HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-12-11, Page 33Page 2
Regional Value Spotter, December 11, 1985
e Tale of the
.By Sandra Pieldesimer Aldrich
'd already tried hysteria
on that Monday before
Christmas and had
decided such action
wasn't going to solve
the problem of our
being alone for this first
December since Don's death.
Instead, I knew sanity would be
retained only if 1 could look
beyond my little world of
widowhood and tried to help
someone else.
We three — the children and 1
— had worked at the Salvation
Army just the month before,
serving Thanksgiving dinner in a
nearby town. i remembered that
the captain had been thrilled by
rhe responsiveness of the group
when she had asked them to join
her in two songs. But I had been
saddened by the unsmiling faces
which mouthed the words.
Now it was Christmas, and
the same dilemma was before
us. 1 really didn't want to take
on someone else's problems
when 1 had enough of my own,
but l'.d discovered the futility of
self-pity. The only thing to do
was work at that little run-down
church again.
There was no problem in
getting 11 -year-old Jay and
i
organization and that one so
young was in charge.
He smiled. "Oh, the
responsibilities of both
organizations go hand-in-hand.
And as far as my age — a few
more days like this one and I'll
be decidedly older. Now let's
see what job is left for you."
He looked up from the card
file in front of him and appeared
to want to apologize. "All that's
left is food delivery. We have
several elderly and ill people
who can't come in for the bags.
Would you mind making seven
deliveries? All but one are in
this area. The last one is about
15 miles out. We'll call'and let
them know you are on your
way. Want that job?"
Relieved we wouldn't have to
be at the toy table, 1 gladly
accepted the assignment.
The first delivery was up a set
of rickety steps to an apartment
over a store in the downtown
area. An elderly woman opened
the door cautiously, waiting for
me to identify myself.
Her eyes immediately settled
the red Salvation Army
happier than when I first T I was cold, the day was
climbed those dark stairs. Holly miserable and I couldn't see that
asked If i was going to tell the I was making a difference in
social director what the lady had anyone's life. If we.hadn't been
said. Of course I would. Maybe delivering the bags of groceries,
his day needed brightening too. someone else would have. My
The next stop was at a tiny self-pitying thoughts made good
faded -red house which was sense to me, and l drew the
squeezed between two factories ropes of misery all the tighter
near the railroad tracks. Since around me.
the car could be parked so near The last address was several
the house, 1 left Jay and Holly miles south. I watched the snow
in it while 1 made the delivery. swirl across the road and then
As I knocked on the back started the car.
door, a dog barked and then Jay and Holly were almost
growled a low warning. 1 asleep by the time we reached
glanced toward the car, trying to the area. On the back was
calculate how long it would take printed "Special needs," That
me to reach it in a hurry. A had been blank on the other
woman looked out the window cards, but this one very plainly
and then gave the tired stated. "Large size woman's
command, "Oh, shut up, Girl." coat."
1 hoped she was directing the I wish I'd seen that statement
comment to the dog and not to before we left the church so I
me. could have chosen a coat off the
Finally the door opened, and a rack which leaned against the
woman in an old green bathrobe back wall. With the rush of the
gripped the side of the holidays, no one else from the
doorframe as though her strength Salvation Army would make a
was somehow in it. How pale special trip way out here just to
she was. Again her eyes had deliver a coat.
upon gone directly to the Salvation And 1 certainly wasn't going
badge which was pinned to my Army badge on my collar. She to offer my own coat. I was in
coat collar. I was glad for the smiled weakly. no mood to be laughed at. 1
instant identification which "Oh, yeh, they called. Said could just hear her saying,
would allow me to complete my you'd be over. Thanks. I sure
"Who do you think you are?"
errand with the least amount of can use this." Besides, on a day like this, I
1 offered to carry it inside, but needed the coat as much as
the woman declined, "I don't anyone else.
think you'd better. Girl doesn't At last we arrived on the
like people." addresson the card Years ago
She took the box from me and
then slowly closed the door. 1
walked back to the car, suddenly
aware of the deep cold again. 1
wondered what had happened to
her•to produce such defeated
sadness.
Was she a widow too'? Were
there children like my own
inside that house? Or was she
having to face all of this by
herself? Maybe she was trying to
cope with some incurable
illness, I fished the keys out of
my coat pocket, determined not
to think anymore about the
problems in her life. Didn't 1
have enough of my own?
10 -year-old Holly to agree to go. explanation, Then she grinned as
Their writer -mom was always
hauling them off to another
assignment. They were growing
up with the idea that everyone's
mom does strange things.
As we pulled our coats from
she saw Jay and Holly smiling
up at her.
