Fireflies

by P. S. Bartlett

  “We’ll be heading home now Ma’gret. Please if you need anything at all, send Eli for me,” Sarah lifted Ennis from her lap and he stood quietly now next to her as she rose unsteady to her feet. Teagan took her mother’s arm and gently lead her to the door where Eli was now putting on his hat to take them home.

  “Eli, why don’t you stay with yer Ma. I’ll have one of the boys bring the wagon back in a bit,” said Sarah as she stepped across the threshold with Teagan, still leading her by the arm.

  “How is William?” shouted Owen as he came bounding up the front steps.

  “He’s much better now, Owen. I’m so sorry we had to drag you all the way here from town. Connell?” Sarah said as she stopped him at the door.

  “He stayed behind at the office. Let me see the child,” he said as he walked around her to the door but stopped, realizing something was out of the ordinary.

  “Eli, we’ll just ride home with Dr. Whelan,” Sarah said as she reached for the railing of the porch steps and stumbled a bit.

  “Sarah, are you alright?” Owen asked, taking her other arm.

  “Please Owen, let’s just go home now,” said Sarah as she pulled on Owen to descend the steps.

  “If ya’ don’t mind Sarah, I’d like to take a look at the child,” Owen said, removing his hat to address her properly and gently pulled away.

  “We’ll be in the carriage,” Sarah said, after a long drawn breath.

  “Sarah, are ya’ ill?” asked Owen, placing the back of his hand on her forehead.

  “I’m quite well Owen. I’ll be in the carriage. Come along, children,” she said as she was now able to steady herself on her own two feet and descend the steps.

  Sarah, Teagan and Ennis, sat silently in the carriage for several minutes until finally Owen emerged from the house with Eli behind him. They briefly exchanged a few words as Owen placed his hat back on his head and shook the boy’s hand, placing his left hand on Eli’s shoulder. He was looking a bit unsteady himself but managed his way to the carriage. Owen climbed up to take his seat at the reins, uttering not a word and by the time they made the seven or eight minute ride to their home, they were bathed in rain.

  Chapter Nine

  “You children go and dry off and find something to occupy yourselves. I need to speak with yer' Ma,” said Owen as they entered the house. Liffey and Patrick came bounding to them asking after William and the explanation was brief to say the least.

  “He is fine now,” was the only reply their father gave.

  Liffey and Patrick looked on their father with bewilderment as he had never before entered the house without some thoughtful or cheerful words for them. However, they seemed to know instinctively not to speak again until they were spoken to, no matter the duration of his silence. Patrick's immaturity caused him to blame himself for their indifference but Liffey reassured him of his innocence as she led him into the kitchen to assist her with preparing lunch. Her mother always said a good meal could cure almost any woe.

  Teagan grabbed Ennis by the hand and took him upstairs, stopping but a moment to turn and look back at her father following them, along with Sarah. She was anxious and fearful of what his perception may be of what had happened or rather what Ennis had done. They all needed a change of clothes as well as mood but the latter wasn't about to come without first clearing the air of the day's events. However, that was a conversation to be had by adults behind closed doors and not in front of exuberant children.

  Sarah stepped behind her changing screen and silently disrobed. For once, she behaved the dutiful wife when it came to discussions of the children with Owen. Most of their intimate conversations evolved quickly with Sarah stating as a matter of fact, any of their wrongdoings followed by the punishments she had doled out in addition to the duration of each child's atonement. Owen, knowing full well what she was up against during his long absences, only shared his acknowledgement and on a rare occasion spoke up to request leniency.

  Owen undressed and laid his damp clothing over his desk chair, reassembling himself in silence. Sarah had almost finished dressing herself as well when he finally arranged the words in his mind he could say without sounding like a mad man. He had settled simply on, “Sarah, if you're done, can ya' just tell me start ta' finish what the devil happened at the Morgans’?”

  Sarah took a long deep breath and stepped from behind the screen, whilst fastening a button on her skirt. She walked across the room and sat down next to Owen on the bed. She continued trying to put all of the pieces together in her mind but no matter which way she turned them, they still didn't fit.

