by Don Childers
When the gifts had been handed out, a homeless man approached Bill and Sharon. His name was Larry. He gave them both a hug.
“I wasn’t always this way,” Larry said. A new scarf was wrapped around his neck. Larry straightened his new coat, and held his new gloves in his hand. “I used to have a family.”
“Well you will always have a family here,” Sharon said looking caringly at Larry. Larry was average height and thin from living on the street, but behind his long hair and bearded face were two bright, intelligent eyes.
Larry coughed and continued, “I used to have my own construction firm and a pretty damn good one at that.”
“What happened?” Bill asked as the three sat down.
“My fault and not my fault,” Larry said looking down and then away. He added, “You are a minister, aren’t you?”
“Well I used to be,” Bill replied. “Now I work in a bookstore and work down here.”
Sharon gripped Bill’s hand, smiled and added: “Honey, you are more a minister now than you have been for years.”
“Thanks,” Bill said with a tenderness that had not been present for much too long. Looking at Larry, Bill said, “Yes, I guess I still am a minister.”
“Well,” Larry began. Bill and Sharon could tell he was having difficulty. “As I said I had a family, my own business, and everything. Then things went sour in the building market. I had to lay off several of my workers. Competition from those new places, you know the story. Anyway, I started drinking more. I always told myself I could stop. Well, I drank myself right out of my company, my family, and home. I tried to get help but times were tough and still are. My wife left me; I don’t really blame her.” A tear began to stream down his cheek. Sharon and Bill both instinctively reached out and touched his shoulder, almost at the same time.
Larry dabbed his eye with a tissue. “Well, I hit the streets, moved from town to town and here I am. No one seemed to care. People avoided me. Then about two months ago I met this person, well he was a minister of some kind of church. That was before I came here. Anyway he talked to me about straightening out my life and getting off the booze. He prayed for me and you know I have not touched a drop since then.” Larry paused, tears now streaming freely down his cheek.
“That is great,” Bill said quietly.
Larry continued, “Well nothin’ much changed. I guess I thought things would just, you know, sort of change but it didn’t. Well, I hit the road, came here about a week ago and I was thinking of going in and buying a bottle again. Then I stopped by here last night. Sal, I think that is his name, well Sal was so nice and gave me a place to stay. Then tonight with this party and these gifts, I don’t know what to say.”
“Maybe it is time to make that change,” Bill said. “Let me tell you about another person who was down and out and a gift changed his life.” Bill then told Larry the story of how he had been fired from his church, how he had almost lost his family, and how when he remembered a gift of “Three Cans of Soup” given by a lady the gift changed his life.
“I was almost where you are. Remembering that gift brought me back. That is why I am here.” Bill got up and walked over to his hemp knapsack and pulled out three cans of soup. Returning, he handed them to Larry. “Larry, I am passing on to you the gift I received from Mary. Mary could hardly afford to give anything but she did. I am giving you this to let you know that people care about you. You have a place here. Sal, Sharon, Maria, and I will work with you, if you are willing, to help you get back. I want you to remember whenever you look at this soup that you are loved and that there are people who care.”
The tears flowed. The three hugged. Sal, who had been listening to the conversation, came over.
“I don’t want to intrude,” Sal said looking at Larry. “But did I hear it right that you know about fixing things?”
Larry pulled back and looked at him. “Well I may not look it but I am very, very good at fixing things!”
“I have a proposition for you. We need someone to do maintenance around here. Our old maintenance guy got sick and won’t be coming back. The pay is not much but room and board is included. We also have some things that we need to change around here. What do you think?”
Larry looked at each one and then smiled a smile that was deep. “I don’t know what to say!”
Without hesitation Bill, Sharon, and Sal all said, “Just say yes, and Merry Christmas.”
-43-
As Christmas Eve approached, the mission never looked better. Larry shaved off his beard but left a long mustache. His new work clothes looked great. He even had a ring to hold his new set of keys. His small room consisted of a bed, dresser, and night stand with a small closet. Sitting on top of the dresser were three cans of soup and on top of the soup was a miniature crèche.
