by BobA. Troutt
*****
Dead Limbs and Leaves
Hurley
It was late in the evening in early October 1947. Larry David, Rick and Todd were walking home from snipe hunting. They had slipped out of the orphanage and taken young Benny Marshall, a new kid, snipe hunting with them, leaving him alone in the middle of the woods holding the bag.
“Can you see the expression on his face,” said Larry David, “when we don’t come back?”
“Yeah,” laughed Rick. “When he finally realizes he’s left out in the dark all alone, he’ll beat us home.”
“I bet he’ll have to change his pants too,” boasted Todd.
Their laughter lingered in the midst of the dark until they heard a shrill yell of sort. “Ay!”
“Shhh, what’s that?” hushed Rick. “It’s the faint scream of Benny.” As they burst out laughing again, they made their way back to the orphanage.
A red-orange sky hovered over the little town of Rosedale, Georgia. The sky slowly began to fade into a dark blanket of black night. The wind began to whistle as it drove its way through the giant pines, stirring the leaves from the oaks, hickories, and maples. The wind recklessly scattered the leaves about while the night air became crisp, and the smell of summer was gone. Autumn perched its feet upon Rosedale and rested, while the distant cry of the whip-o-will accented the darkness over Omer County.
The young pranksters made their way home. Larry David, the oldest with black hair, was chubby, short, with glasses. Rick a redheaded, freckled face boy, was tall and slim with ears that stuck out. Todd a stringy headed blond boy, was medium size, with blue eyes, and a small mole on his chin. They passed by the old Warner place, and suddenly, Larry David stopped dead in his tracks.
“Look,” he whispered quietly. “There’s a light on in the old Warner house.”
“Where?” replied Todd.
“Over there,” said Rick.
“I can see it,” replied Todd.
“That old house has been empty as long as I can remember,” said Larry David.
“What do you make of it?” asked Rick.
“I don’t know,” he answered. “It’s probably nothing but a homeless person.”
The house was an old, tarnished weatherboard building. The roof was tin and rattled in the wind. Most of the windows were broken out. The porch had fallen in and the rest of the estate was guarded by bushes, dead trees, weeds and tall grass.
“Look,” whispered Todd, “I can see someone.”
“Come on guys, let’s get a closer look,” motioned Larry David.
Slowly, the boys crept up to the house and carefully eased up on the porch. Trying to be quiet they moved across the porch as boards popped, snapped, and squeaked.
“Shhh,” hushed Larry David.
“I’m trying to,” whispered back Rick.
Luckily, the restless wind carried the sounds away from the window. As they approached the unbroken dirty windows, their eyes slowly rose over the window sill and peeped in. They saw a huge man with his back toward them. It sounded like he was talking to someone in the room. There was a mattress on the floor, a table, and several chairs scattered about. On the table was a lantern which filled the room with light.
He appeared to be working on a chair. It looked like he had thin strips of tree bark that were soaked in water. Then he wove the strips in and out of the bottom and back of the chairs. Suddenly he stopped and stood up. He was the biggest man they had ever seen. When he turned to walk around they noticed his hair was long and stringy. He looked to be 6 feet tall, husky with a scraggly beard, bushy eyebrows, and deep-set eyes.
“Look!” cried Rick. “Look at his mouth; part of it is gone. He’s a freak.”
Quickly, they looked. There was a big gap in his top lip, and his teeth tilted to one side.
“He’s got a cleft lip,” replied Larry David.
“It may be a cleft lip, whatever that is,” said Rick, “but he’s scary.”
Then the strange man suddenly turned toward the window. Immediately, the three sets of eyes disappeared from the window and the boys raced across the yard. Scared and running, the three boys made their way down the road to the Willow Leaf Children’s Home where the boys lived. Panting for breath and about to collapse at any moment, when they reached the orphanage.
