had ever hoped to receive.
“Oh, Ally-girl, welcome home!” Her mother cried out to her. “It is good to be home... it is good to be a family. This must be Heaven!” Allison responded and the celebration continued for an endless amount of time. Her thoughts were filled with wonder and the possibilities of where this new life would take her were limitless.
*** Ashley Sue and her parents had slipped back into the fog, and their joy was met with contentment as they were joined by a council of spirit guides, and Angels, thanking them for guiding Allison home. It was now time for their family to return home again. They felt truly blessed and their souls held a completeness that is only attained by the selfless act of helping another in need, as they had once been helped.
