“Oh I don’t have a clue as to what I’m gonna wear! This is gonna be a disaster!” She burst into tears and I spent much of the night trying to convince her that the banquet would not be a disaster in the least.
“Kelly, your father wants you girls at the office by ten today. He said you need to go in jeans and comfortable shoes, I’m afraid you are going to have a long day.” It took me a moment to get my bearings about me.
“Oh, we overslept!” I cried.
“Don’t worry hun,” Patricia laughed. “Howard wasn’t expecting you two early after that all-nighter you pulled. Relax and take your time, it’s only 7:30. You have plenty of time.” She smiled at me as Karen began to rouse. She blinked several times and then stared at me.
“Adira.” She gasped.
“Good morning.” I chirped as I climbed off the bed. I was still wearing the sweater and pants from the night before, though I looked quite the worse for wear.
“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to stay here all night. I’ll bet you didn’t get much sleep.” She yawned and I had to laugh.
“I’m fine. I was so tired I might have fallen asleep before you. Your mom just came in and said your dad was expecting us by ten and we were to wear jeans and comfortable shoes.” She rolled out of bed and gave me a hug.
“Thanks for everything, Adira. I’ll get dressed and we can pick up some tacos on the way to work.” She paused for just a moment and grinned. “I love how that sounds. Maybe daddy will keep us on permanently.” She clapped her hands and ran up to get ready.
The day passed quickly and before we knew it all the hard work was done.
“Well ladies,” Howard said. “We are ready for the conference on Monday. I’ll have the guys load everything into the truck and have it ready to go on Monday morning. You girls just be at the convention center at eight. Did you put in the catering order?” He asked.
“I did, pastry assortment, kolaches, fresh fruit juices and water. Lunch boxes will be delivered by eleven-thirty along with desserts and beverages.” He beamed with pride.
“What did I tell you, Meyers? My girls are brilliant. Karen here already contacted the clients and made sure transportation is arranged for them all.” He turned back to us. “Dinner is on me. You girl’s go home and get dressed, figure out where you want to go, The Tavern is showing the new Spirit Films movie. You might wanna do dinner and a movie at the same time. Here’s the money; this should cover it.” He handed Karen several bills and shooed us from the office. “I don’t want to see you two back at the office until Friday evening! Now scat.”
He turned to Mr. Meyers and continued to plan the conference. Karen and I quickly and quietly slipped out the door and grabbed our purses and headed downstairs.
“Tonight we live it up. With all the work we put in the past couple of days, we deserve it.” Karen giggled. “I’m calling Debby and we can have a girl’s night out.” I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. It seemed like just yesterday I was nothing more than a ragamuffin street urchin and today I was hanging out with the boss’ daughter.
CHAPTER 15
The weeks leading up to the banquet were hectic. Thanksgiving had been nothing less than a production from a holiday movie. We went to communion service on Wednesday evening and spent the morning serving Thanksgiving meals at the soup kitchen. I saw plenty of people I knew from the shelter.
“Aren’t you the little girl from the refrigerator box behind the Stop and More?” A middle aged woman jabbed a finger at me as she spoke
“Yes, that’s me.” I was embarrassed.
“You clean up well girlie. What happened? Did you win the lotto?” She cackled.
“You might say that.” I mused.
“What?” Her eyes grew wide.
“No, no, not the way you might think. Why don’t you get your plate and I’ll sit with you and tell you all about it.” I felt a strong urge to speak to her and share my story. It was the first time, I’d never been one to initiate conversation with anyone.
“You wanna sit with me?” She was incredulous.
“Why of course, you’re no stranger and we aren’t that different you know.” I smiled.
“Okay then.” She took her plate and I followed her to a couple of empty seats.
“Well first off, what’s your name? All this time and I don’t think we’ve ever introduced ourselves properly.”
“You know girlie, I do believe you are right.” The old woman cackled again. I’m Gertrude, but you can call me Gertie.” She dug into her food with such gusto I had to wonder how long it had been since she’d eaten.
“Well, Gertie, I’m Adira. It is nice to see you again.” I spoke as she ate and soon I noticed others around the table were listening intently to my story. “You see Karen, her family, and all the people from the church have let me feel God’s love for me. Something I never knew.”
“Do you really think God loves us?” A grizzled old man asked.
“I do, no wait, I know for a fact He does. Not just because someone told me so either. I know God loves me because I feel it a little more every day. It is almost as though I can feel Him grow closer to me or more like I am growing closer to Him. I don’t really know how to explain it. This is something you just have to experience yourself.” My voice was raw with emotion now. I felt an urgency to convince these people to accept the gift I’d received.
“And how can we experience it?” A young woman with matted blonde hair and a bruised face asked. I felt I would burst. I moved quickly to her side and took her hands in mine.
“Just ask Him into your heart. If you really mean it He will come in and you will feel a love beyond anything you’ve ever known.” One by one the group around me clamored to know more about this God who loved even the homeless who were turned away time and time again.
“Show us how. Please?” Another young woman asked shyly.
“Give me a second. I’ll be right back.” I hurried over to Patricia and explained the situation to her.
“Are you serious?” She asked, stunned at my news.