“Shhh,” hushed Larry David as they eased the back door open. They slipped in, gently closing the door behind them, and suddenly the lights came on. There stood Sister Anne and Sister Finley.
“Don’t say a word,” she scolded. “Go to your rooms right now; we’ll talk tomorrow. Larry David you go with Sister Finley in the car and get Benny.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied.
“The rest of you,” she threatened, “I’ll talk to you in the morning. Now go to bed.”
While on their way to get Benny, they passed by the old Warner place. Larry David looked but saw nothing—the light was out. A little piece up the road they came upon Benny walking home. He was crying, afraid, and fighting mad. He grabbed Larry David, and they tied up together. Sister Finley quickly broke in between them.
“That’s enough boys,” she said. “Now settle down and let’s get back.” Neither boy said a word.
On the way back to the orphanage, headlights appeared on an object on the side of the road. Quickly, Larry David looked. It was a man packing a grass sack. When he saw the man he eased down in the seat. It was the same man at the house. As the lights passed there was nothing but a shadowy figure left fading off into the darkness.
Morning came early for the three night prowlers, and Sister Anne was waiting for them. She piled them up with a week’s worth of extra work, kitchen chores, and bathroom patrol.
The boys didn’t waste any time spreading the word about a freak or monster living in the old Warner house. They had all the children afraid. No one knew who the stranger was or where he came from. He could have been an escaped convict. As the days passed, the rumor grew and spread about the orphanage. There were even rumors of missing children in the next county. Suspicions began to grow.
The old Warner house was up the road from the orphanage, near junction 10 and Dutch Creek Road. There was a field and some woods across the road that separated the children’s home from the Warner house. Larry David and some of the other boys slipped off into the woods to watch the strange visitor, seeing what they could find out.
One evening Larry David and Rick decided to sneak up to the house to spy on him. When they approached the house, they heard someone crying. Cautiously, they peeped in. It was the stranger; he was crying and talking to himself. The boys sat quietly for a moment then left for the orphanage.
Who was this mystery man? That was the question on all their minds. About two o’clock every morning, seven days a week, he left the house and headed down the road to Pedigo’s Dairy Farm where he milked cows to earn money to live. There he gathered up the cows, driving them across the road to the barn. Then he fed them; and milked twelve cows by hand until four o’clock. In the afternoon, about three o’clock, he milked them again, and after he cleaned up every evening about six o’clock, he headed home. Later at night, he put bottoms and backs in chairs which he sold.
Days passed in Rosedale, and at the passing of each day, the children taunted the strange man. They sang songs about him, the freak and the monster of Warner House. Rick and Larry David threw rocks up on his tin roof, causing the stranger to come out and yell at them.
“Get away from me,” he cried, “and stay away.”
Larry David had noticed the strange man never used the front door. Whenever he left, he would go out the back door as not to be seen.
“What do you make of that, Todd?” asked Larry.
“He’s a strange man,” replied Todd.
“Wait until Halloween night,” cried Rick, “you freaky monster.”
The days began to slip by as autumn waited patiently for winter.
Finally, the long awaited day came—Halloween. The children at the orphanage were excited. Larry David, Rick, and Todd were loaded with soap and toilet paper. The gruesome threesome was on the prowl. Their main target was the old Warner house. As the chill of the October evening spread with the sunset, the threesome planned their attack. Get him before he gets you was the motto. Shortly after the appearance of night, while the other children were in the gym at the Halloween party, the three determined boys sneaked out the backdoor and disappeared in the dark. Hurriedly, they raced through the woods with their bags of soap and paper. Running through the woods with their flashlights, the boys appeared as three drunken fireflies. As they approached the house, they carefully looked about. They didn’t see anyone; everything was quiet except the wind. The house was dark.
“He must be gone,” they thought.
“Now is the time,” said Rick. “We’ll move in for the attack and get back to the party before we are missed.”
“What about it guys?” asked Todd.
“I’m ready,” stated Larry David and Rick.