She started to speak, but
instead cleared her'throat several
times as though she wasn't used
to talking. Finally she .gestured
the front closet, I glanced to the table sitting in the middle
guiltily at my older, second gray of the one room which served as
coat which had been hanging living room, bedroom and
near the new one 1 now had on. kitchen. i unpacked the small
No one needed two gray coats. I turkey, potatoes, canned green
shut the closet door and then beans, cranberry sauce and rolls
determinedly buttoned my collar. which were identical to the
• contents of the other six bags in
Didn't I have enough to worry the car.
about without adding guilt to the "Is all of this for mel Are
you sure they haven't made a
mistake? Why, that's a feast!"
Her eyes were suddenly
sparkling.
1 wondered how long it had .
been since the stark room had
heard so many words. "Oh, I
know there's no mistake. The
social director gave n your
name himself. Now you just •
they looked as they stood with enjoy it."
their heads down. their hacks to Her ancient face crinkled into
the hitter wind. a grin. ;'Well, you tell that
1 wondered what our jobs sweet young man that I'd marry
would he. l hoped we would be him in -a rnir)utc if he were
,assigned to the food area and not available."
the toys. i Nas in no mood to We said our goodbyes then,
watch mothers sort through used and 1 went out the door much
and surplus games, trying to find
something equal to the ones ,
which were being 'shown to their
children on TV.
As we entered the building,
Holly walked a bit closer'to me,
suddenly timid at the sight of so
.• many silent, unsmiling people.
Jay was his usual self, unaware
that he was doing anything
unusual for an 11 -year-old.
A young man greeted us
before we had a chance to report .
to the captain. When he
' identified himself as the social-
. director, I. expressed surprise
that the social services were
involved with a religious
list too'?
When we pulled into the
parking lot behind the
headquarters of the Salvation
Army, several people were ,
already"in line, waiting to be
admitted to the musty
gymnasium where they would
receive the donations of food,
clothing and toys. How cold
The next four stops were to
more tired houses and one -room
apartments. We three carried in
the bags, sfayed momentarily to
'hear about grandchildren who
- looked like Jay and Holly; and
heard' excuses why adult children
couldn't visit over'the holidays.
A "Merry Christrnas'`was said
along with each good-bye, but 1
still wasn't any closer to peace
of mind than when I had given
in to the hysteria that morning.
NO BULL
Ron Rader
FRAYNE'CHEV-OLDS LTD.
586 Main Street, South
Exeter, Ontario NOM 150
235-0660
227-4452 (London Line)
1-800-265-7026 (Toll -Free)
236-4414 (Residence)
oat
the place must have been a cafe
cottage. Now it was only a tired,
leaning shack. Its grayed boards
still showed signs of white `paint,
undoubtedly applied over 30
years ago. An old car sat in the
yard — up on blocks and
tireless. 1 wondered -if they had
sold the tires to provide
something else they needed'.
The three of us stomped Our
feet at the back steps as a man
in his 70s held the door for us.
He insisted that we not worry
about the snow, but still we
stomped — perhaps stalling for
time.
Once inside, i set the bag on
the kitchen table, trying not to
notice the worn-out room.
Everything was clean, but only
near the walls were there any
pieces of tile on the floor; those
in the middle of 'the room had
long ago been worn away to the
floor boards beneath. The
curtains had been mended so
many times that the stitches
made a pattern in the flimsy
material.
The elderly couple thanked
me repeatedly. All I had to do
was smile and walk out the
door. Instead i found myself
apologizing for not having
. brought out a coat. The woman ,4
smoothed the sleeves of her old
navy blue sweater and smiled an
"It's OK" smile.
It struck me that she had been
disappointed so many times in
life that it didn't matter that
there was something else which
hadn't happened the wat sire
wanted. Through the curtatn;
a;
could see the snow being blown
across the frozen drive.
Suddenly 1 took off my coat and
said "Here, try this one on for
the size. though."
She hesitated, then did as 1
asked. She even buttoned it and
then smiled at her husband as
she turned to show him the
back. 1 leaned forward then, to
unpin the Salvation Army badge
from the collar.
"Looks like you got yourself
a coat" I stammered, afraid she
wouldn't accept.
Instead she hugged me and
whispered "God bless you,
honey" as tears rolled down her
cheeks.
Suddenly I was crying too.
What had been so awkwardly
offered was so graciously
accepted. "Thank you for I
me do this," 1 whispered bac .
Her husband and Jay and
Holly silently watched, as
though not sure what to do.
Soon we were out the door,
waving goodbye to the old
couple standing together.
As soon as the door closed,
Holly turned to me. "Mum! It's
freezing, and you gave away
your coat."
I suddenly wanted giggle. "1
know. Isn't it wonderful?
Nobody needs two gray coats
anyway. And you know what,
kids'? This is the warmest I've
been all day!"
I gave Holly's shoulders a
squeeze. Hysteria wouldn't be
threatening me again for a long
time. le
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