“Yeah, and well, I don’t know what to tell them. I barely know how to pray myself. You prayed with me when I came to Christ, can’t you do the same for them?”
“Of course, Adira. Come on, we have work to do.” She waved some of the ladies over and together we walked to the table.
“Gertie, guys, this is Patricia. She led me in prayer the night I asked Christ into my heart. Patricia, Gertie and I met at a shelter a few months before I met Karen. She watched my back when we slept on the streets.” Patricia shook Gertie’s hand and even hugged her. Gertie was shocked.
“I’m so glad to meet you, Gertie. I want you to know that God used you to make sure Adira made it to us safe and sound.”
“What? What do you mean? God never told me nothing.” I looked around the table and it was as though all the food had been forgotten and all eyes were on Patricia.
“He may not have spoken audibly to you but somehow you felt it important to protect her, to watch over her. Right?”
“Well of course, I remember when my children were young and I just had to take care of her.”
“That was God speaking to your spirit. Even if you all don’t know God, He knows each and every one of you. He knows your name and He has never forgotten you.”
“I used to go to church.” The blonde girl spoke up. “But I got mixed up with a bad crowd at school and I ran away from home. God can’t forgive me for turning away from Him.” Her eyes were red and brimming with tears.
“Oh, sweetheart, of course He can, and He will. How many of you would like to receive Him in your heart?” Hands went up all around the table. “Repeat after me.” She led the table full of people in the sinner’s prayer. There was not a dry eye at the table and I saw the other women placing their hands on each person seated there.
“What’s going on?” Karen whispered in my ear.
“How did…” She trailed off. “These people come in every week and never want to hear anything from any of us.”
“Well I spent time with several of these people before I met you. I guess they kind of trust me.” I shrugged.
“Wait till Pastor Suan hears about this!” She hurried away to tell of the good news.
“Adira.” The blonde girl came to speak to me shyly.
“Hi, I’m sorry but I don’t think I know your name.”
“I’m Barbara.”
“Well, Barbara, I’m so happy to meet you and even happier you have received Christ.” I hugged her and felt her stiffen, much like I had when I’d first met Karen and the others.
“I’d like to ask you something.”
“Sure, anything at all.”
“I was wondering if I could use a phone here. I’d like to call my mom.” The tears were brimming in her eyes again and her voice broke as she spoke.
“Oh yeah, I’m sure… Hang on don’t move. I’ll be right back.” I scanned the room for Karen and trotted over to her.
“Karen, can I borrow your cell?”
“Sure.” She pulled her phone from her pocket.
“Thanks. I’ll bring it right back.” Barbara was still standing where I’d left her.
“Here you go, Barbara.” I watched with interest as she dialed a number and waited.
“Mom?” Tears began to stream down my face. I envied her. She was able to call her mother; a woman who loved and cared for her. “I want to come home. I gave my life to Christ today. I know I was wrong and I wouldn’t blame you and daddy if…” She trailed off and began to sob. She held the phone out to me and fell to her knees weeping uncontrollably. Had her mother turned her away? Had I given her too much hope?
“Hello?” I cautiously spoke into the phone.
“Hello, I’m sorry, who am I speaking to?” I heard a woman’s trembling voice on the other end.
“This is Adira and you are….”
“I’m Barbara’s mother. Would you please give me the address of where you are? I want to go and pick up my daughter and bring her home.”
“Our address is 304 N. Pruitt Street in Baytown. We will be here until four this afternoon.”
“I’ll be there in about ten minutes, we live in the area. Thank you.” Her voice cracked and I heard the line click as she hung up. Barbara was still crying but not quite as loud as before.
“Your mom is coming for you, Barbara. She will be here soon. Come with me.” I helped her up and took her to the ladies room nearby.
“What happened?” Karen appeared next to me.
“Barbara is going home. That’s why I needed your phone. She wanted to call her mom.” I recounted the conversation and Karen wept along with me.
CHAPTER 16
We avoided the Black Friday crowds and simply set up the Christmas decorations and chattered excitedly about the upcoming banquet at the church. Saturday was spent in much the same way. Howard brought down the Christmas tree and Karen sketched out a design for the annual theme. I sat on the floor and busied myself in sorting out decorations and untangling lights.
It was fun. I didn’t ever remember having these moments with my family. I was lost in thought until I heard Karen.
“I think we should go dress shopping next weekend. This whole week will be a loss.” Karen lamented.
“I think you are right hun. Adira, we need to get your dress fitted. We can do that this week too.” Patricia was as excited as Karen. “I gotta check on my baking, I’ll be right back.” She ruffled my hair as she hurried to the kitchen.
“Um Karen, I was wondering…” I started, untangling a strand of lights to keep my hands from shaking.
“What?” Karen meticulously applied individual strands of tinsel to the tree.
“I’d like to get a cell phone. I’ve saved enough money to buy one and well I don’t wanna keep bugging you to use yours.” Karen looked uncomfortable.
“Why don’t we wait a few days for that too? I think most of the stores are going to be filled to the brim. I hate crowds.” She over-exaggerated an eye roll.
“Well, okay.” I didn’t like asking for assistance from anyone for just this reason. I hated being told no.