“Let’s do it!” cried Todd.
Quickly, the three swarmed the yard. They were like bees, soaping what windows were there and stringing toilet paper everywhere. But no one saw what lurked in the shadows. All of a sudden, ripping his way from out of the dark, the monster appeared with a loud, deep yell, “Leave me alone!”
Quickly, the boys screamed, “Let’s get out of here,” and headed for the woods. Screaming for their lives, they raced toward the orphanage. When, suddenly, Todd fell, the other two boys stopped and looked back. The monster stood tall and boldly over Todd and him at his feet, shaking and trembling. He was afraid to move, was afraid to look up. Then the monster bent down and picked him up in his arms. Todd’s pants were torn and his knee was bleeding. He was so scared. Then the giant slowly turned and headed toward the house. The other boys quietly sneaked back, but all they could see was Todd dangling in his arms.
“Come on,” whispered Larry David, “we’ve got to get Todd back.”
“I don’t know,” replied Rick, “let’s go get some help.”
“We can’t do that,” said Larry David. “Sister Anne will know we sneaked out.”
“Well let’s go back to the party,” suggested Rick, “and act like we don’t know anything. By then Todd may get away.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” replied Larry David. “We’ll do that for now, but if Todd’s not back soon, I’m coming after him.”
Quickly, the two boys raced back to the school and slipped into the party unnoticed.
Meanwhile back at the house, Todd was sitting on the table eating cookies and candy while the strange man was cleaning his scraped knee.
“I’m sorry about your yard,” Todd apologized. “We were wrong about you. You’re not a bad person like we thought.”
“Thank you,” he replied. “It’s alright.”
“What’s your name?” asked Todd.
“Hurley,” he said.
“Hurley,” replied Todd. “Where are you from?”
“Not far from here,” he said. “What’s your name?”
“Todd, sir,” he replied.
“Todd, now that’s a good name,” he replied. “I don’t believe I have ever met a Todd before.”
“You have now,” he giggled.
“Do you want some more cookies?” asked Hurley.
“No, I guess not,” he said. “I need to get back. I’m sorry, Hurley, about everything. I’ll tell the other children that you’re not a monster.”
“Don’t worry about it,” replied Hurley. “Sometimes things don’t always seem like they are. Besides boys will be boys. Believe it or not, I was a little boy once. Come on, I’ll walk you back to the school.”
As the two new friends made their way out, Todd looked at the yard and was ashamed for what they had done.
“We’ll come over tomorrow,” said Todd, “and clean up your yard. If they don’t want to, I’ll tell Sister Anne the whole story.”
“That’ll be fine,” replied Hurley. “You need to take responsibility for your action; besides, I’ll help too.”
When they reached the orphanage, Todd started to go in but, when he looked back, Hurley was gone. Slowly he eased the door open but as he looked again, he saw no one.
“Bye, Hurley,” he said as he closed the door.
In the shadow stood a tall figure, and as the door closed, it disappeared.
When Todd had come in, Larry David and Rick spotted him down the hall.
“Hey, Todd,” yelled Rick, “are you alright?”
“How did you get away?” questioned Larry David. “Tell us about him.”
“Yeah, Todd, was he scary?”
“He’s not like you said Larry David,” replied Todd. “And Rick, he’s not a monster either.”
“What are you talking about?” questioned Larry David. “He’s big and ugly and his mouth is all messed up.”
“Yeah, Todd, what do you say about that?” interrupted Rick.
“He may look like that, and he may appear scary, but he’s a nice man,” answered Todd. “Look, he fixed my knee.”
“So,” they said.
“So,” he replied, “it’s time to leave him alone, no more jokes, and pranks.”
“Says who?” spoke up Rick.
Then they started teasing Todd about him.
“That’s enough,” yelled Todd. “Tomorrow, we are going to clean up his yard.”
“Who says?” replied Larry David.
