by Jim Stovall
Stanley and Lisa glanced up and saw Austin standing there.
Austin was nervous and stammered, “Uh, Mr. Walters?”
Stanley nodded. “Yes, Austin. What is it?”
Austin extended his arm, and Stanley could see he was holding Eddy’s baseball glove that Stanley had given to Josh.
Austin explained, “This was in Josh’s room. I thought you might want it.”
Austin handed the glove to Stanley. Stanley gave him half a smile, which was all he could manage.
Stanley muttered, “Thanks.”
As Austin turned and walked away, heading back toward Miss Esther’s house, Lisa moved toward Stanley. Stanley stood like a statue and silently stared at the baseball glove.
He glanced toward Lisa and then looked down at Cooper who stared back intently. Finally, Stanley sighed, shrugged, and walked over to the box marked Eddy’s Things. Stanley opened the box and gently placed the glove inside.
As Stanley closed the box, he thought about all the amazing things that had happened since that glove had come out of the box.
Stanley and Lisa looked at one another and then at the box that held the glove. They knew that, for the first time in a long time, the two of them made a family—or at least the two of them and Cooper made a family.
Stanley and Lisa thought about all the things that they had to be thankful for and how far they had come, but they knew there was something still missing.
CHAPTER 30
The Department of Human Services office, which everyone simply called DHS, was a gloomy place where important decisions were made that affected families, children, and their lives.
Inside her office, Bernice Whitcome was sitting at her desk signing a mountain of paperwork. Bernice had gone into the field of social work because she cared about kids, but she often felt like she spent most of her time doing paperwork.
Josh was slumped in a chair across from Bernice’s desk. Josh hadn’t spoken a word, and she just sat and stared at the floor.
Bernice spoke cheerily. “So, this is the big day. How do you feel?”
Josh couldn’t say a word. She had dreamed about being adopted and having a real family for as long as she could remember, but deep down she knew that this was all wrong.
Bernice prodded, “Josh, please talk to me.”
Josh looked directly at Bernice and said solemnly, “I want to go back to Miss Esther’s.”
Josh stared back at the floor as Bernice tried to encourage her. “Josh, this family is very nice, and they want to make this work.”
Josh glared at Bernice and blurted, “I don’t care. If I can’t go back to Miss Esther’s, then I don’t want to go anywhere.”
Bernice looked back down at her paperwork and muttered, “Well, we’ll see about that.”
Bernice picked up the phone and said, “Alice, can you show them in, please.”
Josh stiffened in her chair, folded her arms defiantly, and continued to stare at the floor. Josh heard the door open behind her, but she wasn’t going to turn to look at those people. She heard some shuffling behind her, then all was silent.
Josh could barely see something out of the corner of her eye. It was Cooper holding her baseball glove in his mouth.
Josh couldn’t believe what she was seeing. It took her a moment to understand what was happening. Then she got a huge smile on her face.
Josh jumped up and yelled, “Cooper!”
She raced over and hugged Cooper around his neck.
Josh glanced up and saw Stanley and Lisa standing in the doorway. She was bewildered and couldn’t understand why they were there.
Stanley looked down at her and said, “Hello, Josh.”
Josh continued to stare in confusion and asked, “What are you doing here?”
Bernice interjected, “Josh, Mr. and Mrs. Walters are looking to adopt.”
Josh looked toward Bernice and then back to Stanley and Lisa. She was trying to make everything fit into place in her mind.
Josh asked, “You guys are here to adopt a kid?”
Lisa walked over to Josh and lovingly answered, “Well, honey, not just any kid.”
“Yeah, Josh,” Stanley added, “we were wondering if you would consider coming to live with us?”
Josh questioned, “You mean like a foster kid?”
Lisa shook her head and responded, “No. More like a daughter.”
Josh stared at them for a moment trying to let it all sink in.
Stanley explained, “There is one thing you will need to consider before you give us your answer.”
“What?” Josh asked.
Stanley answered, “You would have to share a room with your sister.”
Josh shook her head and declared, “I don’t have a sister.”
Just then, the door opened, and Bernice’s assistant, Alice, walked in with Rachel. When Josh saw Rachel, a huge smile appeared on her face.
Josh exclaimed, “Rachel!” Rachel rushed toward Josh and cried, “Josh!” As the two girls hugged, Rachel dropped her burned rag doll to the floor.
Bernice was overjoyed but feigned an official tone, inquiring, “So, Josh, do you think you might want to live with the Walters after all?”
Josh nodded vigorously, and her eyes shone brightly as she announced, “Yes! I really want to live with them.”
Bernice returned Josh’s smile and said, “I thought you might change your mind.”