  “Owen, I can tell you this, that child came as near to his last breath as he would ever be and yet you saw him. He was as pink and whole as the day you brought him into the world. I held him in me arms, Owen, and he was ablaze as if I'd taken a log from the burnin' fireplace and cradled it. His skin was pale and damp and the poor little thing couldn't even hold up his own head,” she said, taking a heavy breath while restraining a swell of emotion and looking down at her hands folded in her lap. She spoke easier to her hands than to Owen's eyes.

  “The next thing I knew, Teagan was handing me cool wet cloths to bathe him with to draw out the fever and Ennis sat beside me, stroking Willie’s hair. I thought he was a goner I did.”

  She stopped to take another deep breath as she proceeded, changing her beloved husband's life forever to join her own.

  “I was wiping Willie's face and neck when all of the sudden, his chest filled with air and his eyes opened wide and wild like he'd seen somethin' amazin'. A few seconds later, he was as cool as a barrel of rainwater and sleeping like an angel in me arms,” Sarah said, unable to believe it herself.

  Several minutes had passed before Owen reached a thought making any sense. He'd seen and heard things in his life which had absolutely no logic to them at the time but eventually he was able to either reasonably explain them or accept them half-heartedly. One such experience he had been almost forced to accept as a matter of survival, which made his decision an easy one. This on the other hand was so out of reach of his understanding that his only reaction was to call on Pastor Lincoln. Since they believed these happenings to be some divine force working through their youngest child, they needed heavenly guidance. Pastor Lincoln was at least in his sixties and had travelled as a missionary for much of his youth. He had surely seen or experienced such things as this and would offer some wisdom into what they should do and what to expect next.

  “We'll call on Pastor Lincoln this evening. Surely he’ll be able ta' give us peace of mind,” Owen said, rising to his feet.

  “Yes. I believe that’ll be for the best,” was Sarah's relieved reply.

  A soft knock came on their bedroom door, followed by Teagan's voice.

  “Ma? Da? May I come in please?”

  “Yes Teagan,” replied Sarah.

  Teagan pushed open the door, not quite sure what to expect but she was trembling and terrified that she was in a great deal of trouble.

  “Are you both all right now?” she asked, barely making a sound.

  “Yes, Teagan. We're fine. Was there something ya' wanted?” asked Owen.

  “I wanted to explain a few things to you. Today wasn't the first time that Ennis fixed someone,” Teagan whimpered, standing with her hands folded together in front of her.

  “Oh for cryin’ tears, Teagan. Why haven't ya' said anythin’ to us?” Sarah blurted out, looking over at Owen.

  “I wanted to, Ma! I truly did and I told Da this morning that I needed to speak to him tonight, didn't I Da?” Teagan said, nodding her head and turning to her father for agreement.

  “It's true, Sarah. The child approached me this mornin', askin’ if she could speak with me after supper,” Owen muttered, running his hand back and forth across his head.

  “The bird. He fixed the bird,” Teagan said, with her head lowered.

  “What bird?” asked Owen.

  “The bird by the barn; the one I thought was dea
d which he talked about during grace,” Teagan explained, her voice trembling with tears. “And me. He fixed me too.”

  “You Teagan?!” asked Sarah, as she reached for Owen's hand and pulled him to sit back down next to her.

  “Yes. Saturday morning. I was watching you and Liffey, Ma, out the kitchen window and I didn't see a knife in the dish water and I cut my hand. I sliced it wide and deep. I wrapped it with the dish cloth and then Ennis was there and held my hand and he...”

  Teagan stopped, not sure of how to explain exactly what Ennis had done or which word to use to describe it. After a few moments she said the words, “Ennis healed my hand.”

  “Oh dear Lord, Owen. Dear Lord, what are we ta' do?” Sarah gasped, placing her hand over her mouth.

  “For now, we do nothing. Maybe this is some strange series of events and it will leave as quickly as it came. We'll speak with Pastor Lincoln and not mention a word of this again until we do,” Owen sighed.

  He stood and put on his suit coat and walked to the door of the bedroom. He placed his palm on the door knob, turned back to look at Teagan and said, “Teagan, may I see your hand please?”