“I say,” answered Todd, “or I’ll tell Sister Anne what we did.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” stated Rick.
“If you tell,” threatened Larry David, “you’re going to have to fight Rick and me. Now what do you say?”
“Try me,” cried Todd.
Slowly, the other two boys began to back down. They couldn’t take a chance of getting in trouble again.
“Okay, Todd,” asked Larry David, ‘what is your plan?”
“Tomorrow we will clean up Hurley’s yard, and he has offered to help.”
“Hurley, who’s Hurley,” said Rick.
“That’s his name,” replied Todd.
“Hurley,” said Larry David pausing a minute. “Okay, I’m in.”
“What about you Rick?”
“Sure I’m in,” he agreed.
About then, sister Anne walked up.
“Now what might you boys be up too?” she asked. “Why aren’t you at the party?”
“We’re just out here talking about nothing special,” said Rick.
When they turned and started walking off she noticed Todd’s knee.
“What on earth happened to your knee, Todd?” she questioned him.
“I fell,” he replied.
“That is an awfully nasty scrape,” she replied. “You did a great job cleaning it up. It’s time to get back to the party, and I better not catch you sneaking out.”
As the boys moved down the hall, they couldn’t help but giggle.
At daybreak, they jumped out of bed and headed for Hurley’s house. As they reached the clearing in the woods, they saw him walking down the road headed home. He had done his morning milking, and when he saw them it placed a smile upon his face. When the boys drew near him, Todd yelled out, “Hey, Hurley.” He lifted up his hand and waved.
“Hey, boys,” he said as he greeted them.
“Hurley, this is Larry David and this is Rick.”
“Good morning,” he said.
“Hi,” they replied.
Larry David and Rick didn’t know what to say. He was big and ugly, but they dared not say anything.
“We’re coming to help you,” said Todd, “like I promised.”
“That’s good,” replied Hurley, “and I’m here to help also.”
The time passed, and Hurley and the boys finally sat down and took a break.
“You boys are doing a go
od job,” he said as he offered them cookies and candy.
“Thanks, Hurley,” said Larry David and Rick.
“Is this your place?” Todd inquired.
“This is my old home place,” he replied. “It belonged to my grandfather who handed it down to my father and now it is mine. It’s been abandoned now for several years. My grandfather moved away and left the place to go to work in Atlanta. He meant to come back, but it never worked out. Daddy and Mama stayed in Atlanta also. The old place set for years. It’s pretty much run down.”
“Can I have some more candy?” asked Larry David.
“Sure you can,” replied Hurley. “We’re about done anyway.”
“Do you have any children?” asked Larry David.
Hurley dropped his head and fell silent. He never said a word, he just go up and went into the house.
After that day, Hurley and the boys became good friends. They helped him bottom chairs, and he taught them to gather cows in and milk them. The boys loved to go with him to Pedigo’s Dairy Farm. Mrs. Pedigo would churn butter, and the boys loved to put it on her hot biscuits. They would help her skim the cream from off the milk and add a dash of salt—the boys wore those dashes out. They would take turns putting the butter into the mold and selling it for 15-20 cents a pound to customers. Hurley, too, liked that homemade butter and biscuits but with a little tad of sugar.
The next few weeks were great, but Hurley had his moments. There appeared to be something that bothered him, but he wouldn’t let it go. He never talked about his family or where he was from. It all remained a secret, like a box with no key or a song with no words.
Thanksgiving rolled in with a big turkey on a platter with dressing, giblet gravy, green beans, and corn. There was a new little boy named Jimmy at the orphanage. Jimmy was in a wheelchair. Hurley was walking home from milking when he noticed the little boy going into the orphanage. His eyes watered as a lump came in his throat, and he dashed toward the house. From that day on, the boys didn’t see Hurley much. Every once in a while they spotted him in the woods staring at the orphanage. When they tried to talk to him, he didn’t have much to say. It was like he was in his own little world.