When Robby and Lisa arrived at the Thompson home on Christmas Eve, they were as shocked at the change in their father as Sharon had been. The small house was decorated brightly for Christmas but it was not the decorations that shined through, but something else. Robby was the first to arrive, followed an hour later by Lisa. The family settled down after Jerry had made a time of greeting and greeting again. He had never figured out why some people seemed to disappear. No matter, everyone was home as it should be. He bounded off with the presents and had a look of sincere contentment on his face.
“Wow, this place looks great,” Lisa observed. She went over to the tree and began looking at the various decorations. “Oh I remember this one; we got this one when we took that trip back to Oregon.” She was fingering a myrtle wood ornament that they had picked up on the Oregon coast when she was a small girl.
“Want a beer? “Bill said and held one out to Robby and Lisa. Robby took the beer and sat down. “Dad, you look different!”
“Well, I shaved off the beard and have lost a few pounds.”
“I’ll say you have,” Lisa said sitting down beside her mother. Turning she said, “Mom you look great too! Have you both been exercising or what?”
“As a matter of fact, we have. We signed up at the college workout center. I have a free membership for me and one other and we just never took advantage of it until now.” Sharon stood up and twirled around. She had indeed lost pounds; firmed up, and looked much younger dressed in her jeans and bright red Christmas sweater. “Your Dad has done even better.”
“Wow, you said Dad had changed but I never dreamed. Dad you look great!”
“Thanks,” Bill said. Bill was also dressed in jeans and a red sweater. He was also wearing his most recent new purchase, a pair of western boots.
Robby was the first to notice. “Wow, Dad those boots are awesome! You sure look good. So, what is this mission thing you have been talking about?”
Before Bill could answer Sharon said, “Well, you can find out for yourselves. We plan to go there tomorrow on Christmas Day to help cook, that is if you two don’t mind. You can both come along if you want.”
“Aren’t we going to eat here?” Lisa asked and gave Robby a quick glance that said, “What is the matter with them?”
Sharon patted Lisa’s hand and added, “Don’t worry; we will have our turkey with all the trimmings. You’re Dad and I don’t expect you to go. We are going over after we open our presents and will be back in the afternoon.”
Lisa gave Robby a look. Robby said, “I am not much into that. I guess if you two want to go we can stay here.”
“Well, you can both come and join us,” Bill added. “It is what Christmas is really about. Sharing and giving.” Bill then paused and added, “But like we said, it is up to you; we don’t expect you to come.”
Sharon broke the mood by standing up and asking Lisa to give her some help in the kitchen. “We are having pasta, salad, bread, and wine,” Sharon announced as she made her way toward the kitchen. Lisa got up and followed her mother into the kitchen. Bill changed the subject to football asking Robby if he had made any of the games. As Sharon and Lisa entered the kitchen Lisa grabbed her mother
on the shoulder and said, “What is with Dad and you two?”
Sharon looked at her daughter, smiled and said, “You know when I was there at Thanksgiving and after I got home I told you that we had worked everything out?”
“Yeh.”
“Well, we really have. I have never seen your Dad so at peace. When we were at the Bethany Church I saw him at peace and really enjoying everything. Then he changed. I think he got all caught up in being successful; you know, getting a bigger and better church. I knew it wasn’t him. You and Robby did not see the changes but it was happening a long time before we ever moved here. It was like he forgot why he went into ministry. It was all about his career and being successful.”
“I saw that,” Lisa said as mother and daughter fell into old routines of making the salad, boiling the pasta, and stirring the sauce.
Sharon continued, “Well you know how after your Dad lost the church he even changed more. I really thought we were going to lose him. Then when I came home at Thanksgiving after that stupid leaving. . .”
“It wasn’t stupid, mother. You needed to get away,” Lisa interrupted her mother, putting her hand on her mother’s hand.