  Teagan held out both of her hands to him and turned them palms up. Owen examined them for any sign of a wound and in finding none, he simply let them go and headed out of the room.

  “Oh, Ma,” Teagan cried as she threw herself onto her mother's lap and sobbed. “I'm so sorry Ma.”

  “Now, now Teagan. What's done is done and ya’ heard yer’ da, no more talk of this until we speak with the pastor this evening. There's no need for you to cry now. Save yer’ tears, daughter. You may need them later,” Sarah said as she stroked Teagan's head and patted her tears with her handkerchief.

  “Poor Ennis, I'm just so worried taking these pains away is going to hurt him or take something from him. I heard somewhere when an angel comes to you and touches you, you are close to death,” Teagan wept.

  “Now don't ya' go believin' that kinda' nonsense. Yer’ brother is a healthy, happy child and he'll not be goin' anywhere anytime soon,” Sarah replied, pushing Teagan to her feet. “Let's go. Yer sister is preparin' lunch.”

  Sarah led Teagan out of the bedroom and instructed her again to dry her tears and go on as if nothing had happened. However, when they arrived in the kitchen, Ennis had already informed the other children of what happened to little Willie. They hung on his every word and the only skeptic in the room was of course Fagan who had returned early from work.

  “Ennis, that's a very fine story but I'm sure it was Ma who relieved that baby of his fever,” Fagan said.

  “No Fagan, it was the angel. She did it,” Ennis replied.

  “Okay that'll be enough of this talk. I have something ta' say to all of ya' right now and I want your attention,” Sarah demanded, stopping this conversation train before it ran off of the tracks.

  “There will be no mention of this mornin' ta' anyone. Neither friend nor acquaintance need know about this, nor will ya' be chattin' about it amongst yourselves. Now let's eat this delicious lunch yer’ sister prepared and leave the assumptions and speculations alone.”

  They all immediately hushed and at this meal, Sarah said the grace without so much as raising her eyes to offer for anyone else to give it. Quickly, they began their lunch of chicken soup and buttered bread. For several minutes, only the sounds of spoons hitting the sides of bowls, rain falling hard and fast on the roof top and the occasional slurp from Patrick touched their ears. It was well past lunch time so they ate ravenously. Soon the table was empty and everyone ran off to complete their designated chores except Ennis, still seated and Sarah, Liffey and Teagan, cleaning up.

  The three women worked silently side by side but knew exactly what to do without either asking or being asked. This scene had been well rehearsed and often played out. The warm, welcoming kitchen had never felt so cold and inhospitable. After several minutes, everything was finished and Sarah reminded Liffey of the basket of clothes which needed mending in the parlor next to her chair. Liffey obliged and waded her way out of the thick air surrounding Teagan and her mother and was eager to do so.

  “Teagan, come here.” Teagan rushed over and stood behind Sarah as she gazed out the window at the rain. She looked back only for a second to eye Ennis sitting silent, perhaps too frightened by his mother's strange demeanor to move. Sarah said in a whisper, “Teagan, I want ya' to watch over your brother. Let no harm come to him and keep him close until we can resolve this.”

  Teagan did not answer but Sarah knew that she would mind her request. Sarah had not turned to measure Teagan's reaction. She already imagined it and she preferred the anger at what she imagined, above having to view Teagan’s response and only anger more. Teagan was uncertain of how she’d be able to accomplish the task without giving up all of her waking hours and her own pursuits. She immediately filled with bitterness.

  “May I be excused?” were the only words that her pursed lips could manage to produce. Her clenched jaw knew far better than not to open when she spoke, as her mother would have surely found some punishment much worse than stealing her freedom to add to this sentence. She bounded out of the kitchen, up to her room and threw herself on her bed, already weeping before she had reached the kitchen doorway to escape.

  “Ennis, how about some of your cake?” Sarah asked, as she took a dessert dish from the china cabinet and turned to place it on the table, never turning to glance in his direction.