Then finally, the big day came for Rosedale. It was the yearly Christmas parade. All the children at the orphanage loaded on the buses and headed for the parade. They were so excited, laughing, shouting, and carrying on like you wouldn’t believe. Hurley stood at the edge of the woods and watched. They brought out little Jimmy and put him on the bus and drove off.
A few hours later, the street downtown was lined with grownups and children. Hurley stayed back while he watched as the parade passed by. There were floats, clowns, candy, balloons, and bands. Everyone was cheering and laughing. As Hurley watched the parade, he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Jimmy. Soon the last of the fire engines roared through, and the last piece of candy left the ground. The crowd began to break up and head home. Then Todd and Larry David glanced up and saw Hurley. By the time they took a second look, he had vanished.
Winter fell hard after that day. The heavy snow and cold weather locked everyone inside. The snow looked lonely to Hurley. The boys saw him wading in the snow coming back from milking, smoke was coming from the chimney of his house. There was another set of eyes watching; little Jimmy stared out the window at him, too.
Slowly, the seasoned wheels of time turned winter into spring, and spring fever was in the air. The fever had hit Omer County, and no one had it worse than Larry David, Todd, Rick, and Jimmy. They had become good friends. In the evening, Larry David and Rick took a shortcut through the woods, hoping to find Hurley. Todd stayed with Jimmy and pushed him up the road. It wasn’t long until they saw him coming back from milking, and they all gathered at his house.
“Hey, Hurley,” said Larry David.
“Hi,” said Rick.
“Hey,” replied Hurley. “I see you made it through the winter.”
“Yes, sir,” they said, “I love the snow, but I don’t like that cold wind.”
“Who do we have here?” asked Hurley. “Todd, ain’t you going to introduce me?”
“Sure, Hurley, this is Jimmy, and Jimmy this is Hurley.”
“Well, hello, Jimmy,” he replied.
“Hello,” answered Jimmy.
About that time a car pulled up in front of the house and a woman got out.
“Boys, I need you to come back later,” said Hurley.
Quickly, they left one by one. As they were leaving, you could hear her in the background. You couldn’t make out what she said, but she was upset. From behind closed doors she was letting him have it. The boys slowly drifted out of sight, leaving Hurley back at the house in hot water.
“Why did you leave, Hurley?” she asked.
“I needed some time alone to think things through,” he replied.
“I went to my sister’s for a couple of weeks,” she said. “I had to get away too. You were killing me with your guilt, and when I came back you were gone. I looked everywhere for you.”
“I’m sorry that I worried you,” he replied.
“Hurley, you have got to let it go. You couldn’t help what happened. You have got to go on with your life before there is nothing left of our lives.
“I know, I know,” he said. “but, it won’t leave me alone. It’s not that easy to let go and walk away.”
“Will you come home with me,” she suggested, “and we’ll get some help, some counseling?”
“Carolyn, if you would give me a little more time,” he pleaded, “that’s all I need. Then if you want me back, I’ll be there.”
Then she spoke up to say something, and he suddenly stopped her.
“A little more time,” he repeated. “Don’t press me.”
Tears filled her eyes as she turned to walk away, then stopped, and came back to him. Carefully she reached for him, and he reached for her. They embraced in a tight hug as she softly whispered, “I love you.” Quickly she turned again and left in tears.
Hurley wasn’t seen the rest of the day. The next morning he passed the orphanage, and Jimmy was sitting in the yard.
“Hi, Hurley,” he said.
“Well, hit there, Jimmy,” he replied.
“Where are you going,” asked Jimmy.
“Nowhere,” he laughed, “just wandering about.”
“Want to sit down and talk?” asked Jimmy.
“Why, sure,” replied Hurley. “What do you want to talk about?”
“Do you ever have dreams?” asked Jimmy.
“Sometimes,” he replied.
“Do they ever come true?” he asked.
