Jacob's Bell

by John Snyder

  “Mary, she is missing!”

  “What do you mean, missing?”

  “She’s run away to be with my father. She’s been gone for hours.”

  “I’ll be right home.”

  * * *

  Jacob had walked for miles through the vicious snowstorm, searching everywhere—calling out Mary’s name. He couldn’t find her. Panic-stricken and weary, he began asking the few strangers he passed if they had seen her.

  “Have you seen a little girl with a gray coat and red scarf?”

  Every answer was the same…“No, I haven’t.”

  * * *

  Nathaniel arrived home and got the details from Emma.

  “He’s kidnapped her. I know he has!”

  “Emma, I think you’re jumping to conclusions.”

  “No, I’m not. He’s stolen our daughter!”

  Nathaniel called the police and explained that his daughter had run away and had been missing for hours. He told them that she might be with Jacob, giving descriptions of them both. The police posted an all-points bulletin, and dozens of policemen fanned out in search of them.

  “I’ll get together some neighbors and go search for her.”

  “I’m going, too,” Emma demanded.

  “No, you stay here in case the police call or she comes home.”

  Nathaniel and his posse began their search. They went to the corner of Charles and Light Streets to see if she was with Jacob. When they arrived, they found Jacob’s kettle lying on its side about a hundred feet from his usual place. His bell lay next to it, mostly buried in the snow. Other than that, there was no sign of them.

  He’s gone. Maybe Emma was right, Nathaniel thought.

  He directed the search party to split up and search the city.

  * * *

  Jacob continued to traipse through the snow, which by now was about a foot deep. He checked the streets, the alleys, looking in buildings and under stairwells. He was running out of hope. Have faith, Jacob. Have faith, he kept saying to himself.

  Jacob continued to comb the back alleys and side streets. As he labored through the deep snow of an alley, he continued to call her name. “Mary. Mary! Where are you? Maaarrry!” he yelled at the top of his lungs.

  “Grandpa, I’m over here.” He heard her crying.

  There, under a fire escape, he found her huddled, shivering from the cold.

  “Mary, I’ve been looking all over for you. I’m sure everyone else has been searching for you, as well.”

  “Grandpa, I’m cold but I don’t want to go home. Where can we go to get warm?”

  “We need to get you back home. Your parents are probably worried sick.”

  Jacob held her in his coat until she warmed up, then taking her by her hand, they walked from the alley out onto the street. A brisk wind thrust snow in their faces, blinding them. All they could see was a sheet of white. Walking became more difficult, and Mary shivered uncontrollably.

  “I’m so tired, Grandpa. I can’t walk anymore.”

  Jacob picked her up in his arms and continued walking. After several blocks he became exhausted, but given the circumstances, he felt compelled to continue. The sensation of a dull pain began in his chest and trickled down his left arm. He ignored it and kept walking. Precipitously, the pain shot through his chest as if he were being stabbed with a dull knife.

  “I have to put you down for a while. Do you think you can walk a little bit?”

  “I’ll try.”

  Jacob took a few more steps, grabbed his chest, and fell to the ground.

  “Grandpa!”

  “Go get help. Hurry!”

  Mary ran to find someone to help, leaving Jacob lying in the snow. Fortunately, she saw a policeman up the street.

  “Mister Policeman!” she screamed. “Help me!”

  He ran toward Mary. By the time he reached her, she’d become hysterical, shrieking something about her grandpa. He couldn’t make sense of what she said.

  “What is it, little girl?”

  “It’s my grandpa! He’s hurt!”

  The policeman immediately recognized Mary as the little girl for whom they were searching.

  “We’ve been looking all over for you. Are you all right?”

  “Yes, it’s my grandpa!”

  She led the officer back to where Jacob was now rolling in the snow, writhing in pain.

  “Grandpa, I love you!”

  Mary fell to her knees to comfort him, but the officer asked her to stand out of the way.

  “What is it, sir?” the officer asked.

  Between winces, Jacob said, “I think I’m having a heart attack.”

  The policeman flagged down the car of a fellow officer.