“Girls, who wants cookies?” Patricia carried out a huge plate of chocolate chip cookies.
“No thanks, I’m feeling a little tired. I think I’m gonna go rest if you don’t mind.” I dropped my lights back into the box and left the room. I saw a stricken look on Karen’s face but I was too miserable to comfort her. It wasn’t my fault. She could have given me a ride to the cell store.
I threw myself across the bed and the tears slipped from my eyes and down my cheeks. I fell into a troubled sleep.
I awoke to a buzzing sound; my alarm clock. I looked over and saw it was already six in the morning. I’d slept through dinner and all night. I hurried to shower and get ready for work. I still rode to work with Karen, though today I wasn’t really wanting to go with her. I was still feeling the sting of her refusal to help me.
“Adira?”
“I’m about to take a shower, Karen. I’ll be ready for work on time.” I snapped before I could stop myself. I hurried into the bathroom and slammed the door just a little harder than necessary. When I came out of the shower Karen was sitting on my bed.
“Adira, today is Sunday. We don’t go to work today.”
I flopped onto the bed then slid to the floor feeling really stupid.
“I’m having a brilliant moment aren’t I?” I mumbled.
“It happens.” She shrugged. “Did I do something wrong? I mean, you holed up here since early afternoon yesterday.”
“No.” I wasn’t about to pick a fight with her. I’d get over it. “I was just tired.” I assured her.
“Well I’m gonna go get dressed and why don’t you and I go and grab breakfast before church today. I’ll call Debby and see if she wants to go too.” Her exuberance was contagious like always. Even though I was still a little peeved, I grinned in agreement.
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll get my hair dried and all okay?” She leaned over and hugged me.
“Great!” She bounded up the steps and I was alone again. I felt the resentment slowly fading away. There was a reason she’d told me to wait, maybe she didn’t feel well yesterday. After the day of volunteering at the church on Thanksgiving we were all worn out.
I brushed through my hair and thought of Barbara and her mother. She was fortunate, her mother wanted her, cared about her. Not like mine. I shoved the thought from my head and concentrated on my makeup. I would make the best of today if it killed me. I wouldn’t let the negative get to me. I hoped.
Breakfast was full of excitement, Debby had news of a guest praise and worship leader; banquet plans were laid to the side and her focus was on the upcoming service.
“You don’t get it. I admire her so much!” Her eyes sparkled as she spoke. “I just wish I had half the talent she does. It is amazing, the anointing she has on her life is something else.”
“Anointing?” Of course I would have to ask. I really felt stupid because I didn’t understand.
“God has touched her life and placed a calling on her. When she ministers, when she speaks God moves in a special way.”
“Kind of like when you witnessed to those people on Thanksgiving. God used you in a way that others who no one could reach. God’s anointing was on you and He used you to bring those people to Christ.”
“Me?”
“Yes! You know we have been working with Barbara every time we are at the soup kitchen. She blows us off because she always said we didn’t understand what was going on in her life.” Karen explained.
“And she was right.” Debby added. “We’ve never been in that position, these people know from where you came. They know you were right ther
e with them and now look where you are.”
“Wow. I don’t know what to say. I didn’t even do anything because Patricia had to lead them in prayer.”
“But without you, she wouldn’t have had to pray with them.” I thought about it for a bit. I still didn’t totally understand.
“Come on, we gotta get going. We have thirty minutes before church starts. I wanna get a good seat.” Debby grabbed her purse and hurried us out of the restaurant.
Everyone seemed to be buzzing with the same level of excitement as Debby over the praise and worship leader.
“Hey, Soggy.” I heard E-Z before I saw him. I began to think I’d never see the end of that nickname.
“Hey, E-Z. You excited too?”
“Well yeah, Judy used to lead worship here, but you know how it is. God has us in certain places for a season and then we move on. That’s how we grow.” He casually rested his arm across my shoulder as he spoke.
“Hey guys. How’s it going?” Ozzy hopped down from the stage and joined us. I saw Karen blush deeply.
“Everything set, Ozzy?”
“Yep, sound check was great, E-Z. This is gonna be a great service.” They exchanged a hi-five. “Adira, I hear you are a regular Peter!”
“Huh?” The rest of the group laughed.
“It’s a Bible story,” Karen explained. “I’ll catch you up on that later but the jist of it is Peter was emboldened by the Holy Spirit and preached to this huge group of people and thousands came to Christ because of it.”
“I told you before and I’ll say it again. You are something special. God has His hand on your life.” Ozzy said, Karen stood there beaming as though he were speaking of her instead of me.
“We gotta get going.” E-Z told Ozzy then he turned back to me. “I’ll see you after church, Adira. I got something for you.” He hugged me and jogged to the back of the sanctuary.
“Girl, you got him dizzy.” Debby giggled.
“I didn’t do anything.” I was flustered again and could still feel the heat of his arm on my shoulder.
“You exist, that’s enough.” She giggled again. “I don’t think he even acted this goofy with Karen!” I saw Karen shake her head in acknowledgement. I could only groan. I’d have to do something about this soon.
Wings of Eagles Page 7