“Sometimes they do, but sometimes they don’t,” replied Hurley. “I guess it depends on what your dream is. Do you believe in miracles Jimmy? Miracles happen every day. We don’t always recognize them, most of the time we take them for granted.”
“Hurley, do you believe I could walk again?” questioned Jimmy.
Hurley never said a word.
“What happened to you, Jimmy?” he asked.
“I was at home playing upstairs and I tripped and fell down the steps. I damaged my neck and spine,” he explained. “When I got out of the hospital, they said I would probably never walk again.”
“Well, Jimbo,” said Hurley. “Is it alright to call you Jimbo?”
“Sure,” replied Jimmy.
“You look like a Jimbo to me,” said Hurley.
“What’s a Jimbo look like?” asked Jimmy.
“Why, look in the mirror,” he replied, “and you’ll see a Jimbo.”
Then they both died laughing.
“Well, I’ve got to go,” he said.
“I’ll see you later,” replied Jimbo.
“Always keep believing,” instructed Hurley, “and hold on to that dream.”
“Okay,” cried Jimbo. “Bye, Hurley!”
About that time the other boys came up.
“Hey
, guys, Hurley gave me a new nickname, Jimbo.”
“Cool,” they replied.
“Hey, Hurley, can we go milking with you this afternoon?” yelled Rick.
“I don’t see why not,” he replied.
Hurley walked on as the boys started to play. He couldn’t get his mind off the question Jimmy asked him. He tried to brush it off, ignore it, but it kept haunting, like other things in his past. Then suddenly, a man pulled up in a pickup.
“Hurley, how are you doing?” the man asked.
“Fine, sir,” he replied.
“About how many more chairs have you got ready?” he asked.
“About twenty-five,” replied Hurley.
“Sounds good,” said the man. “I have fifty more for you to repair.”
“That’s good,” replied Hurley. “You want to pick the finished ones up now?”
“That would be great,” said the man. “Hop in and we’ll go get them.”
Spring slipped by and Hurley and Jimbo grew closer. Jimbo had told Hurley his love and lifelong dream was to be a clown and walk in a Christmas parade. He asked Hurley if he would help him. Hurley didn’t know what to say. He was at a loss for words. Then he thought a few minutes and turned to him and said, “I can try, Jimbo,” he said. “I’ll do my best.”
From that moment on a crusade began to help Jimbo walk in this year’s Christmas parade. Everyone was excited, everyone believed, but no one believed it any stronger than Jimbo.
“It’s impossible,” some skeptics would say. “It’ll never happen.”
But as long as Jimbo and Hurley believed, all doubts vanished away.
From that time on, it would take a lot of hard work and determination and a far greater faith to endure the obstacles. Everyone worked hard, and pulled their own weight. But no one worked any harder than Jimbo and Hurley. They kept the faith; they believed; they prayed because if the miracle was ever to be achieved, it was only by the hand of God. Larry David, Rick and Todd all stood by Jimbo’s and Hurley’s side. It was all for one and one for all. “Will God answer?” a lot of them thought.
Sister Anne said, “If He doesn’t there are going to be a lot of disappointed people.” She prayed and believed that a righteous prayer would not go unanswered.
From mid-summer to mid-fall, all but a few still pressed for the miracle. A lot of them felt discouraged. The crisp breeze of autumn laid low about Rosedale; the dream still seemed impossible to some. But Hurley and Jimbo never gave up hope. They pressed onward.
Then one day a car pulled up in front of the orphanage. Larry David and Rick recognized it as the car in front of Hurley’s house. A woman got out and headed into the front of the building. The boys followed and listened outside the door as she asked to speak to Sister Anne. Shortly, they escorted her to Sister Anne’s office.
“May I help you,” asked Sister Anne.
“I don’t know for sure,” she said. “I am Carolyn, Hurley’s wife.”
“Oh, I didn’t know,” replied Sister Anne.
“There’s a lot about Hurley you don’t know,” she said.