  “I need you to get this man to the hospital; he’s having a heart attack. This is the man we’ve been looking for.”

  The two officers lifted Jacob into the backseat of the squad car, instructing Mary to get in the front seat. The policeman jumped in the driver’s side and radioed the precinct where Nathaniel sat with his head in his hands awaiting news about Mary.

  He heard the officer’s radio call over a speaker in the room.

  “We found her. We’re en route to the hospital.”

  The signal faded and the transmission became inaudible. It was unclear whether Mary was injured, but that’s how Nathaniel interpreted it. Unsettled, he ran to the desk sergeant and asked to use the telephone to call his wife.

  “Get to the hospital right away. They are taking Mary there.”

  “What happened to her? Is she all right?”

  “I don’t know. Hurry! I’ll meet you there.”

  Nathaniel and Emma rushed to the hospital, where they found Mary being comforted by an officer.

  “Mary, are you all right?” her father asked, his face gripped by terror.

  She reached up for her mother and father, who smothered her with hugs.

  The officer replied, “She’s fine, but I’m afraid her grandfather has had a heart attack.”

  “Is he going to be okay, Mommy?”

  “I’m sure he’ll be just fine,” she fibbed, careful not to upset Mary even more. The truth was, Emma was filled with worry, as well.

  “I’m going up to his room. Do you want to go with me, Emma?” Nathaniel asked.

  “No, I’ll stay here with Mary.”

  Cold, and fatigued from her experience, Mary quickly fell asleep in her mother’s reassuring arms.

  “But he’s your father.”

  Emma gave Nathaniel a stern glare. Not wanting to make a scene, Nathaniel dashed upstairs to see if he could help. Minutes later, Bob Parsley arrived at the hospital and went straight to Jacob’s room, where he prayed for his friend.

  The news of Jacob’s heart attack traveled fast. Flowers and messages flooded the front desk at the hospital. Emma didn’t understand how all these people knew her father. The headline in the evening newspaper read, JACOB’S BELL SILENCED BY HEART ATTACK. It was the lead to a feature story dedicated to Jacob and all the good deeds he had done. Emma had no idea her father was such a well-regarded and kind man.

  As Jacob lay near death, he received many visitors. Even the mayor stopped by the hospital—mainly for a photo op, as politicians usually do.

  “Emma, why don’t you go up and see your father? This may be your last chance.” Nathaniel pleaded with her.

  “Yes, Emma. I think it is time you put all this behind you,” Bob Parsley urged.

  “But, Pastor Parsley, I’m afraid.”

  “Nathaniel and I will go with you.”

  They took off up the stairs leading to Jacob’s room. The veracity of the moment hit Emma hard, as she struggled for her breath, running just as fast as she could. When they arrived in Jacob’s room, she began to weep upon seeing Jacob lying motionless on the bed, clinging to life. She began second-guessing her rash decision to push her father away when he came to her asking for forgiveness. Why had she been so cruel? Thoughts of Mary’s love for her grandfather and the g
ood deeds they’d done together flashed through her mind. As she gazed at her father’s still face, she contemplated her reaction to him after he’d knocked at her door. Regrets filled her. “Daddy, I’m so sorry. If I had forgiven you, none of this would have happened.” She broke down again.

  “Don’t blame yourself, Emma. This is not your fault,” Bob assured her.

  “I just feel this happened because of me.”

  Moving closer to his bedside, Emma held her father’s hand for a moment. Then Bob Parsley led her away from the bed to a corner of the room, where they prayed together.

  “Forgive me, Lord, for being so selfish.” She abruptly stopped praying and looked at Bob. “I can’t believe what I just said. I am asking God to forgive me, yet I refused to forgive my father when he begged me for forgiveness.”

  “God understands. You’re forgiven.”

  Emma walked back over to Jacob’s bedside and gently stroked his forehead.

  “Daddy, I forgive you. I forgive you. Can you ever forgive me?”

  “I’m sure he already has,” Bob said.

  The nurse came in and cleared the room. “He needs his rest. You’ll all have to leave now.”