Everyone laughed with joy, and Bernice continued. “OK, girls. I need you to go with Miss Alice while Mr. and Mrs. Walters and I talk some more.”
Josh was overjoyed. She said, “OK,” and started to head toward the door with Rachel; but then she stopped and rushed back to Stanley and Lisa who stooped down and reached out to her. The three of them embraced.
Josh whispered into Stanley’s ear, “Thank you for believing in me.”
Stanley lovingly responded, “No, Josh. Thank you for believing in me.”
Josh walked back to Rachel, and the two girls left the office hand in hand and followed Alice down the hall.
Lisa turned to Bernice and said, “Thank you for all you have done.”
“Don’t thank me,” Bernice explained. “When the Singletons saw you two at the game, they knew you had to be together.”
Stanley spoke exuberantly, “It’s amazing how this has all worked out.”
Bernice glanced down at her desk and said, “Yes, well, I have some papers you will need to sign, and then we can move ahead on these adoptions.”
Stanley leaned over Bernice’s desk to look at some paperwork she was showing him.
Lisa spotted Rachel’s rag doll lying abandoned on the floor. As she picked it up, she spoke knowingly. “She won’t need this anymore.”
CHAPTER 31
The excitement of the newly formed family was overwhelming in Stanley and Lisa’s house. It took several weeks for everything to even begin to settle down in the Walters’ home and in the neighborhood.
Stanley and Lisa had gained two new daughters, but Miss Esther felt as if she had gained something, too. She didn’t feel as if she had lost Josh and Rachel as they were just next door, and they would be there from now on.
Esther loved kids but could never get fully and totally attached because she understood that, sooner or later, all of her foster kids would move on. It was exciting for her to see Josh and Rachel planted somewhere that they could grow and bloom.
Miss Esther was sitting on her front porch in her rocking chair watching everyone playing next door in the Walters’ yard.
Stanley was the proud father enjoying the beautiful day with his new daughters, Josh and Rachel. Alex, Cody, and Austin had joined them in a spirited game of catch.
As Esther rocked silently, taking in the whole scene, Charles and Sam stepped up beside her. They seemed to have appeared from nowhere.
Miss Esther spoke to them as if greeting old friends. “Hello, Charles and Sam. I was wondering when you would visit.”
Sam nodded, and Charl
es bowed and then glanced toward the Walters’ yard as he responded. “Just checking in on our girl.”
Charles and Esther smiled warmly as they watched Rachel playing contentedly with Cooper.
Miss Esther announced, “I think she is going to be just fine.”
As Esther looked back toward Charles and Sam, they had disappeared as suddenly as they had arrived. Esther smiled to herself, knowing they would never be too far away.
Lisa opened her front door and stepped onto the porch carrying a tray with a pitcher of lemonade and cups on it.
She turned toward Rachel and said, “Rachel, honey. Can you go get the ice in the kitchen, and bring it out?”
Rachel sounded cheerful and confident as she spoke in a voice Lisa would never tire of hearing. “Sure, Mom.”
As the game of catch raged on in the front yard, Rachel bounded up the porch steps and rushed into the house, heading for the kitchen.
Rachel paused in the living room when she caught sight of the lamp sitting on a table. She smiled knowingly and turned the lamp so she could read the engraved inscription. The lamp seemed to glow from within.
More than anyone, Rachel knew that anything was possible if you could just believe.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jim Stovall is the author of 15 previous books including the best seller The Ultimate Gift which is now a major motion picture from 20th Century Fox, starring James Garner, Brian Dennehy, and Abigail Breslin.
He is among the most sought-after motivational and platform speakers anywhere. Despite failing eyesight and eventual blindness, Jim Stovall has been a national champion Olympic weightlifter, a successful investment broker, and an entrepreneur. He is the founder and president of the Narrative Television Network, which makes movies and television accessible for America’s 13 million blind and visually impaired people and their families. NTN’s program guide and samples of its broadcast and cable network programming are available at www.NarrativeTV.com.
The Narrative Television Network has received an Emmy Award and an International Film and Video Award among its many industry honors.
Jim Stovall joined the ranks of Walt Disney, Orson Welles, and four U.S. presidents when he was selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce. He has appeared on Good Morning America and CNN, and has been featured in Reader’s Digest, TV Guide, and Time magazines. The President’s Committee on Equal Opportunity selected Jim Stovall as the Entrepreneur of the Year. In June 2000, Jim Stovall joined President Jimmy Carter, Nancy Reagan, and Mother Teresa when he received the International Humanitarian Award.
Jim Stovall can be reached at 918-627-1000 and [email protected].