“I have heard the rumor of the miracle of the boy walking,” she said. “Sister, I need your help.”
“What can I do?” she replied.
“Hurley is a very troubled man,” warned Carolyn.
“Are you saying, Mrs. Warner, that the children are in danger?”
“Oh, no,” Carolyn quickly spoke up, “he wouldn’t harm the children. It’s him. Ever since the loss of our son, he has turned away from everybody, especially me.”
“Oh, I didn’t know,” replied Sister Anne. “Hurley never mentioned he had a son.”
“He can’t,” said Carolyn. “He blames himself for our son’s death.”
“He seems so good with the children,” bragged Sister Anne.
“Dusty was our little boy’s name,” she said. “They were inseparable. He was nine years old when he died.”
“What is it you want me to do?” questioned Sister Anne.
“I don’t know exactly. If maybe you could talk to him,” she said, “and help me to try to reach him.”
“I don’t know,” replied Sister Anne. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“I’m going to talk with him again,” she said. “Please pray for us.”
“You will be in our prayers,” promised Sister Anne.
As the boys scattered, Carolyn came out and headed for Hurley’s.
“She cares for him a lot,” said Todd.
When Carolyn pulled up, Hurley met her at the door.
“I’m staying,” she said, “Till you’re ready to come home.”
“Now, Carolyn, there’s no need,” he said. “I’m doing fine.”
“Hurley, don’t you understand that I love you,” replied Carolyn.
“I know,” he said. “I believe you. I love you too, but Dusty…”
“Dusty is gone,” she cried. “He’s dead. I need you now.”
Then he took her in his arms. “It’s going to work out Don’t get so upset.”
That night, Hurley pulled an old wooden chest from the closet. Slowly he opened it, and there inside was a set of leg braces carved out of sycamore and laced in birch. The straps that harnessed the leg tightly in place were made of slick leather hides. Braided in place they were firm and stout. The braces had some kind of special clip-on weight that helped keep the balance. Hurley sat a few minutes in silence as tears filled his eyes.
“Lord,” he said, “we do need a miracle. If there is any left in heaven, we could use one down here. I pray Jimmy’s dreams can come true.”
It wasn’t long until Halloween. This year, instead of rolling Hurley’s yard, Hurley and the boys rolled the yard at the orphanage. Sister Anne watched from her room as did the other children. When she opened the window and yelled out, “Hurley, you know better than that,” they all scattered like buckshot, diving into the bushes and woods laughing.
“I know what you’ll be doing tomorrow, Hurley,” said Rick.
“Me, too,” he replied.
The other boys all laughed and said, “We’ll pitch in.”
Thanksgiving, Hurley carved the turkey and Carolyn helped with the meal at the orphanage. There was a lot to be thankful for, but, Hurley was most thankful for his new friends.
During the Christmas season, Hurley and the boys cut the tree, and Carolyn and the others trimmed it. It was a sight to see. It dressed the halls of the orphanage with its strong smell of cedar. The popping and snapping of the wood in the fireplace set the mood for carols, as they all sang with the season’s cheer in their hearts.
“Hey, look,” yelled one of the children, “it’s snowing.”
“Hooray,” cried the others as they raced outside to play.
It was only a couple of weeks till the Christmas parade. Carolyn had sewn Jimbo a clown suit to wear, and Hurley worked with him on the braces for his legs.
“Remember, Jimbo, you’ve come a long way, but we are far from being there. If you want to change your mind, I understand.”
“No way, Hurley, I want my dream to come true.”
“Okay, then you are going to have to listen, take small steps, heel first and then toe. The braces should hold you up, but don’t lean forward or to either side. They are heavy, but I believe you can wear them.”
For the next week, Jimmy struggled with the braces. He kept tilting forward so Hurley gave him two canes to hold out in front of him for balance. By the time of the parade, Jimmy was ready to give it his all. Everyone was so excited, rushing about to get to the parade. But they all hoped and wished the best for Jimbo and Hurley.