  Emma stared down at her father, wondering if this would be the last time she would see him alive.

  * * *

  As Jacob lay there drifting in and out of consciousness, he saw the faint images of a man and a woman standing over him. He could barely make out their features.

  “Frankie? Amanda?”

  Yes, we’re here with you,” Amanda answered.

  “But…but I thought you were…”

  “I know, darling,” Amanda said.

  “Dad, I’m here to say I love you, and that Mom and I forgive you.”

  “Jacob, I love you with all my heart,” Amanda whispered.

  “Oh, how I have missed the both of you. I’m so sorry for what I’ve done.”

  “You don’t have to be sorry anymore.”

  “Dad, we’ll stay here with you as long as we can.”

  “Can’t you stay forever?”

  “No, my dear, we can only stay for a while. Now, get some rest.”

  A nurse entered the room to check on Jacob, having overheard him speaking. Jacob’s vision of Amanda and Frankie faded.

  “My wife and son…where’d they go? They were just here visiting me.”

  “Mr. McCallum, you’ve had no visitors for hours.”

  “That can’t be. I was just talking to them.”

  “You must have been dreaming. Now why don’t you relax and go back to sleep.”

  * * *

  That evening, Emma called Tom in Chicago.

  “Tommy, Daddy had a heart attack.”

  “Oh, so he paid you a visit, too.”

  “Tommy, he might die.”

  “He’s been dead for years in my mind.”

  “He’s changed. You wouldn’t believe the good deeds he’s been doing here in Baltimore. The newspaper has written about him on two occasions. It’s almost as if he’s a movie star or something. The mayor even came to see him here in the hospital. Will you come, if not for him, for me?”

  “I’m sorry, Emma, I can’t do that.”

  “Please.”

  “Sorry, Emma.”

  “Won’t you reconsider? I’ve forgiven him. You need to forgive him, too. Please?”

  “I can’t. I’m sorry.”

  Emma began to bawl.

  Nathaniel took the phone and resumed the conversation.

  “Tom? This is Nathaniel. You need to listen. Your father is very ill. He may not make it. Your sister and Mary are distraught, and they need you. And you need to see your father before it’s too late. After you learn about his new life, surely you’ll be open to forgiving him, as well. I just know it.”

  There was silence on the phone while Tom considered their request.

  “Oh, all right. I’ll come, but only for Emma and Mary, not my father.”

  “For whatever reason, it is important that you be here.”

  “I’ll catch a train first thing in the morning.”

  “Thank you, Tom. This will mean the world to Emma.”

  Bob called his friend Howard to tell him about Jacob.

  “Oh, no. Do you think he’ll make it?”

  “They don’t know.”

  “I’ll get there just as soon as I can.”

  “Okay, Howard. Sorry I had to be the bearer of such bad news.”

  Early the next morning, Christmas Eve, Tom boarded a train bound for Baltimore. Emotionally tormented, he wanted to be there for the sake of Emma and Mary, yet he also regretted not being able to spend Christmas with his family. He would have brought them along, but couldn’t afford the fare.

  While sitting in the passenger car, a gentleman asked Tom if he could sit down next to him.

  “Sure. No problem.”

  After a few moments Tom glanced over at him.

  He looks familiar, he thought to himself. I’ve seen him before somewhere, but I don’t know where.

  The gentleman next to him was thinking the same of Tom. For about an hour they sat shoulder to shoulder without speaking. Tom rose from his seat and crossed in front of the man seated next to him.

  “Excuse me,” he said. “I need to use the restroom.”

  As Tom walked up the aisle, the man left in the seat was drawn to his limp.

  “My goodness, that’s Tom McCallum,” he said aloud.

  By coincidence, or divine intervention, Tom and Howard Angel were seated next to each other for the day-long trip to Baltimore to see Jacob.

  When Tom returned, Howard stood to allow him easy passage back to his seat. After a few moments had passed, Howard said, “Are you Tom McCallum?”

  “Yes, but how did you know that?”

  “I am Pastor Howard Angel. I accompanied your father the day he came to see you.”

  “I thought you looked familiar, but I couldn’t place where I met you.”