“Thanks honey, but I did leave and I came back knowing that I might leave your father. I prayed and prayed all the way home. One part of me did not want to leave but another part of me could not imagine living the rest of my life just as it was going.”
“Mom,” Lisa said. “I didn’t know.”
“Of course you didn’t know.” Sharon said, “You didn’t need to know. Anyway, when I walked in the door and saw the tree up and saw the change in your Dad I could not believe it. Then he took me down to the mission and I saw how he was, well, he was just alive again. Your old Dad was back, the one I met back in grad school.”
“Yeh,” Lisa said. She had heard the story again and again of how they had met while her Dad was finishing school and got married in the Murray Church with Sam, Emily and Mary Pond. She had heard the story but had really not paid much attention.
Sharon continued, “Your Dad was something else when we met. I could see something in him, gentleness, a commitment and I could see how he had changed the people at that little church. I fell in love with your Dad right there.”
“Neat,” Lisa said between sampling the salad.
“Anyway, when I got back from Robby’s last month it was as though the old Bill was back. He took me down to the mission and I have to admit I wasn’t hip on the idea. Once I got there and saw how your Dad was I fell in love with him all over again. I do wish you and Robby would consider joining us.”
“I don’t know, Mom.”
About that time Robby and Bill stuck their heads into the kitchen and offered to help. “Everything’s ready,” Sharon replied. “But you two can set the table.”
That evening was one of the best Christmas Eves that any could remember. They ate, they laughed, and they talked. After dinner they all sat down and watched a DVD, It’s a Wonderful Life. Sometime around nine in the evening, there was a knock at the door. Opening the door, eight carolers broke into a medley of Christmas Carols. They ended by all saying “Merry Christmas” and began to leave, bundling themselves from the cold.
“Thank you,” Bill said extending his hand to an older man in front. “That was great, but where are you from?”
The man smiled and answered, “We are from St. Joseph’s. We were down singing at the Mission when Sal asked us to come by your house.” Bill and Sharon then recognized many of the faces as persons who had worked as volunteers at the Mission. “We just want to wish you all a Merry Christmas.”
As they left Bill turned to Sharon and gave her a huge kiss. “Merry Christmas,” he said. Robby and Lisa looked at each other. It was a Merry Christmas indeed.
-44-
Christmas Day was bright and clear in Maysville. The Thompson clan got up early and opened gifts. The gifts were nothing like in past years when the family had more money to spend. In many ways the gifts were better because each one was given with love. Bill gave Sharon a copy of The Ingoldsby Legend; or, Mirth and Marvels, by Thomas Ingoldsby, which had been published in 1856. Sharon had always loved collecting old books and this one was in great shape. Bill had set it aside when it had come into the bookstore one day.
Carefully turning the pages, Sharon smiled, “Where in the world did you find this?”
“I work in a bookstore. Someone came in to trade this for something else and I snatched it up.”
“Thanks. And here is your gift.” Sharon held out a small box, wrapped in red paper with a small white bow. Bill carefully took off the wrapping and carefully lifted the lid. “Oh my!” he said picking up in his hand an old pocket watch. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Yep, it was your grandfather’s. I found it in a box packed away.”
“But it works!” Bill said as he opened the watch and looked at the old markings.
“I sent it to Robby and he took it to a special place in St. Louis. They restore things and the old watchmaker was able to get it working.”
Looking at Sharon and Robby all Bill could say was “Thanks”. Then he added, “I have something else for you.” He reached into the pocket of his robe and pulled out a small, long box.
Sharon took the box wrapped in green paper with a gold bow and opened it. After opening the box, all she could do was look at it and then back at Bill.
Lisa finally broke the spell. “Mother, show us!”
Sharon held out a box that contained a beautiful necklace. “Bill, this looks expensive!”