  “Are you alright, Ma?” Ennis asked, placing his hand on his mother's as she sat the dish down in front of him. She pulled back quickly from his touch as the plate dropped to the table with a whack and what seemed to be the total of her lunch rose in her throat.

  “Oh Ennis, I'm sorry dear. I'm just still a little shaken up from seeing poor Willie so sick,” she spoke sweetly to him as she reached out and now took his hand. She would not breach her own words and mention anything else. Instead, she patted Ennis' head and turned to bring the cake to the table. As she leaned in to cut a slice, her mind drifted to a happier place and memories of sharing a chocolate cake a lifetime before. Sarah had passed through dozens difficult experiences in her life by reaching into her past for a treasured memory and this lone but calming method had never failed her. She turned back to the china cabinet and lifted another small plate and sat it next to Ennis’.

  “I think I'll join you,” she smiled.

  “Don't be afraid, Ma. I'm not,” Ennis said, slipping a fork full of cake between his lips.

  Chapter Ten

  “Yer Ma and I are going out for a bit, Fagan. Have you any plans this evenin’?” Owen asked as he placed his hat and suit jacket back on immediately after supper.

  “No Da. I can’t see Mary until tomorrow,” Fagan replied sounding dejected.

  “I’ve been meaning to ask ya’ how things went Sunday at supper but with all of the fuss over Ennis…” Owen’s voice trailed off and he added, “Well, when yer Ma and I get home, you and I will take a seat out on the porch and you’ll tell me all about it,” Owen smiled as he thumped Fagan lightly on his shoulder.

  “That sounds fine, Da,” Fagan smiled slightly. “I’ll watch over this bunch while you’re gone.”

  “Thank ya’ son. Sarah?” Owen called out as he placed his hand on the doorknob.

  Sarah rushed into the room and pulled her bonnet onto her head. She turned to Fagan to remind him of the bed time routine and reassured him that everything would be fine. She also requested he not allow any of the children to leave the house for the remainder of the evening. Fagan thought that an unusual request since none of them ever wandered off after supper and even if they did step outside for a bit, it was only to chase fireflies or listen for bullfrogs in the distance from the back porch. However, he would abide by her wishes and instruct them all to stay put and promised he would read them a bit of “Tom Sawyer” before sending them off to bed.

  Owen and Sarah headed off down the road in the carriage to Pastor Lincoln’s home, which wa
s just a stone’s throw from the church. It was a small white cottage of a home with only four rooms and that included two bedrooms. The parlor was small but cozy and Pastor Lincoln’s wife Mae, who was a very talented seamstress, had covered the old hand-me- down sofa and chairs with a lovely cream colored fabric, decorated with pink roses. The floor was all dark hard wood, perhaps cherry; there was a large cream colored area rug that covered most of it, which had a border of pink roses and a large cluster of them in the center. Mae adored roses and their home was surrounded by rose bushes which she tended to as if they were her children.

  “You’re certain that they are expecting us Owen?” Sarah asked nervously as the carriage rounded the bend which took them past the church to the small side road leading back to the house.

  “Yes, yes Sarah. I sent Connell this afternoon when I returned from the Morgans,’ with the message we needed to speak to him and Pastor Lincoln said he would be available.” Owen replied reassuringly.

  As the carriage pulled up in front of Pastor Lincoln’s, they could see him sitting on the porch in his rocking chair, holding his open Bible in his lap and reading. As they came to a stop, he stood up and walked to the porch steps to greet them.

  “Well hello, Dr. and Mrs. Whelan. I was so pleased to receive your message this afternoon.” Pastor Lincoln reached out his hand to shake Owen’s as he descended the steps to meet them.

  “Hello Pastor, and we thank ya’ for seein’ us on such short notice,” Owen replied.

  “Well you know being a pastor is a lot like being a doctor, Owen…you don’t mind if I call you Owen do you?” asked the pastor.

  “I’d actually prefer it, Pastor.”

  “Well as I was saying, our callings in life are very much alike, my friend. We are always on call for those in need. Well let’s not stand around out here; let’s go inside and have a sit and chat,” he added, holding the door open for Sarah and Owen and following them inside.