  “We never really got a chance to meet. It was a very brief and tension-filled encounter.”

  “Yeah, my father and I have been on bad terms for years. I guess I was a little hard on him that day.”

  “I’d say so. Are you aware that your father had a heart attack? I’m on my way to see him.”

  “So am I.”

  “That’s wonderful.”

  “I’m not going for his sake, but for my sister’s and my niece.”

  During their journey, Howard began telling Tom about how he met his father and about his magnificent transformation. He told him about the wonderful things he had done in Baltimore, that he was baptized, and that he stopped drinking and smoking. This took Tom by surprise. He couldn’t believe there was a good bone in his father’s entire body. Hearing all this was a bit humbling. By the trip’s end, Tom’s opinion of his father had been altered somewhat by the stories Howard told him. But as far as he was concerned, the jury was still out on forgiveness.

  It was late evening when they arrived in Baltimore. The weather was cold, but the snow clouds had given way to a star-filled sky and a full moon. Howard and Tom shared a cab to the hospital, where they were greeted warmly.

  “Tommy, it’s so good to see you,” Emma said.

  Tom gave his sister a firm embrace. “It’s good to see you, too, sis.”

  Mary came over and stood, looking up at him.

  “How’s my little Mary? You’re growing up.”

  “Merry Christmas, Uncle Tommy.”

  “Merry Christmas to you.” He turned back to Emma. “How’s Dad?” he asked.

  “I’m surprised you would ask.”

  “Howard, Dad’s pastor in Chicago, told me about how he has changed and about all the good things he has been doing.”

  “Hello, Emma. I’m Howard Angel. Your father is a wonderful man.”

  “So how is he?” Tom asked again.

  “He’s out of danger and feeling much better. Do you want to go see him?”

  A scowl immediat
ely replaced Tom’s pleasant expression.

  “No. I’ll wait down here. Remember, the reason I’m here is for you and Mary.”

  “Come on, Tommy. Seeing you will make him feel much better, and it will do you some good, as well.”

  “I’ll stay here with Mary. You and Howard go on up.”

  Emma was disappointed. She’d hoped Tom would be more receptive to seeing their father, and perhaps even forgiving him so that they could all be a family again.

  While in the waiting room, Tom wrestled with his feelings. Mary went on and on about her grandfather and how much she loved him. She told Tom about all the fun they had collecting money for the Salvation Army. As he listened, his heart began to soften. The constant flow of visitors into Jacob’s room puzzled him. Everyone seems to love this guy. But why? Could he have actually changed this much?

  When he reached for a newspaper on the table to pass the time, his eyes locked on the article about his father. Curious, he began reading. His face went through a number of expressions as his eyes darted from paragraph to paragraph. When he’d finished reading, he slowly laid the paper on his lap and looked out with a blank stare, a confounded expression on his face. “Well, I’ll be…”

  Tom’s thoughts were interrupted when Pastor Bob approached Mary.

  “How’s your grandpa?”

  “Much better. I can’t wait to see him. This is my Uncle Tommy,” she said, introducing Tom.

  “Tom McCallum. I’m Jacob’s son from Chicago,” Tom said, offering his hand to Bob.

  “Good meeting you. I’m Pastor Bob Parsley. Your dad has been staying with us at the Salvation Army Mission here in Baltimore.” Shaking Tom’s hand, he continued, “What a fine gentleman your father is. I’m so glad to hear he’s doing better. He had us all worried there for a while.”

  Emma and Howard bounded down the stairs, both smiling.

  “How’s Grandpa, Mommy?”

  “He’s in such great spirits.”

  “When can I see him?”

  Mary’s question went unanswered as Howard and Bob’s reunion took precedence.

  “Howard! It’s so good to see you.”

  As they embraced, Howard said, “Good to see you, as well, my old friend. And it’s great to hear that Jacob is on the mend.”

  “That’s good news for all of us.”

  Nathaniel came into the waiting room. He’d just finished making his rounds. Emma introduced her husband to Howard. Nathaniel grasped Tom’s hand firmly.