Jimmy was dressed in his clown suit, and his face was painted. Larry David, Rick, and Todd would walk along beside him in case he should fall. Hurley was a few steps ahead of him to help motivate Jimmy and encourage him to keep his chin up, take small steps, and keep his back straight.
There was a little
crust of snow still on the ground from the last snow fall. A giant Christmas tree stood decorated in the town square. It was covered with silver and gold bulbs, balls and tinsel. The aroma of the season created a song of joy in the air. The stores were decorated with bows and ribbons. There was the typical hustle and bustle of the people.
Suddenly, the town was blasted with sirens and horns as the marching bands came alive. There were pops and bangs from the clown cars, and Jimbo was leading the parade. Carefully, he took one step at a time, tilting his smiling face from side to side as tears smeared in his makeup.
Hurley yelled out, “It’s a miracle.”
The crowd cheered and roared, “It’s a miracle sent from God,” cried the crowd.
They couldn’t believe it. As the parade proceeded, Hurley noticed that he was getting tired. He motioned the boys to keep watch. Then suddenly, Jimbo stumbled and almost fell, but he caught himself.
“Three words for Jimbo and three for Hurley,” shouted the crowd.
It was the grandest parade ever. There were balloons, candy, and popcorn galore. Then unexpectedly, it started to snow.
“The Lord is pleased,” cried Hurley, “keep the faith.”
With sirens of the last fire engine and the last toss of candy, the parade finally ended. Everyone ran toward Jimbo, praising the Lord and lifting him up on their shoulders. When they looked for Hurley, he was gone. They turned to Sister Anne and Carolyn. Sister Anne knew where to find him. She could always see hurt in his eyes, but didn’t know what it was till Carolyn explained. When she found him, he was crying.
“Hurley,” she said, “things will be alright. You’re going to have to give it to the Lord. The Lord loves you and I believe if you’ll open up to Him, He’ll give you peace.
“But Sister Anne,” he said, “I feel like I have failed my son.”
“I know, Hurley,” she replied, “and listen to what I am saying, trust Him.”
Quickly, he wiped away the tears from his eyes.
“Hurley, it’s time to go home. It’s time to face the truth,” she said. “It’s time for you and Carolyn…”
“I know,” he replied. “But, I love my son. I miss him.”
As he took his shirt sleeve and wiped his eyes. Carolyn walked up to them.
“Take him home Carolyn, things are going to work out,” she encouraged. “Keep the faith my child.”
No one knew that day at the parade that Hurley had had a son who was crippled. He had worked hard making the braces with the hope his son would walk, but his son died before Hurley got them done.
Hurley whispered, “Sister Anne, it’s time to go.”
Carolyn took him in her arms and he took her in his. Then they turned and walked away.
“Thank you, Sister Anne,” said Carolyn.
Six months later a car pulled up in front of the orphanage.
“It’s Hurley and Carolyn.”
The adoption papers for Jimmy had finally been accepted. Hurley and Carolyn had a new son, and Jimbo had a new mama and daddy.
“Carolyn, how are things at home?” asked Sister Anne.
“It’s better,” she replied. “He’s trying, and he’s come a long way.”
“He’s got a long way to go,” said Sister Anne, “but his heart is in the right place.”
“He’s a good man, Sister and a good father,” replied Carolyn.
“I believe that,” she replied. “I saw it with him and Jimmy.”
“Well, Jimmy, it’s time to go,” said Hurley. “Are you ready?”
“I sure am,” shouted Jimmy.
“Let’s go,” replied Hurley. “You ready, Carolyn?”
“Goodbye, Jimbo,” yelled the children and Sister Anne.
“Keep in touch,” cried Larry David, Todd and Rick.
“Bye!” waved Jimbo out the back window of the car.
“I think Hurley’s dream has come true,” thought Sister Anne—Amen.