“Well, I know. It wasn’t all that expensive. A woman at the mission makes jewelry and I bought this from her. Besides, I just wanted to give you something special. You have been with me through everything and I just want to say ‘I Love you’ in a special way.”
Bill gave Sharon a kiss, to which Robby replied, “I don’t know if we really like the new you. You guys are going a little overboard, don’t you think? Besides, I’m hungry.”
After breakfast and showers, Bill and Sharon were getting the turkey ready when Lisa and Robby walked into the kitchen. “Do they serve a dinner down there?” Lisa asked.
Her mother looked at her as she was lifting the turkey out of the refrigerator. “Yes, but we were not planning to stay, we were just going to help serve.”
“Dad,” Robby said. “Lisa and I talked last night and, well, why don’t we all go down to the mission and make a day of it. We are going to be here all week and we can have the turkey later. Anyway, we would like to spend Christmas as a family and this mission seems to have done something pretty wonderful for you two. Anyway, we would like to join you.”
“That is the best present you could give us,” Bill said. Looking at Sharon he said, “Well, I guess we can put all this away and head on down there.”
Sharon looked at both her kids, Robby towering above Lisa, and said, “Thank you both. Merry Christmas.”
They all squeezed into the Saturn and made the drive down to Second Street. Robby commented that it looked like a smaller version of St. Louis. “I sometimes have to make deliveries down to the Skid Row area and other places even worse than this.” They pulled into the small parking lot on the side of the mission.
“Looks rundown,” Lisa commented. “Look at all the people lined up!”
“We go in the back,” her Dad replied as they got out of the car and made their way to the back entrance. Entering through the small storeroom, they entered the kitchen. Sal and Maria’s voice could be heard above the commotion as dozens of volunteers worked to put the finishing touches on Christmas dinner. Sal and Maria gave Bill and Sharon hugs as they entered and introduced Robby and Lisa. Sal motioned for someone to come forward. “This is our grand-daughter, Anna Marie. She just graduated from Northwest Missouri State and will be teaching at the high school after January.” Lisa Marie had flowing dark hair. She also had the brightest dark eyes. Bill noticed Robby noticing. Maria added, “She is going to help with the cook
ing and things in her spare time, if she has any.” Maria gave her granddaughter a quick hug and they both quickly made their way to the serving table. Robby seemed to stumble over himself offering to help her.
Sal held up two aprons for Lisa and Robby and told them they could serve the rolls and butter at the end of the line. Bill and Sharon took their place at the head of the line serving the potatoes and turkey. Sal went out into the dining hall, which was packed with people, and offered a prayer and then invited people to come forward and be served. Robby and Lisa later said that they never worked so hard and enjoyed it more. A steady stream of people, single young men, older men, mothers with children, even a few teenagers came through the line. All had the look of people who had seen too much and endured too much.
Lisa noticed that many seemed to know her mother and father. Lisa and Robby watched as person after person wished their parents a Merry Christmas, handed them a little hand-made card, or shook their hands. “How could people with nothing be so generous,” Lisa thought. By the time everyone was served it was late in the afternoon. The serving line looked like a battleground. Those who had shelter in the Mission returned to their rooms, others hung around the warmth and shared stories and coffee.
As Bill was taking pans over to the sink to get ready to wash, an older gentleman approached him. His apron was splattered with food and sweat ran down his tanned face. Bill had met him before. He was Vince Lawrence, President of First National Bank and an elder in the Brice Street Presbyterian Church. Vince was also chairman of the Mission Board. Many years before, Sal and Maria had turned the deed of the Mission over to an independent board that would oversee its operation. Sal and Maria took a modest salary and housing allowance. Later the board authorized an apartment on the third floor of the building, right above the rooms for the homeless where they could live rent-free. This freed up more funds so that the Board could provide health care and retirement for couple. Bill had once been approached to be on the board when he was the minister at Central but had turned down the offer because he was, at the time, too busy and stressed to add one more thing. He had met Vince several times at the mission but their conversations had only been casual.
